Zee Media advertising revenue jumps 47.7 per cent to Rs 179.71 crore in Q1 FY27

NOIDA: Zee Media has turned up the volume on advertising. Zee Media Corporation Limited reported a 47.7 per cent year-on-year jump in advertising revenue to Rs 179.71 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, helping its operating revenue rise despite continued pressure on the broader media business.

The company’s operating revenue increased 4.7 per cent year on year to Rs 190.85 crore in Q1 FY27, compared with Rs 182.36 crore in the corresponding quarter last year.

Operating expenditure stood at Rs 174.59 crore, while operating profit, or EBITDA, came in at Rs 16.26 crore.

Advertising remained the main revenue engine, climbing from Rs 121.66 crore in Q1 FY26 to Rs 179.71 crore this quarter. Subscription revenue also grew 9.9 per cent to Rs 11.14 crore from Rs 10.13 crore a year earlier.

The quarter saw Zee Media lean heavily into election coverage, regional reporting and its flagship news properties.

Zee News and Zee 24 Ghanta provided extensive coverage of the West Bengal elections, including constituency-level reporting, ground insights, data-led analysis, polling-day developments and live counting updates.

The company also deployed its regional network across the Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry elections, combining national editorial resources with language-specific and on-ground reporting.

Zee Media also continued to build its international presence through WION.

Its Global Leadership & Innovation Summit in Sri Lanka brought together policymakers, business leaders and experts to discuss India-Sri Lanka relations and opportunities for collaboration.

Across the quarter, the company said it hosted 36 high-impact events covering healthcare, travel and tourism, public policy, business, leadership, education, culture and community.

The company’s infotainment and cultural portfolio also expanded with Bhojpuri Samman, which brought together prominent names from Bhojpuri cinema and entertainment while highlighting regional culture.

Zee Bharat began a brand transformation aimed at creating a younger and more aspirational identity. Initiatives such as Green Champions were introduced to deepen engagement with younger audiences.

Meanwhile, Zee Business continued to build its financial content portfolio through properties including Money Alpha, Wealth Summit and Bharose Ki Choice.

The company said Zee Business ranked first among competitors in YouTube video-on-demand views during Q1, citing data from Tubular Labs.

Technology was another key part of Zee Media’s transformation during the quarter, with AI-led tools being introduced across newsrooms and content workflows.

The tools are being used to support reporting, speed up processes, strengthen data-led storytelling and improve operational efficiency.

Zee Media chief executive officer Raktim Das said the company was moving beyond its traditional advertising-led model towards a more diversified media organisation.

“We are taking a strategic and transformative leap forward to achieve a paradigm shift from a conventional advertising-led news company towards a diversified revenue stream media organisation.”

Das said the company was focused on strengthening Zee News and Zee Business, refreshing Zee Bharat, positioning WION for global growth and building scalable digital properties.

The Q1 performance gives Zee Media a stronger starting point for that transition, with advertising momentum, regional and global expansion, new content properties and technology investment all forming part of its push towards a more diversified revenue model.