News Broadcasting
Nickelodeon Chhota VJ Hunt draws nearly 300 responses in Mumbai
Kids channel Nickelodeon held auditions for kids who want to be a VJ on the channel on Saturday and Sunday at Worli Naka in South Mumbai. And did the children stroll in! Over 275 kids filled in application forms and auditioned to become the junior Cyrus’, Nikhils and Nafisas.
The auditions took place in a studio in front of a camera with the production team guiding the children through the proceedings. Kids aged 14 and below identified themselves and spoke about their interests. They also explained the reasons for wanting to appear on the channel. Then they performed. Performances varied from a rap song to a mock interview.
MTV India director marketing Vikram Raizada says that the earlier auditions held in Bangalore and Chennai garnered 150 and 100 responses respectively. The response in Mumbai with over 275 wannabe VJs was higher due to the population size and increased awareness. Two spots have been airing on Nick, MTV and Zee English and MGM.One aims at stirring interest in the hunt while the other is in the form of a livewire. This gives information of audition dates and how kids can post their entries or send them online.
In terms of other promotional activities the Chota VJ Hunt effort is getting radio support in the form of spots on the Midday run radio station Go. Print ads have also featured in major publications with ground support in the form of road shows with flyers being distributed where kids hang out.
Raizada said that the objective of the hunt is not just to increase brandawareness but also to tell kids that the exclusive space where they can have fun and enjoy themselves has just expanded.
Through feedback and market research the channel found that kids wanted to be on the tube and see themselves on it.
The final stage of live auditions will take place in Delhi on 15 June. As mentioned earlier the Chhota VJ hunt, which gives a kid the chance to host Nick Masala on the channel and on the Nickelodeon block on Zee TV, closes on 30 June.
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.
