News Broadcasting
Tivo announces winner of ambassador competition in the US
MUMBAI: TiVo, which creates television services for digital video recorders (DVR), has announced the winner of a contest to crown the top TiVo enthusiast in the US.
As the winner of the Tivo Ambassador contest, San Diego resident Matt Ward will enjoy $50,000 in cash and prizes — including a new Mini Cooper convertible — and a once in a lifetime opportunity to help spread the word about the joys of owning a Tivo DVR.
Tivo VP consumer marketing Katie Ho says, “We have seen an unprecedented loyalty and passion for TiVo since the company’s inception. Through this contest we have heard from a growing fan base eager to share how TiVo has transformed the way they watch TV. With the Tivo ambassador contest, we wanted to put our top enthusiasts in the spotlight — and honour their contribution to the TiVolution.”
Ward, who is currently working on his first children’s novel, won the award through a clever and humorous depiction of how Tivo has transformed the way he watches television. His winning video shows Ward running for the office of the TiVo Ambassador, and features a TiVo DVR as a valued real-life member of the family. Viewers see the box playing board games with the kids, consuming milk and cookies, and snuggled beside Ward on the sofa.
He says, “It is amazing to be named the Tivo Ambassador and to win these prizes. But it’s also really nice to be honoured by this organization, whose product I am so passionate about. And the timing couldn’t be more perfect — my earnings will allow me to continue work on a children’s novel, a project that has been a dream of mine for many years.”
The contest, announced in September 2005, was open to all Tivo Rewards members who had earned 25,000 points in the programme by referring friends to the TiVo(R) service prior to the contest start date. Those vying for the top spot submitted personal essays and creative videos showcasing their passion for Tivo. In just over a year and a half, more than 350,000 TiVo subscribers have enrolled in the company’s rewards programme.
The programme grants points redeemable for great rewards to Tivo owners who refer new subscribers. As the TiVo Ambassador, Ward will gather with legions of fans throughout the year to spread the word about the celebrated ability of Tivo to deliver the best way to watch television.
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.
