News Broadcasting
Pencils to the podium as Nataraj draws focus at NDTV Indian of the Year
MUMBAI: When the spotlight shifts from speeches to sketchpads, you know creativity has entered the room. Hindustan Pencils, the company behind classroom staples Nataraj and Apsara, has signed on as the official stationery partner for NDTV Indian of the Year 2025, bringing its long-running love affair with expression to one of the country’s most watched award stages.
The association sees Nataraj lean into its Be Bold positioning, linking stationery often seen as humble and utilitarian with big ideas, cultural achievement and fearless self-expression. The brand’s presence will be woven into the ceremony rather than parked on the sidelines.
One of the evening’s key moments will see a senior member of Hindustan Pencils’ management present the best director of the year award. That handover will be followed by a tight 2–3 minute on-stage conversation, offering a glimpse into how the Be Bold philosophy has shaped Nataraj’s thinking and why creativity still matters in an increasingly digital-first world.
Adding a visual flourish, Hindustan Pencils has curated a live sketch artist experience, with a commissioned illustrator creating custom artwork for each award winner in real time. The idea is to turn recognition into something tangible, a personalised illustration that doubles up as a memento and a nod to the brand’s drawing-led legacy.
Away from the main stage, guests will also find a Nataraj Be Bold photo booth, designed as an interactive pit stop rather than a static backdrop. The installation invites attendees to play, pose and take home keepsakes, extending the theme of expression beyond the formal proceedings.
Speaking about the partnership, Hindustan Pencils chief marketing officer Aishwarya Shinod said the association felt like a natural fit for a brand built around ideas and imagination. The awards, she noted, celebrate individuals shaping India’s future, a narrative that aligns closely with Nataraj’s long-standing focus on creativity and confidence.
With this tie-up, Hindustan Pencils moves stationery out of the pencil box and into the cultural conversation, using the NDTV Indian of the Year platform to remind audiences that bold thinking often begins with a simple line on paper.
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.
