News Broadcasting
BBC World News Horizons features 9 innovations of India
MUMBAI:BBC World News show Horizons takes a tour of India and highlights a few innovative ideas and practices followed in the country. From the ambitious biometric system called Aadhar to the SMS authentication service to counter problem for proliferation of fake drugs, India has proud moments along with nations like China, UK & US also working towards similar issues.
1.Scientists at IIT have developed a biodegradable emulsion called Fru Wash. The emulsion contains anti-oxidant and anti-microbial qualities, which slow the process of ripening and could increase the shelf life of produce without the need for refrigeration. Fru Wash is used in the field after harvesting when produce is freshest and the chemical most effective
2.To counter problem for proliferation of fake drugs, PharmaSecure has worked with leading companies in India to roll out their SMS authentication service on over 100 million drug packages for the domestic market. The system is allowing consumers to authenticate medicines by mobile phone
3.K.K. Plastics collects plastic which is shredded and eventually turned into roads. The plastic is mixed with asphalt at 150 degrees Celsius to produce polymerized bitumen. The plastic acts as a binding agent, helping road surfaces hold together better at higher temperatures. Since plastic is water-resistant, the roads don’t get waterlogged, have fewer potholes and need repairs less frequently than conventional roads
4.The launch of the biometric system is called Aadhar where a 12-digit unique ID is generated using both ten fingerprints and two Iris scans, which boosts accuracy and reduces duplication
5.Zed Earth, two eco-friendly housing developments in Bangalore which aim to be almost entirely independent from the civic infrastructure for water and electricity using renewable energy sources
6.The so called Advanced Heavy Water Reactor is being developed to accommodate Thorium as its core fuel. A prototype reactor is being constructed at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre based on this mineral; leading to independence from imports
7.The twin pit toilet developed by Sulabh Sanitation Movement in New Delhi is already improving sanitation for an estimated 10 million people daily. The simple toilet uses two pits dug into the ground connected to a traditional squat lavatory. This reduces water use and needs no chemicals to treat the waste.
8.ZMQ Software Solutions, Delhi-based technology for social development company. create mobile phone apps and educational games to help and empower the poorest in society. A group of women who have been able to start their own small businesses using apps, which provide access to microloans and teach basic economic skills
9.Housing districts like Chembur have started to deal with 8,000 metric tonnes of waste it generates daily. A women’s collective gathers Chembur’s rubbish and biodegradable wet material, which makes up to 60 percent of the district’s household waste – is composted on-site and used for gardening, while dry material is recycled. Similar schemes are now running at 40 locations around Mumbai.
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.
