News Broadcasting
Pak cabinet gives licences for 22 TV channels
MUMBAI: Pakistan’s federal cabinet on Monday decided to award TV channel licences to 22 cross-media contenders, overruling the advice of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) for an open bidding, minister for information and broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed was quoted in India’s not-so-friendly northern neighbour’s media as saying.
Ahmed was quoted as saying the Pakistani cabinet also, “By over-ruling the advice of Pemra for an open bidding, the cabinet has retained its earlier decision that subject to the code of conduct, licences will be issued to cross-media owners,” the minister said. The National Assembly in its new session beginning on July 16 would amend the necessary law for the purpose, the information minister said.
The channels which have been approved for the award of licence are: Kawish TV network (Kawish), TV media network Pvt (Express), Interact Pvt (Khabrain), Sahafat Vision (Sahafat), Dolphin Media (Halchal), Asia News Network (Jinnah), General Newspapers (The Leader), Karachi, Daily Pakistan (Daily Pakistan), Qaumi Akhbar Communication (Qaumi Akhbar), Khyber Broadcasting Services (Akhbar Peshawar), Mehtab Publications (Ausaf, Islamabad), Motherhood, Pakistan’s First Parenting Magazine (Motherhood Magazine), Daily Nawa-i-Waqt (Nawa-i-Waqt), Total Medial Ltd, Islamabad (World Call Group), Recorder TV Network (Business Recorder), Interact Pvt Ltd (Zia Shahid family), Sachal Satellite Communication (already holds FM radio licence), Pakistan Herald Publications (Dawn Group of Newspapers), Development Asia Company (holds an FM radio licence), Total Media Ltd (World Call Group), Independent Newspaper Corporations (Mir Shakeel of Jang Group), and Independent Media Corporation (Mir Ibrahim of Jang).
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.
