News Broadcasting
Sourav Ganguly to host special Indo-Pak series on Aaj Tak
MUMBAI: As a precursor to the India – Pakistan cricket series, Aaj Tak has roped in Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly for a five-episode series titled Sourav ka Sixer.
The five episode series of 30 minutes each will be aired on Saturdays at 8:30 pm from 29 January onwards. The theme of the series will be the Indo-Pak cricket series, and the programme would have Ganguly as the Aaj Tak expert who will shed light on the ‘rivalry’, the psyche of the players during the matches, the various on-ground and off-ground issues that will have a bearing on the game and the future of cricket between the two countries based on his experience.
The show has been conceptualised as a studio show comprising an Aaj Tak anchor, Ganguly and inputs from cricketing experts in the midst of an involved audience. It will not only showcase the cricketing legacy between the two countries, but also provide insight into the cricketing relationship between the two nations. Ganguly would also reflect upon the pressures and attitudes that affect a player’s performance on the field and the team’s strategy for the forthcoming series.
This series will cover various aspects of the Indo-Pak cricket. Episode one will focus on what makes the cricket matches between the two countries so special – the traditional rivalry between the countries gets transferred to the cricket field. Episode two, on the other hand will look at the re-emergence of the Indian team from the shadows to take on the indomitable Pakistan team with special reference to the 2004 series in Pakistan. Episode three titled ‘Indo-Pak greats’, will have Ganguly speaking about players from the two countries who have inspired with their play. Episode four will compare the bowling strengths of the two teams and episode five will analyse the two teams.
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.
