News Broadcasting
Jill Dougherty is CNN Asia Pacific managing editor
MUMBAI: Jill Dougherty has been appointed CNN international managing editor for the Asia Pacific region. She will be based at the network’s regional headquarters in Hong Kong. Previously, CNN Moscow bureau chief, she takes up her new position in May 2005.
Dougherty oversees CNN International’s programming and production facilities in Hong Kong and also coordinates coverage from all of CNN’s correspondents and bureaus across the Asia Pacific region. Dougherty has replaced Paul Cutler who left CNN for family reasons to return to Australia in February 2005.
CNN International MD Chris Cramer said, “Jill is one of the most accomplished senior correspondents and managers at CNN. Jill has covered many of the biggest international stories in the past 15 years and brings with her a flair and vibrancy on screen and excellent managerial skills.”
Dougherty takes on the post of Managing Editor Asia Pacific as China prepares to host the Olympics in 2008, international tension continues to rise in North Korea and much of the business community and government around the world tackle the contentious issue of ‘outsourcing’.
“I am honoured that CNN has asked me to take on this key international role,” said Dougherty. “This part of the world is continually at the center of the biggest global news stories. To be able to lead this award-winning team of correspondents, anchors and staff in Hong Kong and the region is an exciting opportunity to contribute to what CNN does best: provide our viewers around the world with news and programs they trust and enjoy.”
CNN Hong Kong produces more than 30 hours a week of programming for CNN International, including CNN Today, World News Asia, Talk Asia and Spark, while also providing many hours of newsgathering and programming for other CNN’s services including CNN/US, CNN Headline News, CNN.com, CNN.com/International Edition and CNN radio.
Dougherty brings to this position more than two decades of experience. She joined CNN in 1983 as a correspondent based at Chicago bureau. From 1991 to 1996, she was a CNN White House correspondent before she was appointed Moscow bureau chief in 1997.
News Broadcasting
Network18 Q4 revenue grows 9.7 per cent, EBITDA at Rs 30 crore
PAT improves to Rs 306.6 crore, margins steady amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: Not all news is breaking, some of it is quietly improving. Network18 Media & Investments Limited appears to be doing just that, tightening losses and stabilising margins even as costs continue to weigh on the business. For FY26, the company reported revenue from operations of Rs 1,955.1 crore, up from Rs 1,896.2 crore in FY25, signalling modest top-line growth in a challenging media environment. Total income stood at Rs 1,978.2 crore, compared to Rs 1,913 crore a year earlier.
Profit after tax came in at Rs 306.6 crore for the year, a sharp turnaround from Rs 3,225.4 crore in FY25, largely reflecting the absence of large exceptional items that had inflated the previous year’s numbers. On a more comparable basis, the company’s operating performance showed signs of gradual stabilisation.
However, the quarterly picture remained under pressure. For the March quarter, Network18 reported a loss of Rs 53.1 crore, narrower than the Rs 98.1 crore loss in the same period last year, but still indicative of ongoing cost challenges.
Expenses continued to track high. Total expenses for FY26 stood at Rs 2,235.7 crore, up from Rs 2,197.8 crore in FY25. Key cost heads included operational expenses of Rs 765.9 crore, employee benefits of Rs 475.9 crore, and marketing, distribution and promotional spends of Rs 427.1 crore, underlining the continued investment required to sustain reach and engagement.
At an operating level, margins remained under strain. Operating margin stood at 2.33 per cent for FY26, marginally higher than 1.77 per cent in FY25, while net profit margin remained negative at -13.02 per cent, though improved from -14.89 per cent.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 8,957.6 crore as of 31 March 2026, from Rs 8,317.5 crore a year earlier. Equity strengthened to Rs 4,958.7 crore, while borrowings increased to Rs 3,112.8 crore, reflecting a higher reliance on debt to support operations.
Cash flows told a mixed story. While financing activities generated Rs 83.9 crore, operating cash flow remained negative at Rs -24 crore, highlighting ongoing pressure on core cash generation. Cash and cash equivalents, however, improved to Rs 33.9 crore from Rs 1.8 crore.
The numbers point to a company in transition growing revenues, trimming losses, but still grappling with structural cost pressures. In a sector where scale often comes at a price, Network18 seems to be inching towards balance, one quarter at a time.
