News Broadcasting
Zee News Q2 net profit up 97% at Rs 57 million
MUMBAI: Zee News Limited (ZNL) has posted a standalone net profit of Rs 57 million for the quarter ended 30 September 2007, up 97 per cent as against Rs 29 million in the corresponding quarter last fiscal.
Operating revenue at Rs 776 million represented a 44 per cent jump over the year-ago period. Operating profit was at Rs 105 million, up from Rs 18 million.
ZNL’s advertisement revenue was Rs 608 million for the quarter, up 57 per cent on a like-to-like basis compared to Q2 FY07. Subscription revenue stood at Rs 150 million, up nine per cent.
Said ZNL chairman Subhash Chandra, “Zee News Limited has strengthened its position in the marketplace during Q2 FY08. Advertising revenues have grown by 57 per cent while subscription revenue improved by 9 per cent during the quarter. While ‘Zee Marathi’ and ‘Zee Bangla’ are steadily climbing the rating chart, the other existing businesses of Zee News Limited have also shown consistent growth momentum. The trends in the new businesses are encouraging with Zee Telugu and Zee Kannada improving their performance despite hyper competitive business environment. This nurtures our hope for a better future. Zee News Limited is moving well on its journey to gain envious position in the news and regional entertainment genres.”
ZNL MD Laxmi Narain Goel said, “Zee Marathi and Zee Bangla have given sterling performance during the quarter. Zee Marathi has maintained its Numero Uno position in the Marathi genre holding a vice-like grip on the number 1 position, while 24 Ghanta has also delivered a huge GRP increase and leading in Bangla news genre in Q2 FY08. Zee News maintained its ratings in the face of multiplying stiff competition in the Hindi News genre while achieving strong revenue growths. We have met the bottom line target during the 2nd quarter and this fortifies our belief that good people skill, sensitivity to changing needs of viewers, agile strategies, new offerings in content should stand us in good stead for a better future.”
Goel added, “The existing businesses have shown consistency in performance and revenues of existing businesses have grown by 42 per cent, the new businesses have also performed well in revenues and registered a growth of 80 per cent during the second quarter. We are also pleased to report that the operating margins on our existing businesses increased from 30 per cent during Q2 FY07 to 33 per cent during Q2 FY08.”
News Broadcasting
News18 India launches Command Centre war explainer with Arya
New show shifts from debates to decoding global conflicts and impacts
MUMBAI: News18 India has rolled out a new war-focused programme, Command Centre, featuring Gaurav Arya, as it looks to offer viewers a sharper, more grounded take on global conflicts amid rising tensions in West Asia.
Positioned as an “insider war room”, the show moves away from conventional panel debates and instead focuses on explaining military developments, decoding strategy and connecting global events to their everyday impact, from fuel prices to economic shifts.
The format leans heavily on visuals and data. The studio has been designed like a command hub, complete with large LED war maps, real-time graphics and an alert system to track developments as they unfold.
At the centre of it all is Arya, who brings his military background to simplify complex war strategies for viewers. His signature line, “Seedhi baat samjhiye”, anchors the show’s promise of clarity over noise.
News18 India managing editor Jyoti Kamal said, “Command Centre, featuring Major Gaurav Arya is designed to deliver accurate insights and a clear perspective on how evolving conflicts impact everyday life, from household budgets to national security. With expert voices analysing every development in real time, the show goes beyond headlines to decode what’s happening now, what it means, and what could come next.”
Echoing the intent, Gaurav Arya added, “In times of war, confusion is the biggest threat. With News18 India’s Command Centre, we are bringing viewers inside the war room, decoding strategies, tracking every escalation, and explaining, in the simplest terms, what it means for India and for every household. Seedhi baat samjhiye, this is where you understand not just what is happening, but what happens next.”
The weekday show will air in the afternoon slot and will also feature Gaurav Shukla, adding to its editorial depth.
With its mix of analysis, visuals and a clear focus on impact, the show reflects a broader shift in news consumption. Viewers are no longer just watching events unfold, they are looking to understand what those events mean for them.
