News Broadcasting
NDTV Prime presents Stand Up Planet
MUMBAI: NDTV Prime is proud to present Stand Up Planet, a travelogue hosted by L.A.-based Indian American comic, Hasan Minhaj (Arrested Development, MTV’s Failosophy), that takes viewers on a quest to find some of the best humour coming from across the world.
Along the way, Minhaj follows the jokes and personal experiences of these international comics deep into the hard truths of some of the toughest global poverty issues of our time.
With a posse of comedian friends, including Nate Bargatze, James Adomian and Michelle Buteau, Minhaj invites one comic from India and one from South Africa to take part in the biggest night of their lives – performing in an international comedy showcase and television show in Hollywood – after a stop to meet comedy legend Bill Cosby.
NDTV Prime has partnered with KCETLink, the national independent public media organization (USA) to premiere STAND UP PLANET. The two part comedy documentary will be aired on NDTV Prime as part of the channel’s Comedy time band at 10:00pm on May 17 & May 24.
Speaking on the association Vikram Chandra, Group CEO, NDTV said, “We at NDTV have always strived towards providing global quality content to our viewers and the association with KCETLink’s original comedy special STAND UP PLANET is yet another step towards achieving this. Comedy is gaining great popularity in India and through the platform of NDTV Prime; we will showcase the best in the genre to our viewers.”
STAND UP PLANET is funded by a grant from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and produced by independent broadcaster KCETLink in association with [http://www.kontentfilms.com/] Kontent Films. The television elements were directed by David Munro, and the project’s executive producers are Wendy Hanamura, Caty Borum Chattoo, Paul S. Mason, Craig Minassian, David Munro, Xandra Castleton, Mark Decena and Teri Heyman. Munro and Castleton are the TV programís creators. The project’s transmedia executive producers and directors are Caty Borum Chattoo and Wendy Hanamura. The special is being distributed nationally in the U.S. by KCET, Link TV and Pivot TV.
STAND UP PLANET’s robust website will provide viewers with behind-the-scenes content and ways to learn, share information and take action on global poverty in India and South Africa.
Follow STAND UP PLANET on Twitter at @standupplanettv and on Facebook at facebook.com/StandUpPlanet. Follow the conversations at #StandUpPlanet. To learn more, please visit www.standupplanet.org.
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.
