News Broadcasting
Pak body clears 53 foreign TV channels
MUMBAI: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has identified 53 Foreign Satellite Channels for relay distribution through cable TV network operations in Pakistan. These channels have been identified in consultation with public and various associations of CTV operators in Pakistan, the APP news agency has reported.
Despite the enormous demand Indian satellite channels have in Pakistan, Star Plus, Sony Entertainment Television, Zee TV and the like continue to be off the list though. This is principally due to the hostile political climate that exists between the two neighbours.
PEMRA also announced that the public has till 20 November to make any presentations regarding the list it has issued.
The foreign satellite channels in the list are:
Quranic Channel from video, Iqra Channel, CNN, Saudi Channel 1and 2, BBC World, Sky News, Euro News, DW News, Al-Jazeera, Bloomberg, World Net, National Geographic Channel, Discovery, Animal Planet, Adventure One, Tech TV, Kuwait Space Channel, History, Travel, CNBC, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Fox Kids, Splash, KTV, Kermit, Super Sports-1, Super Sports-2, Super Sports-3, Super Sports-4, Super Sports-5, Star Sports, ESPN, Dubai Sports, Fox Sports, Sky Sports, Ten Sports, CCTV-3 (Chinese), CCTV-4 (Chinese), Bangladesh TV, Turkish TV, HBO, Star Movies, Star World, Hallmark, BBC Prime, LBC, Jam-e-Jam-1/IRAM- 1, Jam-e-Jam 2/IRIM 2, Dream TV, MATV, MBC and Disney Channel.
According to PEMRA, the CTV operators will be required to apply mosaicing to eliminate undesirable segments/ parts of the program or the parts of the program that are not in conformity with PEMRA program and advertisement codes from these eligible channels.
Meanwhile, a difficult edict to carry through is PEMRA’s clarification that it will be a punishable crime to cut the cable, interrupt the transmission or to damage the headend of any licensed cable operator. If such a ruling could be enforced, the system instituted would be of great benefit in India as the instances of rivals cutting cables are reportedly on the rise again.
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.
