News Broadcasting
Nittin Keni returns to head films division at Zee
NEW DELHI:Its homecoming of the prodigal, of sorts..
The Subhash Chandra-controlled Zee Telefilms has brought in Nittin Keni as the chief executive of its films division.
Keni shall be the head of the entire film business, including production of motion pictures, co-ventures, setting-up of domestic and overseas distribution network.
In addition, his company, Nittin Keni Creations Pvt. Ltd., has been contracted to produce two feature films per year for the Zee group and he would also be responsible for synergising film production and distribution initiatives with Padmalaya Telefilms Ltd, in which the Chandra company bought controlling stakes a few years ago.
Commenting on his appointment, Keni, who produced the blockbuster mainstream film Gadar- Ek Prem Katha, today said, My priority at Zee will be to create a sound, transparent and efficient global distribution network for our feature films. My main concern is piracy, which is rampant and the No. 1 scourge of the film business.
As part of an initiative against piracy, Keni is slated to soon lead a film delegation to Delhi to take up the matter with the central government.
Keni is an engineer and post-graduate in management from Indian Institute of Management , Kolkata. He was with NFDC before joining Zee at its inception. His return to Zee Network is at a significant time when the network is ready to take up larger challenges, new initiatives and respond to opportunities with unique synergy and strength as Indias largest vertically integrated media and entertainment company, media experts opined.
Keni, a well-known film and television professional, was the first executive president of Zee and the first CEO of Zee Cinema when it was launched in 1995. He was also involved in creating durable television properties like Zee Horror Show, amongst others, and executed film projects like Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aai, Aisi Bhi Kya Jaldi Hai and Fareb.
Zee Network with the overall objective of contributing to significant global positioning of Indian cinema, has decided to enlarge its operations in the field of production and distribution of Indian films, both mainstream and cross-over, within India as well as overseas.
Zee Telefilms Limited is India’s largest vertically integrated media and entertainment company. Zee has an integrated range of businesses, encompassing the content-to-consumer value chain of media and entertainment business.
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.
