News Broadcasting
Zee Business presents ‘Majboor ya Mazboot’ on Union Budget 2024
Mumbai: Zee Business, a business news channel, is to announce its anticipated special show – Union Budget 2024 -‘Majboor ya Mazboot,’ set to air on July 23, 2024 7 am onwards. This exclusive broadcast will offer a comprehensive analysis of the Union Budget 2024, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and its potential impact on the country’s economic trajectory.
As India strides forward into a new era under prime minister Narendra Modi’s third term, the Union Budget 2024 is expected to chart a strategic vision for sustained economic growth. The budget aims to balance development and fiscal prudence. As per the latest BARC data, Zee Business is known for its precise business news reportage with 57.5 per cent viewership as compared to its peers in the Industry. (Source: BARC | HSM | 22+ M ABC | Week 28’24 (Rolling Avg. 4 weeks) | 0600-2400 Hrs | 4 Business News Channels | Market Share per cent)
The upcoming ‘Majboor ya Mazboot’ show will critically examine whether the Union Budget 2024 establishes a robust foundation (‘Mazboot’) or faces significant constraints (‘Majboor’). Viewers can anticipate in-depth discussions on key budgetary announcements and their expected impacts on various sectors such as development, infrastructure, and innovation. The show will feature insightful conversations with economists, industry leaders, and financial analysts, helping viewers decode the budget’s complexities and providing a clear understanding of its implications for different sectors and the overall economy.
Zee Business managing editor Anil Singhvi expressed his enthusiasm about the upcoming show, stating, “The Union Budget 2024 is a pivotal moment for India’s economic future. Our special program, ‘Union Budget 2024 – Majboor ya Mazboot,’ is designed to offer citizens with a thorough analysis and expert perspectives on the budget’s implications. Zee Business remains committed to delivering insightful content that enables our audience to make informed decisions.”
Zee Business business head Pankaj Rai further emphasised the show’s significance, highlighting, “As we embark on this new phase under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, the Union Budget 2024 will be crucial in shaping India’s economic policies. We are committed to delivering insightful content that empowers our audience to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving economic landscape. ‘Majboor ya Mazboot’ aims to simplify complex budgetary details into accessible information, ensuring our audience can comprehend and leverage the potential opportunities and challenges presented by this budget.”
Zee Business’ ‘Majboor ya Mazboot’ looks forward to empowering citizens to make informed decisions by understanding how this budget will shape India’s economic future.
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.
