News Broadcasting
Mobile video services getting more innovative in the US
MUMBAI: Mobile video services are important tools to recover investments in high-speed networks. The initial end-user experience and expectations have to be managed carefully at this stage to ensure a satisfactory uptake.
Mobile operators will then have to play the role of ‘mobile media company’ and approach the planning, developing and delivery of mobile multimedia with such a mentality-something that is already being done. Small, innovative companies can actually show how these processes can be managed successfully. Other important concepts include mobile video advertising, subscriber interactivity, product bundling and others.
Frost and Sullivan finds that premium revenues from the US Mobile Video Services Markets totaled $60.79 million in 2005 and estimates to reach $1516.75 million in 2010.
The firm notes that the future of the US mobile video services market is extremely bright. With considerable resources already committed to developing this segment, stakeholders are leaving no stone unturned to ensure a satisfactory uptake. With both linear video and made-for-mobile video content available to subscribers, the overall mobile video services market expects to increase at a considerable pace.
Frost and Sullivan industry analyst Vikrant Gandhi says, “For example, mobile multicasting networks that are dedicated to providing data services promise high-quality mobile video content at reasonable price points. This combined with technology enhancements in cellular world will make more bandwidth available for next-generation wireless data services and result in greater choice for subscribers.”
The challenge then is to offer all these services in an easy-to-use manner at attractive price points. Mobile subscribers should be able to access multiple services without a proportionate increase in pricing. For instance, subscribers may not like to pay $15 for wireless data plans, $10 for multicasting services and another $5 for other types of premium mobile video services(over and above their voice plan).
“Mobile multicasting services will require a subscription pricing of their own, as will the 3G services. Any premium content offered within these two types of services will be charged extra also” adds Gandhi
Intelligent bundling of services could provide the answer. A single subscription charge for voice, video and other data services could be offered. This will then require a close cooperation between all value-chain participants.
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.
