News Broadcasting
Rob Wade becomes Fox Entertainment’s CEO
MUMBAI: US media company Fox’s executive chair & CEO Lachlan Murdoch has announced that Rob Wade has been appointed as CEO of Fox Entertainment effective immediately. Wade served as president, of alternative entertainment and specials.
In this role, Wade and his team will guide the media brand and content producer with Fox broadcast network as its centerpiece. Fox Entertainment includes an expanding portfolio of owned content studios, including animation house Bento Box Entertainment, TMZ, MarVista Entertainment and Studio Ramsay Global. Fox Entertainment also includes the in-house unscripted studio Fox Alternative Entertainment, scripted content creator Fox Entertainment Studios, Blockchain Creative Labs, and the worldwide content sales unit Fox Entertainment Global.
“Since the formation of Fox Entertainment, Rob has been an integral part of the leadership team responsible for delivering on its long-term strategy of creating an independent media company built on broadcast, developing an owned content portfolio and maintaining a disciplined in-house infrastructure,” said Murdoch. “Given Rob’s sharp creative instincts and proven operational acumen, he is well-suited to lead Fox Entertainment in what promises to be an exciting next chapter in its rich history.”
“I am honoured to be entrusted with leading Fox Entertainment into the future with an exceptionally talented team, whom I know very well, as we build and expand on FOX’s legacy of storytelling excellence, entrepreneurial energy and innovation. It’s a transformative time across the global entertainment landscape, presenting limitless opportunity and, above all, creativity, making the outlook ahead bright and exhilarating,” said Wade.
In his previous role, Wade had oversight of the network’s unscripted programming, specials and alternative development slate, as well as the company’s in-house production unit, Fox Alternative Entertainment (FAE).
During his tenure at Fox, the network has launched several hit unscripted series, including the singing competition The Masked Singer. This was followed by the guessing game-meets-baking competition Crime Scene Kitchen, Lego Masters and Next Level Chef.
Prior to joining Fox, Wade served as the showrunner on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and was the head of Entertainment Development at BBC Worldwide. He was also an executive producer on Fox’s The X Factor and NBC’s America’s Got Talent and was Syco Entertainment North America’s head of TV.
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.
