News Broadcasting
USTA’s new deal with CBS for US Open
NEW YORK: The United States Tennis Association (USTA) and CBS Sports have announced a landmark broadcast television partnership that includes an extension of CBS Sports’ America rights to the US Open through 2006. In addition the USTA has an option to extend the deal for an additional two years (2007-2008).
In India the event airs every August on Star Sports. The partnership includes live coverage on select weekends of the proposed US Open Series. This is a series of summer professional tennis events that will lead into the final Grand Slam of the year. The Series is tentatively scheduled to launch with select tournaments next year, with expansion planned in 2005. Overall, the new deal provides for over 60 hours of programming devoted to the US Open, other summer tournaments, and special USTA programming each year.
The broad-reaching deal also includes increased on-air support of the US Open and the sport of tennis, during the months leading up to and including the US Open. The new deal includes 48 hours of US Open television coverage each year, including six days of coverage over two weekends; the continuation of the primetime Women’s Singles Final; a late-night highlights show. In addition there will also be a telecast of Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day; a US Open preview show leading into the tournament; and four episodes of Topspin.
This is the USTA’s youth-targeted tennis television program to be aired on Saturdays during the summer months. As of now the US Open’s schedule remains similar to recent years. An official release informs that last year USA Network signed a six-year agreement for cable broadcast rights for the US Open, for weekday coverage of the event. CBS’ partnership with the US Open stretches for 35 years.
USTA professional tennis chief executive Arlen Kantarian added, “We consider our CBS partnership to be one of the strongest in sports. We continue to create innovative television concepts to grow the game – – from the Women’s Prime Time Final to the proposed US Open Series. This new deal sets the stage for a consistent television viewing platform for tennis throughout the summer. We look forward to continuing our discussions with the WTA, the ATP and tournament owners to now make this concept a reality.”
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.
