News Broadcasting
Richard Sambrook to become BBC’s Global News division director
MUMBAI: The BBC has announced executive changes in the leadership of its UK and international news operations. Richard Sambrook will become the director of the BBC’s World Service and Global News division. He will be responsible for developing the BBC’s overall global news strategy across radio, TV and new media.
He will be succeeded as the director of BBC News by Helen Boaden who is currently the controller of Radio 4 and BBC 7. Boaden will be responsible for all UK-wide news and current affairs across radio, television and new media and for all BBC News staff, including news gathering.
They take up their new appointments in September. They will both be members of the BBC’s new Journalism Board, reporting to BBC Deputy DG Mark Byford. BBC’s DG Mark Thompson said, “Richard and Helen are the right people to lead these two vital parts of the BBC’s journalism in the future as we continue to strengthen and develop our output both in the UK and around the world.”
Sambrook said, “I have devoted my professional life to BBC journalism so I’m delighted to have the opportunity to lead the BBC’s international news services at such a crucial time for audiences around the world. To take the great strengths and heritage of the World Service and build on them across radio, TV and new media will be an enormous challenge and a great privilege.”
The BBC has also confirmed the appointment of Nigel Chapman as the director of the World Service. He will report to Sambrook on all World Service activities.
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.
