News Broadcasting
TCL, Thomson announce merger; will create TV-DVD behemoth
MUMBAI: French electronics major Thomson SA and TCL International Holdings Limited, the leading multimedia consumer electronic products manufacturer in China, today announced the signing of a binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) to form a joint venture company TCL-Thomson Electronics.
The merger of the two groups will create the world’s biggest television maker. According to a joint statement issued by the two companies, annual shipment is expected to reach 18 million units after merger. TCL-Thomson will have leading market presence in Asia, Europe and North America and cost-efficient industrial presence near all major consumer markets, the statement says. The joint venture is two-thirds owned by TCL and one-third by Thomson.
The marriage between TCL, with its leading position in the China market, and Thomson, a major player in North America and Europe, will achieve significant revenue and operational synergies, the statement says.
The new company will be principally engaged in the development, manufacturing and distribution of a full range of television and DVD products. It will adopt a multi-brand strategy, using differing brands to penetrate different markets.
The TCL brand will be the key brand used in the Asian and emerging markets, while the Thomson brand will be the major brand in Europe, and the RCA brand in North America. Other brands of the parents will also be promoted in response to market needs.
The new company will have an extensive sales network offering full coverage in China via 20,000 sales outlets, and in North America and Europe via major retailers
TCL is slated take over the venture within 18 months, Thomson said. That deal would involve a share swap that would make Thomson the largest shareholder of the Chinese company, which currently has a market value of $1 billion, Reuters reports.
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.
