News Broadcasting
Radio Mirchi, Gillette present gully cricket
MUMBAI: On ground activity around cricket is set to increase as brands go all out to cash in on the cricket World Cup frenzy. Radio Mirchi and Gillette Vector Plus decided to do things differently when they came together to provide a platform for local talent to be recognized in Gully Gully Mein Cricket Ka Jashn.
The gully cricket tournament saw hundreds of entries with the final 8 teams battling it out for a cash purse of ten thousand rupees for each team member. The matches will be played at Azad Maidan starting on 3 March 3. The finals of the tournament will be held on 10 March. All matches will be played in true gully cricket fashion.
Radio Mirchi vice-president and station director Hitesh Sharma said, “Radio Mirchi has always strived to connect with listeners through out-of-the-box content and on-ground promotions. Gully Gully mein Cricket ja Jashn is yet another way through which we not only connect with out listeners, but also recognize the immense talent in the city.”
Gillette brand manager Sumeet Narang said “We understand the passion Indian men have for the game of Cricket. It is to celebrate this Cricket spirit that Gillette is launching the New Vector Plus Winner pack and Announcing the nationwide Galli Cricket tournament!”
Cricketer Irfan Pathan who is also endorses Gillette Vector Plus said, “I would like to take this opportunity to encourage all my fans to join me in spirit this Cricket Season by participating in the Gillette Vector Plus Galli Cricket Tournament. While my eyes are set on the World Cup trophy, I wish luck to all my fans to bring home their very own Vector Plus Galli Cricket trophy, and truly experience the winning spirit.”
Played with typical gully cricket rules, each team would consist of six players plus one substitute. The 10 over match will have each side bat for 5 overs. Each member of the team is required to bowl one over in the match.
Mirchi will also have a range of ‘expert’ commentators such as Manjeev Kumar, Sendulkar, Mr. Piddhu who will help Radio Mirchi RJ’s in commentary during the matches. The station aims bring to its listeners a flavour of street cricket.
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.
