News Broadcasting
Brand Bengal Takes a Bow as Enterprise Steals the Show
TV9 Bangla honours 30 plus changemakers in four episode celebration.
MUMBAI: In a state famed for poetry and politics, business took centre stage. And this time, the applause was for balance sheets as much as ballads. Organised by TV9 Bangla, Brands of Bengal Season IV unfolded as an immersive awards showcase recognising some of the region’s most promising and impactful enterprises. Spanning sectors from real estate and education to pharmaceuticals, healthcare, hospitality and technology, the initiative cast a spotlight on organisations shaping what many still fondly call the City of Joy.
The celebration will reach viewers in four televised episodes, with the first two airing on 14 and 15 February, followed by the remaining two on 21 and 22 February, each between 11.30 am and 12 pm.
Beyond trophies and titles, the core idea was sharper: ignite entrepreneurship in a state often perceived as cautious about risk. Brands of Bengal aims to nudge the next generation towards business by chronicling journeys marked by hardship, resilience and reinvention. The narrative is less about overnight success and more about grit, determination and long term commitment that define Bengal’s evolving economic story.
TV9 Network chief operating officer for national and International K Vikram described the initiative as both recognition and reminder. He noted that undivided Bengal was once the industrial hub of British India, before socio economic shifts altered its trajectory. Today, he said, the state’s institutions are demonstrating resilience, creativity and global ambition, and the awards seek to honour organisations that combine commercial success with meaningful social contribution.
The winners list reads like a cross section of Bengal’s entrepreneurial spectrum. From Utpalaa The Condoville by Ambuja Neotia for excellence in landmark residential projects, to IEM UEM Group for excellence in education and placement. Suraksha Diagnostic Limited was recognised for excellence in genomic diagnostics in Eastern India, while Taste N Bite earned acclaim for customer delight in the cake shop chain category.
Healthcare and education featured prominently, with honours for Santiniketan Medical College and Hospital for transforming rural healthcare, ASMII Save The Sight Foundation for advanced eye care, Vivekananda Hospital for trauma and critical care, and International Institute of Nursing and Research for nursing education. Institutions such as Adamas University, JDS Public School and Elitte College of Engineering were recognised for academic excellence.
The awards also acknowledged innovation in technology and services. Adamas Tech Consulting Private Limited was named among the most promising technology brands nationally and internationally, Techwala K3 Solutions Pvt Ltd was recognised for digital brand building strategy, while Samata Co operative Development Bank Ltd was honoured for co operative banking services empowered by digital innovation.
TV9 Bangla Brands of Bengal recognises the following brands under multiple categories as listed below:
Client Category Utpalaa~The Condoville by Ambuja Neotia Excellence in Landmark Residential project of the region IEM-UEM Group IEM – UEM GROUP – Multi-Campus University- – BRANDS OF BENGAL for Excellence in Education & Placement. Suraksha Diagnostic Limited Excellence in Genomic Diagnostics – Eastern India Taste & Bite Excellence in Customer Delight – Cake Shop Chain (Bengal) Adamas University Excellence in Academics and placements Aditya Group Excellence in Eastern India Impact Leadership M L Support Excellence in Health Care Service JDS Public School Excellence in Holistic Education ELITTE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Excellence in Engineering Teaching Adamas Tech Consulting Private Limited Excellence and most promising Technology Brand in nationally and internationally Bhooter Raja Dilo Bor Excellence in Outstanding Bengali Culinary Heritage M/S MOHD SHAHNAWAZ KHAN(Transport and Logistic Services) Excellence in Road Transport International Institute of Nursing & Research Excellence in Nursing Education & Research Mitra Caf? Excellence in Bengali & Multi cuisine restaurant Novesta Group Excellence in Bungalow Project Development – Bengal Santiniketan Medical College & Hospital Excellence in Transforming Rural Health Care System Introlink Excellence in Kitchen and Furniture Technology Samata Co operative Development bank Ltd Excellence in Co-Operative Banking Services Empowered by Digital Innovation ASMII SAVE THE SIGHT FOUNDATION Excellence in Advanced & trusted Eye Care Vivekananda Hospital Excellence in Trauma & Critical Care Purusottam Homeo Bikash Laboratory (Bonded) Excellence in Quality Assurance in Homeopathic Medicines PICE Educare Private Limited Excellence in medical education consultant (India & abroad),2025 Swarnabha Industries Excellence in Plastic Multiple Product Manufacturing Business Bharati Diagnostic Centre Excellence in Diagnostic Services Surobharati Sangeet Kala Kendra Excellence in Cultural Education for Children & Youth Techwala K3 Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Excellence in Digital Brand Building Strategy Maharaja Caterer Excellence in Catering Services in Kolkata Banabithi Resort Excellence in Eco Resort Hospitality
From Bhooter Raja Dilo Bor and Mitra Cafe celebrating Bengali culinary heritage, to Banabithi Resort in eco hospitality, Maharaja Caterer in catering services and Swarnabha Industries in plastic product manufacturing, the spectrum reflected Bengal’s diverse enterprise fabric. Organisations such as M L Support, Bharati Diagnostic Centre, Purusottam Homeo Bikash Laboratory and PICE Educare Private Limited also featured among the honourees.
The evening concluded with a high energy gala night that blended business with Bengal’s cinematic flair. Tollywood actors Abir Chatterjee and Monami Ghosh were in attendance, while the finale saw the presence of leading names including Padma Shri awardee Prosenjit Chatterjee, Rituparna Sengupta, Jishu Sengupta and filmmaker Srijit Mukherjee.
If literature once defined Bengal’s identity and cinema shaped its imagination, Brands of Bengal suggests enterprise is scripting its next chapter. And this time, the spotlight is firmly on those building it.
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.
