News Broadcasting
Poonam Dhillon shifts allegiance from Congress to BJP
MUMBAI: Looks like politics has become an alternate profession for many in the entertainment industry. Statements made by them that they want to contribute to the society and hence the decision, remains a matter of debate.
Smriti Z Iraani led the way and the likes of Hema Malini, Suresh Oberoi, Gajendra Chauhan and Sudha Chandran joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) soon thereafter. Close to the dates of the upcoming elections, yet another personality to join the bandwagon is film and television actress, Poonam Dhillon who joined the BJP this afternoon.
Party Hopping! Poonam Dhillion smiles her way into BJP after being a Congress supporter in the past.And what’s more Dhillon has surprised many by joining the BJP as she has actively campaigned for the Congress party in the past.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com from Delhi, soon after she was formally inducted into the party today, Dhillon said, “Yes, I was for the Congress, but I was not comfortable in the set-up. I could sense it that I wouldn’t be able to do anything substantial and worthwhile. Hence, I switched my party, which I think that every citizen has a right to. I think that the nation has really gone ahead under the BJP rule and better days lie ahead if this party remains in power.”
Talking about her decision to join BJP, Dhillon says, “As I wanted to switch over, I was talking to a few officials from the BJP. We came to a mutual understanding that when and how it should be done. That’s it!”
But does that mean that her attention will waver from her serial Kitty Party? Clearing all doubts she said, “I’ll very much continue to be a part of Manish Goswami’s Kittie Party on Zee TV. My BJP duties might involve a bit of travel, but I will easily adjust. Frankly, I don’t know what would be my agenda; it’s too early to say. I might contest or I might just canvass for the forthcoming polls.”
Only last week, actor Amarr Upadhyay joined the Shiv Sena. Now it would not come as a surprise if the Congress unleashes a list of celebrities in the near future as a part of the counter attack; in all probability, hectic efforts must already be on to wean the likes of Dhillon and Co.
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.
