News Broadcasting
Zee News Q2 net up at Rs 114.7 million
MUMBAI: Zee News Limited (ZNL) has posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 114.7 million for the quarter ended 30 September, 2008, up 104.4 per cent from Rs 56.1 million in the previous year.
During the period, the company’s revenue jumped 60 per cent to stand at Rs 1.27 billion as compared to Rs 798.1 million in the prior year.
Advertisement revenue increased 60.8 per cent to Rs 1.01 billion while subscription revenue grew 56.2 per cent to stand at Rs 234 million.
Zee Group chairman Subhash Chandra said, “In this time of a perceptible global economic slowdown and challenging macroeconomic environment during which investor confidence is certainly not at its peak, Zee News Limited has delivered excellent results in the second quarter of FY’09. The company has maintained its growth momentum and recorded a healthy 60 per cent increase in top line of Rs 1.27 billion. Consolidated EBIDTA stood at Rs 212 million, up 99.3 per cent. As per our guidance given, the Telugu channel has broken even in this quarter.”
After launching the Tamil general entertainment channel on 12 October, ZNL plans to launch the Telugu news channel, Zee 24 Ghantalu, in November. Plans are also afoot to launch UP news channel Zee 24 Ghante. “In line with our vision of regional expansion, we may as well look for certain innovative strategic investments in the coming period,” Chandra added.
Marathi movie channel Zee Talkies has been transferred to ZNL with effect from 1 August.
Commenting on the results, ZNL MD Laxmi Narain Goel said: “The existing businesses continued to grow and recorded around 45 per cent growth in operating revenues while the same for new businesses was 226 per cent. Viewership too experienced an upward spiral with almost all the Zee News Limited channels experiencing a growth in channel share compared to the corresponding quarter last fiscal.”
Added Zee News CEO Barun Das, “In our new businesses, both Zee Telugu and Zee Kannada are gaining traction in their respective markets and delivering growing revenues and GRPs. While Zee Telugu has broken even, Zee Kannada is strongly on the path to break even as per our previous guidance.”
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.
