News Broadcasting
Rahul Chaudhari back as UPKL’s Season 2 star
MUMBAI: UPKL kicked off its Season 2 build-up with a star raid of its own, renewing its partnership with the much-loved Rahul Chaudhari. The Showman of Kabaddi returns as brand ambassador, ensuring the league keeps its flair and fanfare intact.
The move signals UPKL’s intent to build on its reputation as one of India’s most organised and fast-growing state leagues. With its structured framework, athlete-first model and strong community engagement, the league aims to push Kabaddi deeper into the mainstream.
Rahul, who began as a defender before rising to fame as one of India’s fiercest raiders, brings experience and star power to the platform. His stellar record includes gold medal victories at the 2016 South Asian Games and the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup. He has also captained India at the 2014 Beach Asian Games in Thailand and led Uttar Pradesh in the 2015 National Kabaddi Championship.
SJ Uplift Kabaddi founder and director Sambhav Jain said, “UPKL’s growth from Season 1 to 2 shows how regional leagues can become strong ecosystems that connect communities and convert local passion into national interest. Rahul brought star value to our first season and with him continuing, we can widen visibility, energise the league and strengthen its appeal.”
Rahul Chaudhari shared his excitement, “Season 1 showed incredible hunger and potential. UPKL has opened doors for grassroots players to shine at a national level. It is a meaningful launchpad and my partnership with the league reflects our shared belief in Kabaddi’s future. I am confident the next season will offer young talent the opportunity they deserve.”
Adding to the momentum, UPKL has further boosted its reach through a broadcast partnership with Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited’s new initiatives arm Zee Sports. The collaboration will help drive nationwide viewership across TV and digital platforms.
Season 2 will feature 12 teams competing in 71 matches over 19 action-packed days in Noida, beginning 25 December 2025.
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.
