News Broadcasting
Sri Lankan president Kumaratunga on CNN’s ‘Talk Asia’
In a special one-on-one with CNN's Talk Asia this weekend, Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga reveals how and when she heard the news about the Tsunami that struck the country on 26 December.
The episode will be aired on 22 January 22 at 9:30 am, 7 pm and 10:30 pm. The repeat telecast will be on 23 January at 8:30 pm and on 24 January at 9 am.
"You know it was a terrific shock even before I landed. I didn’t know what to feel, because I love the sea… so it was just a feeling of absolute incredulity that this gorgeous thing, which we love so much, would just rise up and cause this devastation," Kumaratunga said.
During the half-hour special edition of Talk Asia, the Sri Lankan president also discusses with host Satinder Bindra about the post-Tsunami efforts to help repair and rebuild various affected regions of Sri Lanka.
When asked about shelter for those displaced by the tidal waves, Kumaratunga replies, "From now onwards we are going on with the housing program, rebuilding roads, school and all the other things, the electricity, the power supplies, telecom, hospitals, all this will begin within the next two weeks and we hope we can complete it in six months."
Additionally, the President comments on the relief aid provided by both the Sri Lankan people and the international community.
She concludes the interview by discussing the adoption of hundreds of orphans, the aid supplies for rebel forces in Sri Lanka, and the recovery of Sri Lanka’s predominant industries such as fishing and tourism.
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.
