GECs
ZEE Network announces their new campaign ‘Dilfluencers’
Mumbai: ZEE Network is set to announce the launch of their new campaign ‘Dilfluencers’.
The latest campaign emphasizes that its most loved TV characters are far more than just social media stars but are a daily companion to the millions of viewers whose hearts they touch on a daily basis, therefore dubbing them as ‘Dilfluencers’. A campaign film featuring Jackie Shroff humorously shifts the focus from conventional social media shoutouts to the powerful everyday influence ZEE’s characters wield. The messaging for ‘Dilfluencers’ is rooted in #SachTohYehiHai, underscoring how ZEE’s characters have, since 1992, evolved into symbols of resilience and empowerment, producing over 5 lakh episodes and 3 lakh+ hours of content. Serving as a daily companion to 174 million people, ZEE’s characters capture the evolving aspirations of viewers, championing themes like equality, reverse parenting, and second chances. ‘Dilfluencers’ creates an opportunity for brands to leverage the authenticity and deep-rooted trust these characters command, making connections that extend beyond social media into the everyday lives of audiences across Bharat.
ZEE chief growth officer, digital & broadcast revenue, Ashish Sehgal said, “In a culturally diverse country like India, our ‘Dilfluencers’ resonate with viewers across multiple demographics. With a network reach of 859 million viewers, including 439 million females, ZEE connects with the key decision makers of every household. Our weekly organic cumulative reach on social is 960 million which makes ZEE’s characters indispensable for brands to influence household choices. These characters are more than on-screen personas—they are deeply relatable figures in viewers’ lives, offering brands a unique opportunity to tap into their trust and loyalty. Television has built these iconic characters, while digital media has amplified engagement, adding new dimensions. Branded content leveraging ZEE Influencers has already delivered impactful results, and with this launch, we aim to scale this success, offering partners an unmatched connection with households across India.”
ZEE CMO, content SBU, Kartik Mahadev said, “At Zee, our storytelling is consumer inspired, it reflects the evolving aspirations of our audiences, feels authentic and creates emotional resonance required to propel change. Our characters today take on roles as bankers, bakers, entrepreneurs, and teachers, they spark cultural conversations and foster a deep sense of community. It isn’t enough for influencers to just wear a product. Through ‘Dilfluencers’ we are going further, enabling brands to harness the halo of our most trusted TV characters and their unique ability to shape life choices, coupled with a digital video delivery that feels personal. This initiative brings the best of two worlds, the equity building power of TV personas and the flexibility of digital delivery that can be targeted to hyperlocal audiences, creating empathy at scale.”
GECs
Sahara One reports financial results, notes director exit and business realignment
Muted revenues, steady expenses and strategic adjustments shape company’s current phase
MUMBAI: In a tale where the sands seem to be slipping faster than they can be gathered, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited has reported another quarter of wafer-thin income and widening losses, even as a boardroom exit adds to the unease.
The company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that its board, in a meeting held on April 4, approved its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. The numbers paint a stark picture. Total income for the quarter stood at just Rs 0.13 lakh, unchanged sequentially and sharply down from Rs 0.26 lakh a year earlier.
Losses, meanwhile, deepened. The company posted a net loss of Rs 24.16 lakh for the quarter, compared to Rs 18.81 lakh in the June quarter and Rs 39.69 lakh in the same period last year. For the six months ended September 2025, the cumulative loss stood at Rs 39.69 lakh, while the full-year loss for FY25 was reported at Rs 60.72 lakh.
Expenses continued to outweigh income by a wide margin. Total expenses for the quarter came in at Rs 24.30 lakh, led by employee benefit costs of Rs 6.51 lakh and other expenses of Rs 17.78 lakh. Earnings per share remained in the red at Rs (0.11) for the quarter.
The balance sheet reflects a company with significant assets on paper but limited operational momentum. Total assets stood at Rs 23,065.57 lakh as of September 30, 2025, broadly unchanged from March 2025. Equity share capital remained steady at Rs 2,152.50 lakh, while total equity was reported at Rs 18,004.85 lakh.
Cash and cash equivalents saw a modest uptick to Rs 6.75 lakh from Rs 4.68 lakh earlier, supported by a positive operating cash flow of Rs 180.01 lakh for the period.
Yet, beneath these numbers lies a more complex narrative. The company’s auditors flagged their inability to obtain sufficient evidence to form a conclusion on the financial statements, citing lack of access to records. They also raised concerns over the company’s ability to continue as a going concern, pointing to insufficient funds, delayed recoveries, and stalled content investments.
Adding to the governance overhang, the company disclosed that Rana Zia has resigned as whole-time director, effective October 16, 2025, citing other professional commitments. The resignation, noted and accepted by the board, also brings an end to her role across company committees.
Regulatory pressures continue to loom large. The Securities and Exchange Board of India has already initiated penal actions for non-compliance with listing norms, with trading in the company’s shares remaining suspended. There is also a risk of promoter demat accounts being frozen.
Legacy legal issues remain unresolved. A substantial deposit of Rs 694,027.88 thousand linked to the long-running OFCD dispute involving Sahara group entities is still under the purview of the Supreme Court of India. Restrictions on asset disposal continue to weigh on the company’s financial flexibility.
Operationally, challenges persist across multiple fronts. Advances worth Rs 1,92,916 thousand given for film content remain stuck, with delays in project completion and uncertain recoverability. The company’s YouTube channel, despite being operational, has generated no revenue for over three years due to compliance lapses. In a further twist, management has indicated that revenues may have been fraudulently diverted through unauthorised changes to its AdSense account, with a police complaint in the works.
There are also missed revenue opportunities. Television content rights continue to be used by a related party despite the expiry of the licence agreement, with fresh negotiations still underway.
For now, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited appears caught between legacy disputes and present-day operational hurdles. As losses linger and governance questions mount, the road to recovery looks less like a sprint and more like a slow trudge through shifting sands.
