News Broadcasting
Zee launches ‘Kahiye To…’, expects to bring ‘democracy’ in TV viewing
MUMBAI: Zee TV has introduced Kahiye To… an interactive programme that will have the viewer calling shots and demand the programme of his choice.
Raj Verma and Anmol Gill who is making her debut on television will host Kahiye To…, which will air on Sundays at 12:30 pm.
Kahiye To… expects to take forward the famous adage “The viewer is king”. As Zee TV head programming Ashwini Yardi says, ” This is the first time a television channel is going interactive with its viewers. The audience gets full freedom of choice, deciding what they want to watch. No longer will the audience be mute spectators, but, based on the pilot, they will decide if they want a serial to be developed further or be junked.”
In the show, the viewers will be introduced to the concept of the series and then to clippings of the pilot with an introduction of the same. Finally, the anchors will encourage the viewers to send in their votes for the said pilot, through SMS. Based on a benchmark number of votes, and a Yes: No ratio, it will be decided whether the viewers would like the pilot to become a full-fledged series. The results will be announced in the following weeks’ episode. If there is a thumbs-up for a pilot, it will go into production and be on air in the shortest possible time, said an official release.
The pilot will be shown on alternate weeks. The episodes will also have exciting contests where the viewers can win fabulous prizes, highlights for the week for Zee TV will also be shown during the programme. The episode without pilots will have an interview with a celebrity from Zee TV, added the release.
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.
