News Broadcasting
Leo-McKerrow is BBC Worldwide VP TV channels for Asia
MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide, which is the commercial arm of UK pubcaster The BBC has announced the appointment of Christine Leo-McKerrow as VP, TV channels in Asia.
In addition to, and complementing, her existing role working on the BBC/Discovery jointly owned channels in Asia, Leo-McKerrow will develop, implement and manage BBC Worldwide’s channels business in Asia.
She reports to BBC Worldwide MD global TV channels Darren Childs.
Childs said, “Christine’s appointment is part of BBC Worldwide’s Channels division strategy to establish resources in Asia, where we see numerous opportunities to expand our branded channels presence. Christine’s track record launching branded channels into the region makes her the perfect candidate for this role.”
Leo-McKerrow said, “I am looking forward to introducing more BBC Worldwide branded channels to Asia. This is a vital market, and I am delighted to be developing new channels and gaining maximum exposure for the BBC’s superlative programme content.”
Based in Singapore, her key relationships will be with Worldwide’s regional teams who work across sales, new media, magazines and home entertainment. and the Channels’ team and managers in London.
The BBC Worldwide Board recently identified the channels business as being one of the key areas for growth. General entertainment channels, BBC Prime, BBC America, BBC Japan and BBC Food, are wholly owned by BBC Worldwide.
Joint venture channels exist in the UK with Flextech Television (the UKTV channels), cross borders with Discovery Communications Inc (Animal Planet and People+Arts) in Canada with Alliance Atlantis (BBC Canada and BBC Kids), and in Australia with Foxtel and FremantelMedia (UK·TV). In 2004/2005 the business generated sales of ?140.6 million and a profit of ?4 million.
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.
