News Broadcasting
Youngsters don’t use condoms despite their safety: MTV sexual behaviour study
MUMBAI: In conjunction with the Aids epidemic update issued by Unaids and the World Health Organisation, MTV Networks International has released findings from the Staying Alive 2003 Global Sexual Behaviour Study.
The most startling findings indicate that while young people know that condoms can help prevent HIV/Aids, they are not using them the majority of the time they have sex. The survey found respondents fully understand (over 90 per cent) that using a condom will decrease the risk of getting HIV/Aids.
They also agree that it is a big deal to have sex occasionally without a condom, especially if you have various sexual partners. However, far less are actually following through: only half of the respondents used a condom the first time they had sex, and more than 70 per cent of the respondents who had more than one sexual partner in the past six months did not always use a condom.
An official release informs that the study has been posted on 20 MTV Web sites worldwide, in 14 different languages. It had over 9000 respondents in 29 countries including Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, Latin America and Russia. The survey indicates sexual behaviour trends among 14-34 year-olds around HIV/AIDS, including condom use, stigma and discrimination, trusted sources of information and sexual history. The study was conducted in collaboration with research partners Online Testing Exchange (OTX) and Ciao AG.
In terms of the media, 60 per cent of those surveyed look to the media as a trustworthy source of information, as well as rely on the media (excluding radio and Internet) to educate them about HIV/aids. On an average 43 per cent of the respondents considered their parents a trustworthy source of information regarding HIV/Aids but only 29 per cent of respondents actually felt that they learned from their parents.
Condoms were found to be the most preferred method of protection against HIV/AIDS (56 per cent), followed by being faithful to one partner (32 per cent) and practicing abstinence (12 per cent).The noticeable difference across markets was in the US, where the majority of non-sexually active respondents selected abstinence as their preferred method of protection (71 per cent).
On an encouraging note many of the stereotypes have been discredited. Respondents do not believe that Aids is a homosexual disease (97 per cent), or that sex with a virgin can cure AIDS (95 per cent), or that only drug addicts get Aids (97 per cent).
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.
