News Broadcasting
NDTV partners with Beximco Group for news channel in Bangladesh
MUMBAI: Dr Prannoy Roy-promoted NDTV Worldwide, the media consulting division of NDTV Ltd, will help a local firm launch a news and current affairs channel in Bangladesh.
NDTV said Monday it is partnering with Bangladesh-based private sector industrial conglomerate Beximco Group to launch and manage Independent Television.
Beximco Group, which also manages the publication The Independent, is planning to launch the channel by early September 2010 through its media subsidiary, Independent Television Ltd.
NDTV will be assisting the Beximco Group with the overall operational and business management of the channel.
NDTV said in a statement that this partnership will offer news in a refreshing and thought-provoking manner to its discerning Bangladeshi viewers.
“Beximco Group has planned to expand its presence in the media sector, by launching Independent Television. We aim to make Independent TV a leading news and current affairs channel in the country and would follow the highest ethical values to ensure that we achieve this objective,” said Beximco Group deputy chairman Salman F Rahman. “NDTV is the ideal partner for the launch of our channel. Together, we now look forward to establishing a viewer focused channel that will transform the Bangladesh media industry.”
Commenting on the alliance, NDTV Ltd chairman Roy said, “We are delighted to tie up with the Beximco Group in their expansion plans to become a leading media group in Bangladesh. We are confident that Independent Television will set the standards in the Bangladeshi media sector for the times to come”.
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.
