News Broadcasting
Wade Davis named SVP of Mergers & Acquisitions at Viacom
MUMBAI: Viacom Inc. has appointed Wade Davis as senior vice president of Mergers & Acquisitions for new Viacom, following the separation of the organization into two publicly traded companies. Davis reports to Michael J. Dolan, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Viacom.
Davis will be responsible for identifying and assessing potential mergers and acquisitions, managing new Viacom’s interactions with the banking and investment communities on strategic transactions, and leading the execution of any transactions the company is involved in, Viacom said in a media release.
“Wade’s extensive M&A experience and leadership skills make him a perfect addition to the new Viacom team,” Dolan said. “His media, technology and telecommunications expertise couldn’t be a better fit for us as we begin our new life as a more nimble and focused company looking to capitalize on constantly emerging opportunities. Wade and I will be working closely to identify strategic acquisition opportunities that are consistent with new Viacom’s core capabilities, create shareholder value and strengthen our competitive position within the industry.”
Prior to joining Viacom, Davis was an investment banker in the technology and media sectors for more than a decade. He was formerly a managing director, co-head of Investment Banking and head of Mergers & Acquisitions at ThinkEquity Partners.
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.
