News Broadcasting
Sony BBC Earth gears up for launch of ‘A Perfect Planet’
MUMBAI: In Sir David Attenborough’s words –“This is the most important story of our time.”
A Perfect Planet explores how everything about our world is perfectly suited to our existence. For the first time, this series focuses on the powerful natural forces –volcanoes, sun, the weather and the ocean currents – all of which work together in an intricate balance to make Earth the only planet in the solar system that can support life. But how does this occur? Unfolding the varied aspects of our natural world and how they blend to create life, Sony BBC Earth is ready for the premiere of A Perfect Planet on 8 March 2021.
Shot over four years, across 31 countries and six continents, this five-part series narrated by Sir David Attenborough shows how animals of all shapes and sizes perfectly adapt to whatever the environment throws at them. While the first four episodes define the power of volcanoes, sunlight, weather, and oceans, the finale episode highlights the dramatic impact of the world’s newest force –humans, and what can be done to restore the equilibrium and protect life on our unique and precious planet.
Ensuring that the audience doesn’t miss out on this spellbinding visual experience due to the pandemic, Sony BBC Earth hosted a first of its kind exclusive virtual premiere ahead of the Indian television premiere. The channel created an immersive virtual experience by bringing alive the beauty and grandness of the series and offering a glimpse of all the five episodes, from the comfort of their homes. The screening was open to celebrities, media, and winners chosen out of a contest on social media and school students across the country. The virtual premiere is open for everyone to watch till 14 March at https://sonybbcearth-aperfectplanet.com/
The channel has tied up with Grow-Trees, a web-enabled, cost-effective platform to plant several trees on behalf of prominent celebrities from the industry and sent out hampers with personalised certificates under their name. Celebrities like Tahira Kashyap, Sonali Bendre, Hina Khan, Mini Mathur, Nakuul Mehta, Pooja Gor, amongst others took to their Instagram advocating the thoughtful initiative and giving a shoutout to the series premiere.
Beyond the virtual premiere, the series is promoted strongly on social media through a month-long campaign. With the aim of making the series more appealing to digital first audiences, Sony BBC Earth is also creating co-branded promotional content with popular social media influencers Abhishek Upmanyu and Jordindian.
The channel has also put out animated, 3D-effect social media posts and will host an Insta Live with series producer Huw Cordey on the day of the premiere.
Sony Pictures Networks India English channels EVP & business head Tushar Shah said, "A Perfect Planet is yet another milestone series from Sir David Attenborough that presents the story of earth's power and fragility and drives a powerful message about how human actions are impacting the perfect balance of natural forces. Through this one-of-a-kind virtual premiere, our endeavour was to deliver a truly immersive viewing experience to audiences in an impactful manner. This has been yet another digital-first and innovative initiative that reinforces our brand promise."
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.
