News Broadcasting
NDS to lead digi cable transition in Korea
MUMBAI: News Corp’s technology solutions provider NDS Group announced today that CJ CableNet had selected NDS as the conditional access provider for the launch of digital cable TV services.
CJ CableNet, Korea’s largest MSO, is a member of the powerful CJ Group media conglomerate. The company is planning to launch a digital broadcasting service comprising more than 120 digital and interactive TV services, with the first trial services available in October 2004.
CJ CableNet CEO Lee Kwan Hoon was quoted in an official release as saying, “CJ CableNet is spearheading the transition to digital media within the CJ Group, and the company has aggressive plans for new digital services. NDS conditional access technology is the key part of our digital strategy. It will enable CJ CableNet to offer new services in the areas of digital media and entertainment and generate new revenue.”
NDS Asia Pacific vice-president and general manager Sue Taylor said, “NDS has committed significant resources to develop OpenCable solutions for Korea, and we are now focusing on deploying the NDS leading technology within the aggressive timeline of CJ CableNet. NDS and CJ CableNet also developed one of the world’s first OCAP-compliant electronic programme guides, which will set a new standard for digital broadcasting services in Korea and create a new viewing experience.”
This year, leading Korean MSOs and SOs are launching digital broadcasting services. There are 11 million cable TV households in Korea and the number of cable TV households is forecast to increase dramatically as a result of the launch of digital broadcasting operations. Due to the success of NDS in the Korean cable TV market, the NDS Korea operations have expanded rapidly during the past year.
Korea has mandated the OpenCable OCAP standard for digital cable TV broadcasting. NDS was one of the first conditional access providers to be granted certification by the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) of Korea.
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.
