News Broadcasting
MCCS appoints Astro’s Barun Das as vice president
MUMBAI: Media Content and Communication Services Pvt. Ltd. (MCCS), which manages Star News and Star Ananda has roped in Astro All Asia Network international business development head Barun DAs as the vice-president in the corporate function.
In his present profile as VP at MCCS, Das will have responsibilities both for the MCCS topline as well as bottomline. He will be responsible for creating new revenue models for MCCS in order to increase reach and revenue in non-traditional areas.
Das had earlier moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to take up his assignment with Astro All Asia Network. His role involved business development with a focus on the Indian subcontinent. Prior to his stint with Astro All Asia Network, DAs was associate publisher – business division, at the India Today Group. He brings to MCCS his legacy of a vast experience that spreads across various media groups including the Ananda Bazaar Patrika Group and Zee Publishing, informs an official statement.
Says MCCS CEO Uday Shankar, “His appointment is in tandem with the exciting new options that the network is exploring in the days to come. In Barun we have a person equipped to exploit this potential and explore new ideas.”
Das adds, “My previous international exposure has added a new dimension to my professional experience. During my stint with Astro, Kuala Lumpur, I experienced how much the world is excited about India. With so much happening in the world of media, I just could not resist my temptation to be back in India. MCCS with its offerings has been at the forefront of consistent innovation. For me this is a welcome fit and a challenging assignment.”
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.
