News Broadcasting
Sahara One bags telecast rights of Rockstars 2006 concert
MUMBAI: Sahara One Television has bagged the telecast rights of the Rockstars 2006 Bollywood concert, which involves names like Salman Khan, John Abraham, Shahid Kapur, Zayed Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Mallika Sherawat and Esha Deol. These stars are currently touring Canada, US and UK for the same.
The Rockstars 2006 concert consists of 15 shows over a period of 45 days to be held across the above mentioned countries in May and June. However, the telecast date of the shows on Sahara One have not yet been decided.
Apart from telecasting the concert, Sahara One will also be airing a 12-episode interactive special on the concerts with the stars. Behind the scenes of their stay and exclusive footage from rehearsals, interviews, run-up to the big show, the hustle of the green room, and the moments building up to the final show is what is lined up on the channel.
Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited CEO Shantonu Aditya said, “It has always been our constant endeavour to connect with our audiences by reinventing entertainment options. Bollywood is something that perks up every Indian soul. The fact that the Rockstars 2006 will be held at USA, Canada and UK explains the huge appeal of Bollywood in these countries. We wanted to give our Indian audiences a feel of the same vibe and are therefore pleased to bring the Rockstars 2006 to our viewers.”
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.
