News Broadcasting
Panamsat reports marginal decline in first quarter revenue
CONNECTICUT US: Panamsat has reported financial results for the first quarter ended 31 March.
Revenues were $199.8 million, compared to revenues of $207.1 million for last years first quarter. Operating lease revenues decreased to $195.4 million compared to $201.4 million for the same period last year. The company has attributed the decrease in operating lease revenues to lower termination fee revenue of $7.7 million and lower occasional use services revenue of $2.7 million
On a positive note the decreases were offset to a certain extent by net new business related to network services, as well as revenues related to the company’s new G2 Satellite Solutions division, which was formed as a result of the acquisition of Hughes Global Services last month. Total sales and sales-type lease revenues were $4.3 million for the quarter compared to $5.8 million for the same period last year.
During the quarter Panamsat added future revenue and backlog after new agreements with Equity Broadcasting, The Health TV Channel, ARY Digital and others.
Looking at the future Panamsat CEO Joe Wright said, “There are expansion opportunities in our industry today and we are reviewing them. We will act on those that relate to our current service offerings, match the needs of our customers, offer near term growth opportunities at a low risk, and provide a good return for our shareholders. We are particularly interested in exploring areas such as Video-On-Demand, Digital Store and Forward, HDTV, Broadcast Services and Government Services.
While many in our sector are wrestling with the overall weakness in our industry, Panamsat saw this situation occurring two years ago, and made the necessary changes. As a result, Panamsat is now stronger than at any time in its history. Not only have we delivered excellent financial results quarter-after-quarter, but we also completed the rebuilding of the Company and have initiated our growth programme. The acquisition of HGS and the rollout of our hybrid fiber/satellite offering were two critical advances we achieved in the first quarter.”
News Broadcasting
Network18 posts Rs 1,955 crore revenue, narrows FY26 losses
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.
