News Broadcasting
Maxim looks to penetrate the wireless space
MUMBAI: Indian men’s magazine Maxim has joined hands with ActiveMedia Technology India (AMT) to capitalise on its readers in the wireless space. Maxim has given AMT the mandate to be its mobile partner in India and drive all activities from AMT short code 3636, becoming the first global publication to extend its brand in Indian wireless platform.
The Maxim Mobile website provides a wide range of men’s editorial content on a subscription basis, as well as downloadable items such as ringtones, wallpaper, video, games, promotions, MMS blogs and a variety of Maxim-only wireless applications.
Maxim marketing manager Ankur Bhatia says, “Given the growth of mobile platform in India, it was only natural for us to take a decision to progress in the direction from the start. Globally, Maxim Mobile has been the world’s most widely distributed men’s lifestyle brand on mobile phones and we are confident that the Indian market will respond equally well”.
The UK based Maxim magazine launched its Indian edition in January 2006, fetching sales of 75,000 copies in the maiden issue itself alongwith an advance paid subscriber base of 16,500. Maxim now plans to maxim-ise the market further by its foray in the wireless market, with ActiveMedia managing all its mobile based solutions ranging from contests and events, to content management. This connection will allow users to download wallpapers and screensavers in Rs 10 from their mobile phones.
AMT group head marketing and client services Arnav Neel Ghosh said, “ActiveMedia has always been focused at enhancing value for a media brand by marrying it with a wireless platform. It has consistently helped media brands (TV and print) across genres and regions to gain that competitive edge with its product suites. Leveraging the power of mobile to do micro and one to one targeting, it has helped media brands to drive stickiness with their subscribers”.
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.
