News Broadcasting
Zee News to launch two interactive shows
MUMBAI: Zee News is coming up with two interactive discussion programmes this weekend, Kitna Bole Baba and Main Azaad Hoon.
These programmes will primarily focus on two issues – Have religious gurus become the role models of the society today; and Is the society in Gujarat accepting the liberal women. Viewers can send in their queries through SMS.
The two programmes have been designed in a way to have the highest possible viewer’s interactivity. Main Azaad Hoon initiates the discussion on today’s liberal attitude of women, whereas it is commoner’s increasing dependency on the religious gurus takes the center stage in Kitna Bole Baba.
The programmes are aimed at clarifying the prevailing misconceptions about the issues. Kitna Bole Baba will focus the society’s current mindset of making larger than life picture of their religious gurus.
It is going to be a discussion between today’s famous gurus and the social scientists with a view to bring a clearer picture of the thought process the gurus put in, while advising their disciples in their day to day affairs. It will be telecast on 23 December at 8 pm.
Main Azaad Hoon will focus on the pragmatic situations, which today’s women often find them into. From having a boyfriend to having an extra marital affair, no question is going to be hypothetical, asserts an official release.
The discussion will further cover the morality factor in the women’s action from society’s viewpoint. Apart from survey and field stories, the guests in the studio will also contribute with their views. Guests would include some social activists, young girls and a psychologist. This will be telecast on 24 December at 8 pm. The survey was conducted in four cities – Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot.
A deep research was conducted, before zeroing down on these topics. The channel has been frequently providing a platform to discuss the important topics, which will pave way to an open-minded society, adds 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.
