News Broadcasting
Showtime’s reality show centres around US Presidential elections
MUMBAI: Later this year, Viacom’s Showtime Networks will become the campaign headquarters for American Candidate. The unscripted 10 episode reality show will attempt to identify one individual who has the qualifications and qualities to be the US President.
The announcement was made by Showtime Networks entertainment president Robert Greenblatt following the recent Federal Election Commission’s positive advisory opinion that the content of the show would not violate federal election laws.
The show’s structure will mirror Fox’s American Idol to a degree. 12 contestants from all walks of life will feature. Over the course of the next 10 weeks, those 12 will face-off against each other in a series of challenges designed to test their presidential mettle and to show viewers what really goes on in the making of a presidential candidate.
Gradually, the original pool of candidates will be narrowed down through audience participation and polling. The final episode will be a showdown between the remaining two candidates, and one person will emerge victorious. Greenblatt was quoted in a company release saying, “The ideas upon which this country was built — that anyone can run for public office and each voice counts — seem to be a thing of the past.
“This show, which is designed to find the ideal American Candidate from out of obscurity, will try to change all that. I think that the show will have amazing relevance to our country in a presidential election year — and who knows, maybe our winner will actually decide to enter the race.”
With involvement from bi-partisan advisors, this unique series is designed to find an unknown leader from the ranks of ordinary citizens who could catapult to national prominence and demonstrate that he or she possesses the leadership capabilities and talent to be President. Using grass-roots efforts and the power of television, the show’s contestants will mirror the activities of the actual presidential candidates.
In addition, they will be put through the rigorous paces of anyone running for this office. They will engage in debates, hold political rallies, receive the advice of seasoned political strategists, create advertisements, select running mates, have their backgrounds scrutinised by the press and engage in opposition research.
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.
