News Broadcasting
Player X inks deal with FremantleMedia for game shows on mobile
MUMBAI: FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide (FLW) and mobile content specialist Player X have inked a licensing deal, which will see a raft of FremantleMedia’s classic TV game shows roll out on mobile around the world.
FLW has licensed Player X the worldwide rights (excluding the US) to create and produce original mobile phone games based on popular shows like The Price Is Right, Family Feud, Blockbusters, Sale Of The Century and Strike It Lucky.
The games, which will be available from this month, will replicate the format of the shows and allow contestants to play along to the original game show rules. Under the terms of the agreement, Player X has also been granted rights to develop and create branded real tones, wallpapers and active screensavers.
FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide vice president, licensing – Europe, Middle East and Africa Melissa Goodwin said, “The FremantleMedia library boasts some of the world’s top game shows and they are some of the most iconic brands on the market today. Our partnership with Player X will help expand this brand presence to masses of fans familiar with the shows as well as a much broader base of consumers who are simply looking for a fun and interactive game to play on their mobile phones.”
Player X CEO Tony Pearce added, “We believe this format is absolutely perfect for mobile gameplay and the current popularity of classic game shows means there is a big market for this content. These are the biggest TV game show brands around and perfectly targeted towards the mass mobile gamer. We’re looking forward to bringing out more FremantleMedia game shows in the months to come.”
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.
