News Broadcasting
NGC unveils ‘Science Safari’ in Kannada
BANGALORE: The ministry of science and technology (MS&T) and National Geographic Channel today unveiled the Kannada version of ‘Science Safari’, a film that showcases Indian science and technology through the unique Nat Geo perspective. The film is a part of the year long campaign announced by the ministry and NGC earlier this year to promote Indian science and technology.
The 48-minute film is directed by Nutan Manmohan and produced by All Time Productions in close association with NGC at a cost of around Rs 20 million. Funded by the MS&T, it showcases a mix of scientific achievements across India and presents various innovations made by well known Indian scientists and some unknown inventors in a travelogue format.
The English version of this film has already premiered on NGC on 26 September and will also be telecast on Doordarshan. The film is also being dubbed into various Indian regional languages to reach out to a wider audience. The Kannada version is the first in the regional language series and will also be telecast on Doordarshan’s Kannada channel.
A 360-degree campaign encompassing both on-air and off-air initiatives to promote the film will be also launched. On air promotion initiatives will include programme promos on NGC and The History Channel pre and post the premiere of the film and telecast of a special compilation of the channel’s best science and technology programming.
The channel will also run informative scrollers, factoids, vignettes and 15 short films throughout the year on Indian science and technology.
An extensive school outreach programme will also be initiated to generate further interest about Indian science and technology through this film.
Meanwhile, Union minister for science and technology Kapil Sibal announced that a dedicated science and technology channel was being considered to start operations over the next four to five years.
Sibal was in Bangalore today to receive the Kannada version of the ‘Science Safari’ film funded by his ministry and made through the NGC perspective. Sibal has plans for a number of similar projects that will showcase Indian science and technology capability.
“India is making great strides in the field of science and technology today, innovation and creativity are the most important assets for our future. Through this programme, we want to create more awareness amongst the people of our country, especially children about our achievements in this field and to encourage the spirit of scientific inquiry,” he said while commenting on the 48 minute Science Safari.
Sibal expressed satisfaction with the work done by NGC on Science Safari, hailing the association as a sort of a public private partnership, while NGC vp marketing Rajesh Seshadhri said that this was the first time that such an association had happened.
Sibal said that after the telecast of the Science Safari, his ministry has received a number of proposals from many channels for producing similar films, and that his ministry would consider the offers. Upon being questioned about these developments, Seshadhri said that his channel was committed to creating content on Indian science and technology irrespective of the government’s participation.
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.
