News Broadcasting
TVU Networks levels up Kumbh Mela coverage with game-changing tech!
MUMBAI: Imagine a sea of 450 million devotees, converging at the sacred confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers, all seeking spiritual awakening—and now, imagine broadcasting that spectacle live, without a hitch. TVU Networks has done just that.
This year’s Maha Kumbh Mela, held in Prayagraj, India, from 13 January to 26 February 2025, posed an Everest-sized challenge to broadcasters. The sheer scale of the event—hordes of pilgrims, signal-clogging mobile devices, and unpredictable terrain—demanded a broadcasting solution as powerful as the festival itself. TVU Networks delivered, deploying a trifecta of game-changing technologies that ensured seamless live coverage despite massive network congestion and rugged conditions.
Three powerhouse solutions
1. TVU One backpacks – Mobile Mastery TVU’s field teams wielded TVU One backpacks, transforming even the busiest bathing ghats into makeshift studios. Featuring TVU’s patented Inverse StatMux Plus (IS+) transmission technology, HEVC format smart VBR encoding, and Forward Error Correction (FEC), these power-packed units enabled reporters to transmit crystal-clear video—even in the heart of the most crowded ritual sites.
2. TVU MLink transmitters – The Network Workhorses Broadcasting from a moving sea of people? No problem. TVU MLink transmitters, housed in strategically positioned broadcast vehicles, flexed their multi-network muscles, seamlessly aggregating 5G, 4G, Wifi, and ethernet. These high-tech hubs ensured rock-solid signal stability, even when millions of mobile devices strained the airwaves.
3. TVU Rack router 5G – The Ultimate Command Centre Temporary studios at Kumbh Mela ran on TVU Rack Router 5G, a six-network behemoth supporting speeds up to one gbps. By integrating satellite, microwave, Wifi, and ethernet into one rock-solid connection, it provided reliable internet access, keeping production teams fully equipped and on-air.
“We are incredibly proud to provide the technological backbone for broadcasting this historic spiritual gathering,” said TVU Networks general manager for south Asia, Subodh Aggarwal. “Our solutions were specifically designed to tackle the unique challenges of the Kumbh Mela—from massive network congestion to the need for both mobile and fixed broadcasting positions. The successful implementation showcases our commitment to delivering reliable, cutting-edge broadcasting solutions even in the most demanding environments.”
This achievement cements TVU Networks’ position as an industry leader in live broadcasting. The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 was not just a test of faith for the devotees—it was a trial by fire for media technology, and TVU Networks emerged victorious, setting a new gold standard for large-scale event coverage in India and beyond.
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.
