News Broadcasting
Nat Geo sweeps Beta Brand Survey in US
MUMBAI: In its first time qualifying for Beta’s benchmark Beta Brand Identity Survey, the National Geographic Channel not only swept virtually every category in the mid-size cable network category but it also ranked high among all 49 cable and broadcast networks in the survey in US.
This is the latest reflection of NGC’s growing momentum which, for all of 2004, had the fastest ratings growth of any network across all genres. Further, NGC just showed its fifth consecutive quarter of record ratings, with Q1 2005 ranking as NGC’s most watched quarter ever, with more than 65 million viewers tuning in to the network.
NGC’s ranking in Beta’s Brand survey among midsize networks (fewer than 70 million subscribers with notable analogue distribution) is an astounding number one in virtually every category.
Viewers deemed the network their number one
choice for “entertaining,” “informative,” “high quality” and “original programming.” Importantly for advertisers, viewers also indicated they were “more inclined to pay attention to commercials” on NGC. The results of this Beta survey are based on the online questionnaires completed in January-February 2005 by 2,013 cable subscribers in the US.
“We are seeing the benefits of a strategy that builds upon our distribution growth with a strong slate of programming — both series and specials. These latest Beta Brand Survey results demonstrate that the strength of our brand rivals that of many more established networks,” said NGC president Laureen Ong.
Highlights of the mid-sized networks survey for NGC include:
high quality, favorite channel, entertaining, informative, original programmes and series, bold, tries new things, fun, like to see in HDTV, pay attention to commercials (tied), less cluttered with commercials, distinctive, valuable and family-oriented.
NGC’s ranking among all cable and broadcast networks measured in the survey include:
#1 — Like to see in HDTV
#1 — Less cluttered with commercials (tied)
#2 — Distinctive (tied)
#2 — Pay attention to commercials (tied)
#3 — High quality
#3 — Original programmes and series
#3 — Bold, tries new things
#4 — Entertaining
#4 — Valuable
#4 — Informative
“A virtual sweep of number one in the first inclusion in the Beta Brand Survey is unprecedented. In just over four years NGC has gained extraordinary momentum, one of the fastest growing in distribution and the fastest growing in ratings. The results of this survey demonstrate our continued progress in establishing us as a favorite entertainment viewing destination,” said NGC vice -president (research) Brad Dancer.
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.
