News Broadcasting
VSNL to use Microsoft expertise for triple play
MUMBAI: Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) will be associating with technology major Microsoft to make an entry into the ‘triple play’ arena.
The two companies have decided to work together on integrated communications and collaboration areas which include next generation converged voice, data, messaging and video services to business and consumers.
The commencement of the strategic alliance is marked by the unveiling of VSNL’s Tata Indicom Web Conferencing Service based on the Microsoft Office Live Meeting Platform. Under the alliance, VSNL will combine its vast communications network with Microsoft software to create rich solutions and services targeted at these segments. VSNL and Microsoft will also undertake joint Go to Market initiatives to evangelize and market these offerings in the target segments.
The two companies will work together on the area of consumer digital media services as well. This will include the deployment of service delivery platforms for the provision of subscription based instant Video and Music packages over broadband, and multimedia streaming over broadband and dial up networks, states an official release.
States VSNL director Kishor A Chaukar, “Armed with the combined strength of VSNL & Microsoft Office Live Meeting, our endeavor will be to deliver the next generation of real time communication to enterprises in India. Our latest offering will enable our customers to meet the twin objectives of enhancing team communication and reducing travel time. This alliance is in keeping with our objective of offering end-to-end managed services to our customers”.
Commenting on the partnership, Microsoft India MD Neelam Dhawan says, “Delivering software as a service is key to improving access to IT, and ensuring that Indian enterprises and consumers can realize the benefits of technology. A few years ago, it would have been impossible to think of deriving synergies between the telecom and IT industries. The rapid growth of telecom networks, and adoption of IT – is fostering a marketplace that is ready for converged solutions.
The two companies is also planning to collaborate to provide hosted software as a managed service. These include managed hosted ‘info-comm’ services that simplify enhance the way businesses communicate, collaborate and transact. It will enable SMB’s to access Microsoft software as a consolidated, managed and integrated service. It will also allow VNSL to provide managed and integrated voice & data services, the release adds.
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.
