News Broadcasting
CNBC TV18 to exclusively air CEO’s Got Talent
MUMBAI: The month of March has seen a unique property, CEO’s Got Talent emerge under the internationally acclaimed Got Talent franchise, bringing together mavericks of the corporate and entertainment industry on a common platform at a plush hotel in suburban Mumbai. Organized by FremantleMedia India, for the benefit of Genesis Foundation, the gala event witnessed twelve CEOs as they come in the spotlight while showcasing their creative and varied talents. Viewers will be able to get an exclusive glimpse into the fun-fun-filled evening on CNBC TV18 on Saturday, 29th March 2014 at 4:30 PM and Sunday, 30th March 2014 at 5:30 PM.
CEO’s Got Talent was a unique property created by FremantleMedia India. The on-ground event comprised of several acts ranging from classical singing, jive dance moves to playing musical instruments and stand-up comedy. The event was filled with energy and vigor as the top management of India Inc. came together in support of Genesis Foundation. These acts were judged by a distinguished panel of jury members including renowned actor Raveena Tandon, celebrated director-producer Mahesh Bhatt and Raj Nayak, CEO – COLORS.
Upon being declared the winner of CEO’s Got Talent, Atul Khatri, CEO of Kaytek Computer Services Pvt. Ltd. said, “Owing to our hectic routines, we often find it difficult to pursue our passions. CEO’s Got Talent has given us the experience that has been truly enriching and a welcome break from our busy schedules. This feels extremely special because we have come out of the board rooms to showcase our talent and give back to the society by supporting Genesis Foundation.”
Talking about the event, Anupama Mandloi, Managing Director – FremantleMedia India said, “We were very excited to launch such a unique initiative adapted from our global ‘Got Talent’ Franchise. We wish to reach out to the core business leaders of the country with CNBC TV18 as our broadcast partner. This formed a great platform for senior management of the country to showcase their talent outside the corporate board rooms!”
Mr. Krishnadeep Baruah, Senior Marketing Director – BBM (APAC) said, “Setting up BBM Channels through this initiative, we provided leaders of corporate India an opportunity to promote their talent. As part of this format, the CEOs set up their own BBM Channels and therefore had a number of fans following them through their channels page. The number of subscribers on their BBM channel contributed to their overall score. This tool has acted as a rich community-building tool.”
CEO’s Got Talent showcased India Inc.’s leaders in a manner never seen before, even by their peers. Proceeds from the auctioned painting by well-known artist Subra went to Genesis Foundation.
Genesis Foundation provides financial support for life-saving and life-changing medical intervention for critically ill under-privileged children in areas of cancer, cardiac disorder, organ failure, thalassemia and extreme deformities.
Watch out for all this and much more exclusively on CNBC TV18 on Saturday, 29th March 2014 at 4:30 pm and Sunday, 30th March 2014 at 5:00 pm.
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.
