News Broadcasting
Relive lives of renowned Hindi poets with ‘Mahakavi’ on ABP News
MUMBAI: ABP News is launching its all new of its kind primetime show “Mahakavi” from 5 November. ABP News will pay tribute to legendary Indian poets who have made a prominent place for Hindi poetry in the world of literature through its all new one of its kind show ‘MAHAKAVI’. Mahakavi is an effort to bring richness of literary heritage on Indian Television for the 1st time ever.
The programme will be anchored by Kumar Vishwas.
Hindi Poetry is the oldest form of literature and has a rich written and oral tradition. Through times, we have learnt that poetry is not just meant for entertainment in royal courts but carry the strength to move mountains, wage wars and much more. India has a legacy of poets renowned across the globe. Their contributions range in various genres like Shringar (love), Karun (pathos), Veer (heroic), Hasya (comic) amongst many. Some of the outstanding works were commonly recited during Indian independence movements spreading valour and courage.
ABP News will pay tribute to such legendry Indian poets who have made a prominent place for Hindi poetry in the world of literature through its all new one of its kind show ‘MAHAKAVI’. Mahakavi is an effort to bring richness of literary heritage on Indian Television for the 1st time ever. An in-depth series of 10 episodes will familiarize old and new generation with some of the most interesting aspects of our favorite poets. Anchored by an internationally renowned and celebrated Hindi poet Kumar Vishwas, each episode of the series would encapsulate the life and works of great Indian poets like Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, Dushyant Kumar, Suryakant Tripathi Nirala, Harivansh Rai Bacchan, Sudama Pandey Dhumil and many more. Kumar Vishwas will not only anchor the series but also recite and sing selected popular poems of the chosen Hindi poets. This weekly series will debut on ABP News from 5th Nov, every Sat-Sun at 10PM.
Dr. Kumar Vishwas said “Most people nowadays forget Hindi poetry right after their basic education. Dinkar, Nirala, Premchand become mere names to them. In my performances across the world, I also recite poetries of famous Indian poets apart from my own. I see great enthusiasm amongst people to hear the great collection of such incredible poets. The series ‘Mahakavi’ by ABP News will show the known and unknown part of the lives of famous Hindi poets which will not only sate the need of Hindi poetry for millions but also be a tribute to Hindi language. I am sure the series will be loved by all.”
“At ANN, we are committed to keep consumer ahead all the time by bringing innovative programming ideas. Mahakavi is another milestone in this direction backed by extensive content research and high-end production quality. Mahakavi is an effort to bring richness of literary heritage on Indian Television for the 1st time ever. The untold stories of renowned Hindi poets will certainly excite viewers and partners” says Ashok Venkatramani, CEO, ABP News Network
Milind Khandekar, Managing Editor of ABP News, said, “At ABP News, we believe in continuous innovation. This has previously been proved by shows like ‘Pradhanmantri’ and ‘Ramrajya’. Our ongoing show Bharatvarsh is another benchmark in innovation. Keeping our belief intact, we are launching ‘Mahakavi’ that embarks on a journey into the lives of eminent Hindi poets who have achieved prominence through their phenomenal work in Hindi literature across the globe.”
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.
