News Broadcasting
Panamsat acquires Sonic Telecom
MUMBAI: Panamsat has announced that it has acquired Sonic Telecom a provider of international high-definition multimedia transmission services and business applications. The transaction will extend and enhance the reach of Panamsat’s 24-satellite global fleet and its extensive fiber network throughout the US, Europe and Asia.
As a result, the integration of Sonic Telecom to the Panamsat infrastructure will provide customers with a seamless satellite/fiber network. This will deliver video content virtually to or from anywhere in the world in a cost-efficient, secure manner with robust redundancy.
The two companies already share a number of common customers including CNN, ABC, Reuters and the National Football League. These customers and many others will now enjoy access to a broader array of services as well as a single point of contact for all their video distribution content needs, whether in the air or on the ground.
Panamsat president, CEO Joe Wright was quoted in an official release saying, “To effectively compete and deliver the high volume of rich content in today’s marketplace, the Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) sector needs to evolve from only selling satellite services to providing Global Communications Services on the ground as well as in the air. The addition of Sonic Telecom to Panamsat broadens the portfolio of services we offer customers and extends our reach.”
“Now, customers can use the Panamsat network to conduct point-to-point transfer of backhaul video traffic, connectivity to a global network as well as videoconferencing, bridging and video event management. This hybrid approach of uniting delivery systems is not only the future for our industry, it is the present.”
The release adds that Sonic Telecom brings to PanAmSat its customer base of multi-national broadcasters and corporate videoconferencing users, related network management capabilities, a usage-based billing platform and access to an established international fiber network. In addition, Panamsat gains access to an additional 20 points of presence (PoPs) around the world that are complementary to its existing network. Situated across the US, Europe and Asia, these co-location sites provide Panamsat with an immediate expanded presence in key markets.
The release also adds that the Sonic Telecom acquisition is the second phase of Panamsat’s hybrid satellite/fiber strategy. Earlier this year Panamsat had entered into an agreement with Level 3 Communications to utilise its 20,000-mile broadband fiber optic network and create a virtual teleport. By connecting Panamsat’s satellite uplink facilities to one of the world’s most advanced terrestrial networks, customers are now able to access the fleet from any Level 3 network location.
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.
