News Broadcasting
John Abraham, Bhaichung in special programming on FIFA on IBN
NEW DELHI: The 19th FIFA World Cup will see special exclusive pre-tournament programming on CNN-IBN and IBN7 to capture the excitement leading up to the greatest sporting extravaganza.
The varied programming includes The Beautiful Game on CNN-IBN which starts on 31 May and GOAL on IBN7 from 1 June. This special series will provide a 360 degree perspective of the key events leading up to the tournament by football expert and the country’s foremost football journalist Novy Kapadia. The programming will also feature an interview with celebrated footballer Bhaichung Bhutia and Bollywood star and football enthusiast John Abraham.
The pre-tournament programming with Novy Kapadia will include a series of half hour specials on CNN-IBN and IBN7 which will have a detailed analysis of the strengths and weakness of different teams, their preparedness for as well as their chances at the World Cup. The show will also take a close look at players to watch out for and team rivalries. The programming on CNN-IBN will be telecast on weekdays from 31 May till 10 June at 10.30 pm and on IBN7 on weekdays from 1 June till 10 June at 6.30 pm.
Additionally CNN-IBN’s award winning sports anchor Meha Bhardwaj in a special show will be seen in conversation with Captain of the Indian football team, Bhaichung Bhutia and actor and football aficionado John Abraham to be telecast on June 5 at 7.30 pm on CNN-IBN. This special will focus on players & teams to look out for at the world cup and the future of Indian football.
Talking about the pre-tournament programming line-up for the FIFA World Cup 2010, Rajdeep Sardesai, Editor-In-Chief, IBN18 Network said, “Football has a massive fan following in India and we want our viewers to get the best of the game’s biggest event. We are happy to have on board Novy Kapadia, country’s foremost football journalist, as part of our special pre-tournament programming line-up. The depth of experience which Novy Kapadia brings with him will provide viewers with rare insights into both the game as well as the world’s greatest sporting event, the FIFA World Cup 2010.”
Ashutosh, Managing Editor, IBN7, said, “The extensive pre-event programming will cover all the key aspects that football fans would like to learn about before the actual tournament. From player profiles to the venues and team rivalries, we will provide our viewers with all the information and the behind the scenes action they desire before the FIFA World Cup 2010.”
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.
