News Broadcasting
Mudra Videotec expands reach down south with Gemini & Udaya
MUMBAI: Expanding southwards, Mudra Videotec is producing daily and weekly programmes for Gemini and Udaya TV in addition to shows with its all-time favourite Doordarshan.
Mudra is coming up with a late evening daily suspense thriller on Gemini TV named Shanam Bhayam Bhayam and a weekly, Sriniyas. It is also co-producing an untitled daily show in Udaya and marketing the same.
Mudra Videotec Generel Manager Sunil Shetty says, “We are planning to strengthen our presence in the South with daily programmes on Gemini TV and Udaya TV and hopefully Sun TV also, along with our all-time favourite Doordarshan. We are also venturing into promotion and branding activities related to films and producing software for satellite channels in Hindi and other languages and other new ventures soon.”
With experience in quality television software both in Hindi, English and other regional languages, Mudra simultaneously deals with selling airtime and marketing of programmes through a national sales network.
It has had a long-term association with Doordarshan and its advertisers through top slotted serials like Shayad Tum, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke and Mere Humsafar. Currently it is producing two weekly prime time shows for DD and also a kid’s programme.
Some of Mudra Videotec’s notable successes on DD have been programs like Buniyad, Udaan, Rajani, Manoranjan, Ados Pados and sponsored telefilms. It was also instrumental in brigning the hugely successful Australian series Bodyline to Indian Television.
With a revenue generation of about Rs 250 million last year, the company has associations with brands like HLL, Nokia, Samsung and Relience as advertisers.
Operating on channels like DD National, DD regional and ETV Gujarati, Mudra Videotec has a network in eight cities. Its association with Gemini TV and Udaya TV will further strengthen its reach, says Shetty.
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.
