News Broadcasting
Plan India receives One World award for child documentary
MUMBAI: Plan India’s aim of giving kids born to difficult circumstances in India the chance to have their voices heard has paid off handsomely. Its documentary Children Have Something to Say has won the One World Broadcasting Award in London.
Plan India got the Special Achievement Award. This was presented to a group of Indian children for producing a video magazine that is made by children for adults. This is the first time the award has been given to children and the first time it has been awarded to an Indian outfit.
The content comprises of 36 short films on issues affecting children ranging from child prostitution and tobacco addiction to child labour. Four of the filmmakers flew to London specially to collect their prize.
The video film project was initiated four years ago. Plan is a trans-national, humanitarian, child-centred community development organisation. It works in 45 countries to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children.
UK broadcasters ITV and BBC established the One World Broadcasting Award in 1987. It aims at encouraging the effective use of media to promote a clear and balanced awareness of human rights and global development issues. Every year 11 awards are given in addition to a Special Achievement Award.
One world Broadcasting Trust’s chairperson Sir Tony Young said; “In placing a microphone in the hands of impoverished children, they have given them the authority to question the practices about them; to challenge their treatment, and the treatment of their neighbours.
” The extraordinary quality of the films is a tribute to the undoubted talent of these children, and the benevolent almost non-existent guidance of the few adults involved. Films by children, for adults, of the highest calibre.”
Acting country director Plan -India S Ranganathan pointed out that having experienced the euphoria of getting the award it was important that the young filmmakers now disseminate what they had learnt among other children.
As far as some of the other categories were concerned Channel 4 News’ Gaby Rado got the TV News award for Romanian Sex-Slave Trade. The radio documentary award went to BBC Radio 4’s Virginia Crompton for On the Ebola Frontline. India received another mention courtesy Booker winner Arundhati Roy. The category was Women’s achievement , Dam/Age award
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.
