News Broadcasting
KBC offers a window to the world of Korean content
MUMBAI: If TV Korea has its way, the words KBC will have a whole new meaning in India! The TV Korea Showcase, 2006, hosted by the Korean Broadcasting Commission (KBC) in Mumbai on 7 February displayed the best of Korean television content to the media present.
The event was flagged off by an introduction to Korean Broadcasters followed by a screening of Korean content. It’s interesting to note that most of the shows that were showcased had themes that have already been explored by Indian broadcasters.
Romance and action seemed to be a dominant theme in most of the drama series on display. Drama series like Winter Sonata (KBS Media) and Love of My Life (MBC) and documentaries like World of Butterflies (MBC) and Attack of Environment (SBS) are shows that seemed not only interesting as far as content is concerned, but they made television viewing pleasurable due to the way they have been shot.
Animation formed a large part of the Korean content on display and Indian audiences would readily identify with characters like Komi (Komi’s World of Curiosity by SBS) and Dori (Lexa by MBC). Komi’s World of Curiosity represents the ‘edu-mation’ genre.
Further, KBC also showcased EBS, which is the only broadcasting corporation dedicated to public education in Korea. Its content ranges from animated spots and documentaries based on nature and history to introducing Mathematics to children and telling children about ‘birds and bees’.
This is one bouquet of shows and documentaries that could fit in well with the already varied content on Indian television. Is anyone listening?
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.
