News Broadcasting
ZEE Kannada News to host Achievers Awards 2026 honouring Karnataka’s changemakers
Flagship awards night in Bengaluru to honour leaders across public life, culture, business and sport
Bengaluru: Zee Kannada News is rolling out the red carpet for Karnataka’s doers and drivers, as it hosts the ZEE Kannada News Achievers Awards 2026—an annual showcase of individuals shaping the state’s social, cultural and developmental arc.
The ceremony, set for 12 February from 5 pm at The Lalit Ashok, Bengaluru, positions itself as a celebration of real-world impact. From governance and public service to business, arts, culture and social work, the platform seeks to put the spotlight on those pushing Karnataka’s progress story forward.
The evening will unfold in the presence of Jagadguru Shri Shri Shri Nirmalanandanatha Mahaswamiji, president, Sri Adichunchanagiri Mahasamsthana Math, Mandya. A line-up of political heavyweights is expected, including H. K. Patil, minister for law and parliamentary affairs; Ramalinga Reddy, minister for transport and muzrai; G. Parameshwara, minister for home affairs; Eshwar Khandre, minister for forest department; Shivaraj Tangadagi, minister for Kannada and culture and backward classes welfare; Rahim Khan, minister for municipal administration and hajj; P. M. Narendraswamy, chairman, state environment and pollution control board; and V. Sunil Kumar, mla and state BJP general secretary.
Cinema will have a strong showing too, with director and actor S. Narayan and actors Pramod Shetty and Pooja Gandhi among the prominent names expected to attend.
A key highlight is the lifetime achievement honours, reserved for those whose contributions have left a long shadow. This year’s recipients include B. S. Yediyurappa, former chief minister of Karnataka, for his role in public life and governance; S. Narayan, director, actor and producer, for contributions to Kannada cinema; Anke Gowda M., librarian and book lover, for championing reading and access to knowledge; and Chitra Magimairaj, international snooker player, for representing India on the global stage.
The awards, the channel says, are meant to recognise leadership, integrity and commitment that go beyond personal success and translate into social value. The idea is as much about storytelling as it is about trophies—curating narratives of resilience, responsibility and excellence that mirror Karnataka’s ambitions.
Commercial partners are firmly in place. Tanishq comes in as presenting sponsor, with Sunpure Oil as powered-by partner. Smartquick and Bandhan Properties are associate partners. TRS Fashions and Abaya Gold Buyers join as fashion partners, while Kalyan Foots and Dhana Ganapathi Finance are special partners. Nandini signs on as refreshing partner and Prajavani as printing partner.
In a crowded awards market, Zee Kannada News is betting on credibility and local resonance. By foregrounding public service, culture and community impact, it is pitching the night as more than spectacle.
For one evening at least, the state’s power corridors, film circles and grassroots heroes share the same stage. The message is blunt and brisk: achievement counts, and Karnataka is keeping score.
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.
