News Broadcasting
Stage set for CAS Bill introduction?
NEW DELHI: When Parliament reconvenes for its Winter Session from 18 November, the decks appear to be clear for the introduction of Bill incorporating amendments to the Cable TV (Network) Regulation Act, 1995, which will facilitate implementation of conditional access systems (CAS).
The CAS Bill is however, unlikely to be introduced in the Rajya Sabha in the first week of the session. Reason: the first day, 18 November, is likely to see no business being transacted as obit references will be made before adjournment. The second day, 19 November, is a holiday on account of Guru Nanak Jayanti. That will leave just three days before the week comes to an end.
“In all probability, CAS is likely to be discussed in the Rajya Sabha around 25 November,” a senior government official told indiantelevision.com in Delhi, adding that this is likely to be the schedule unless information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj literally steamrolls through CAS in the Rajya Sabha in the first week of the Parliament’s session. What lends credence to this possibility is that there is some speculation in the industry that the Bill could be introduced for discussion as early as 20 November.
According to political sources, however, Swaraj is still to bring about a consensus amongst MPs in the Opposition-dominated Rajya Sabha and in recent times no talks have been held with Rajya Sabha members of either the Congress or the Left parties.
‘400 Resident welfare associations’ in Delhi invited for CAS seminar’
Some vocal supporters of CAS have, meanwhile, found a novel way of putting the issue back in the limelight just before Parliament reconvenes – seek resident welfare associations’ (RWAs) help in putting indirect pressure on policy-makers to hasten the passage of CAS in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament). It has already cleared the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament).
In this connection, a day-long seminar has been scheduled for Thursday in Delhi where representatives from Delhi RWAs, the government, select cable operators, consumer action groups and media will discuss the issue of pricing of pay channels, the benefits of CAS and why it should be implemented ASAP.
According to the chief architect of the Delhi-based National Cable & Telecom Association (NCTA) Vicky Choudhary, which is organising the meet, “Most channels revise upwardly their subscription fee around January which is likely to spark off another round of face-offs between subscribers and cable operators. That’s why we thought this day-long interaction would be useful.”
Though Choudhary was evasive when asked whether this was being done, just days before Parliament reconvenes, to put indirect pressure on policy-makers, he did admit reluctantly: “Some residual effect will certainly be there (on members of Parliament of the Upper House or Rajya Sabha).”
According to Choudhary, invitations for participation for Thursday’s meeting has gone out to over 400 RWAs, top government officials involved with policy-making on CAS and the media.
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.
