News Broadcasting
MPCL test markets 3D animation series at IITF
NEW DELHI: Moving Picture Company (India) Limited (MPCL) is test marketing its first long format 3D animation series Jungle Tales in the India International Trade Fair (IITF), which commenced here on Friday.
According to the Noida-based production house, the series, inspired by Panchatantra, is the country’s first completely indigenous long format 3D animation series for television.
“We are test marketing Jungle Tales with Delhi audience. We had introduced the pilot of the series last year at the IITF and it evoked more than 20,000 responses. With a potential of 150,000 visitors, from vast strata of society, we believe this series with treatment in contemporary style is an ideal way of arousing interest,” says MPCLs vice-president-business development Pankaj Bhushan.
The narration and treatment of the series, for which the studio is expecting to finalise a deal with a satellite channel in India soon, has been created considering the “lifestyle of todays kids”. The primary target group is kids but the stories make for fun viewing for an entire family, Bhushan says.
“The objective (of test marketing at the IITF) is to create awareness about animation in India. Sales or attracting buyers is not the sole aim. We want to convey to the people that animation is thriving in India. And for this IITF, with visitors of various age-groups, seems to be the right choice,” says Bhushan.
MPCL, which has already worked on six episodes of 22 minutes each, is taking four episodes to the fair. “We are initially planning 13 episodes but might increase it to 26 depending upon the response from the audience,” Bhushan explains.
MPCL, which specialises in television software and documentary films apart from 3D animation, is targeting the particular segment of international audiences that has a liking for Indian films.
The studio is yet to finalise the distribution plans. The series will be marketed not only in India, but also in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and North America.
“We are examining the options of retailing at the moment. Its very tough to gauge the figure for sale of DVDs or CDs. We might tie-up with an international partner for distribution,” says Bhushan.
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.
