News Broadcasting
Vivendi Universal first quarter revenues decline
MUMBAI: Media giant Vivendi Universal has reported results for the first quarter.
Cconsolidated revenues for the first quarter of 2004 amounted to 5,973 million euros a drop from the 6,232 million euros figure that had been recorded for the first quarter of last year.
Vivendi Universals media activity (Groupe Canal+, Universal Music Group,Vivendi Universal Games (VUG) and Vivendi Universal Entertainment (VUE)) revenues for the first quarter of 2004 amounted to 3,471 million euros. This was a decline of nine per cent. To some extent this was offset by telecom activity for the first quarter which amounted to 2,434 million marking an increase of 14 per cent.
Revenues at Canal Plus, the French cable TV operator, fell by 21 per cent to 923 million euros compared to 1,166 million euros in 2003. The company’s CEO Jean-René Fourtou has been selling divisions of the company including the entertainment division to NBC in a bid to get the company out of the slump. On a more positive note VUE’s revenues amounted to 1,493 million euros an increase of three per cent over the corresponding quarter of last year.
Universal Television Group revenues increased by 15 per cent. Universal Television’s production and distribution revenues increased by 17 per cent due to increased licensing revenues for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and increased production volume of other shows. In India the show airs on Star World.
However there was bad news on the music and gaming front. UMG’s revenues of 978 million euros were 11 per cent below last year. The company attributed this to the adverse currency movements. Also the debut from 50 Cent was not repeated and the global music market continues to be in a state of rcession particularly in France.
There was growth in the UK, Germany and Latin America due to strong sales of domestic and regional releases. UMGs album market share in the US fell to 26.6 per cent versus 28.3 per cent in 2003
Vivendi Universal Games (VUG) fared even worse. VUG revenues in the first quarter amounted to 77 million euros. This marked a 27 per cent decline.
News Broadcasting
Network18 posts Rs 1,955 crore revenue, narrows FY26 losses
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.
