News Broadcasting
Al Jazeera English returns with ‘Football Rebels’ for World Cup Fans
MUMBAI: With World Cup fever about to start in earnest, Al Jazeera English brings Football Rebels, presented and narrated by the former Manchester United star Eric Cantona, shining a spotlight on some of the more unusual stories of football heroes.
Football Rebels, is a five-part documentary that sheds light on five football legends whose social conscience led them to use their fame and influence to challenge unjust regimes, join opposition movements and lead the fight for democracy and human rights in their countries.
The first episode of Football Rebels is focused on Didier Drogba and the Ivorian Civil War. In 2006 ex-Chelsea legend, Didier Drogba used his influence as a footballer to call on the Ivory Coast’s President Gbagbo to end the civil war that had ravaged his home country. He also made a desperate plea for his countrymen to lay down their weapons, resulting in a ceasefire after 5 years of conflict.
The second episode revolves around the Socrates and the Corinthians Democracy movement. Popularly known as ‘the Doctor’, for having gained a
degree in medicine, Socrates combined his attacking midfield skills with his revolutionary political beliefs. Along with his team mates he transformed
every match into a political statement. His support for democracy helped ordinary Brazilians living through a military dictatorship in the 1980s,
realise that they could have a voice too.
The third episode showcases Predrag Pasic and the Siege of Sarajevo. As war raged across the remains of Yugoslavia, former international footballer, Predrag Pasic, decided to stay in Sarajevo despite the bombs and open a multi-ethnic football school, Bubamara. His brave stand against the sectarian atmosphere, created by civil war, gave many youngsters the chance to learn the philosophy of unity and teamwork through sport.
The fourth episode presents Carlos Caszely and the Demise of Allende. It follows the journey of Chilean player Carlos Caszely and how in 1973 his
support for murdered president Salvador Allende led to his persecution by General Pinochet’s regime.
The final episode talks about Rachid Mekhloufi and the FLN Team. It looks back at the Brazilian dictatorship of the early 1980s and how Sócrates the
midfield maestro and Brazilian captain turned every Corinthians’ match into a political meeting for democracy.
Commenting on “Football Rebels” Eric Cantona says: “Football is more than the opium of the people. It’s about good intentions, noble hearts… When
your country’s at war, your friends are killing each other and children are given rifles rather than footballs, so what if the whole world admires you!”
Football Rebels is written and directed by Gilles Rof and Gilles Perez.
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.
