News Broadcasting
Sound Awake edition II set to rock December
MUMBAI: DNA Networks, the pioneers in mega live entertainment in India are back with the Second Edition of their well-received Electronic Music Property- SOUND AWAKE.
The festival will be held in Bangalore, Karnataka on December 1, 2013 and will see many spectacular live performances, including the likes of American Electro House DJ/ Producer Steve Aoki – one of the major headliners at the festival. Italian Electro-House & Dance –Punk Producer Congo Rock (best known for his hit single Babylon) and Jacob Plant
SOUND AWAKE, brings forth a single platform for performances by top national and international artistes and seeks to redefine EDM and change the perception of Electronic Dance Music in India.
Thoughts on Sound Awake, December 2013- Mr. T. Venkat Vardhan, MD, DNA Entertainment Networks on Sound Awake, Edition II:”In order to enhance the festival experience this time around, we have a headline act in Steve Aoki, who is one of the top DJs. He is also known for the signature performance & interaction with the live audience. We will once again have the Flea Markets from Goa which was a great success the first time for the fans.”
The influence of this genre of music on the audience has been tremendous over the last decade. DNA aspires to contribute to it and widen the reach of this thriving genre in India. The festival will feature 4 stages and is being held in collaboration with dance record label giants Ministry of Sound and HedKandi. In tandem with the world’s top dance record labels, DNA with SOUND AWAKE is set to bring the best of the world’s EDM to India.
The festival will be held at Supernova Arena & Convention Centre, Yelahanka, Airport Road, Bangalore-560064- the newest addition to other live entertainment areas in Bangalore.
NOTES TO THE EDITOR
Steve Aoki – Steve Aoki, the DJ/Producer, among many traits also founded his own label, Dim Mak Records, in 1996. The label has released music by other electro house artists such as Datsik, Infected Mushroom, Dada Life, Zeds Dead, his own collaboration with Tiesto, MSTRKRFT, The Bloody Beetroots, Felix Cartal and Mustard Pimp, as well as by Bloc Party, Battles, The Kills, The Gossip, Klaxons, Scanners, Whitey, and Mystery Jets to name a few. The label has released over 250 records so far. Aoki has remixed many artists and bands, including Jackson 5, Drake, Kanye West, Eminem, Lil Wayne, Mike Posner, All American Rejects, Refused, The Killers, Bassnectar, Lenny Kravitz, Bloc Party, Snoop Dogg, Robin Thicke, S.P.A., Kid Cudi, Chester French and Peaches. http://steveaoki.com/blog/bio
Congorock – Rocco Rampino, aka Congorock is an Italian electro-house and dance- punk producer who gained popularity with his track ‘ Babylon’ which was included in the Ministry of Sound Compilation 2010.Said to be the hottest fresh face in the international dance music scene, with his unique style and approach to music which has grabbed him a lot of attention.
Congorock has worked with some biggest names in the industry such as Steve Aoki, Travis Barker, Rihanna, Benny Banassi, Skrillex, Pitbull, Swedish House Mafia. His recent ventures have made his tracks reach new commercial heights.
Jacob Plant – At just 22, Jacob Plant has already become a household name in the dance music scene. Having worked with and remixed for some huge names in the industry such as Rihanna, Calvin Harris and Iggy Azalea, Jacob Plant has already carved a niche for himself as a respected producer.
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.
