News Broadcasting
Tektronix to help China set up digital broadcasting research and development lab
Tektronix, the video test, measurement, and monitoring solutions company, will partner with the Academy of Broadcasting Science (ABS) to establish a national digital broadcasting research and development laboratory for China’s broadcast industry.
ABS is a part of the Chinese State Administration of Radio, Film, and TV (SARFT). According to an official release, the acceleration of TV digitisation, the maturation of video technology and the demands for China’s television system to be upgraded has led the Chinese government to recognise the need to establish a digital TV testing lab that can accelerate the digitisation of the country’s television industry.
Tektronix claims its award-winning solutions fulfill ABS’ requirements to test and monitor a variety of signal formats. Tektronix’ equipment will provide reliable evidence whether the country’s consumers are receiving good digital video quality, whether the video is being broadcast in standard – or in high-definition.
The Institute of Standardization and Planning, a department within ABS, will use the new Tektronix WFM700M multi-format waveform monitors, MTG300 MPEG-2 generators, VM700T video measurement sets, MTS300 MPEG test systems, and TG2000 signal generation platforms in the lab. The equipment will be used to test specific characteristics of digital TV modulation and transmission, provide performance testing of digital TV decoders and set-top boxes, subjectively evaluate picture quality, and analyze the structure of the video signal.
Tektronix solutions will also be used in conformance testing, software evaluation, and will provide built-in system testing of digital TV products. The award-winning WFM700M is a measurement-quality multi-format waveform monitor that provides for the evaluation of the digital transport layer and digital analysis capabilities important in design, installation, and maintenance of 270MB and 1.485 GB component digital systems, says the release.
The TG2000 is a programmable, multi-format test signal generation platform that provides reference-quality test signals in both the analog and digital domain. It is used to generate standardised test signals for installation, timing and sync, maintenance, and design evaluation applications. The MTS300 MPEG test system, based on Emmy(R) award-winning technology, provides comprehensive analysis of MPEG-2 transport streams, while the MTG300 MPEG generator is a flexible, cost-effective source of MPEG-2 transport streams for design evaluation and conformance testing of compressed digital video products.
Established 44 years ago, ABS has completed many big projects such as the definition of black-and-white TV, color TV, frequency modulation broadcasting module and the building of preliminary broadcasting system in China.
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.
