News Broadcasting
Zee posts turnaround; reports profit of Rs 118 crore
Mumbai: Subhash Chandra’s use of the axe at Zee Entertainment Enterprises seems to be yielding results. The goateed entrepreneur has taken charge over the past six months and has been focusing on reducing costs and getting Zee ship into shipshape. This is showing up in the first quarter 2025 accounts released earlier today.
EBITDA margins at 12.8 per cent; year on year increased by 500bps, aided by effective cost management and lower interests costs and rise in other income (Rs 19 crore vs Rs 14.5 crore). Net profit during the quarter was at Rs 118.1 crore which is a 784.16 per cent increase quarter on quarter.
Overall Q1 FY25 revenue rose to Rs 2130.5 crore (as against Rs 1983.8 crores in previous year’s corresponding quarter.
Thanks to the surfeit of cricket and elections, the network share fell from 16.8 per cent to 16.4 per cent in the latest quarter. In keeping with the drop, domestic advertising fell 3.6 per cent at Rs 911.3 crore (Rs 940.9 crore), even as subscription revenue rose to Rs 987.2 crore (Rs 907.5 crore). International advertising revenue was at Rs 424 crore whereas subscription revenue was at Rs 102.4 crore. Its domestic weekly impressions grew from 28.5 billion to 28.7 billion.
The company in its earnings release has stated that it expects its margins to improve through the rest of the year even as it keeps a tight eye on costs. It however has cautioned that the amount margins improve will depend on how ad revenue picks up in the second half.
On the digital front, its streaming platform Zee5’s revenue increased 15.3 percent to Rs 223.7 crore in Q1 from Rs 193.9 crore in the year-ago period.
The Zee share price is quoted around the Rs 151 mark at the time of writing.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
