News Broadcasting
Zee News unveils India’s first media-led deepfake detection system
MUMBAI: Truth just got a new tech ally. Zee News, in collaboration with Neural Defend, has rolled out India’s first AI-powered deepfake verification system for the news media, putting advanced fact-checking directly in the hands of citizens.
The initiative comes at a time when deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation are fast eroding public trust. Studies reveal that nearly 96 per cent of manipulated videos slip past the average viewer undetected, threatening journalism and democracy alike. By offering a simple drag-and-drop interface where users can upload videos, images, or audio files for instant verification, Zee News is making authenticity accessible to everyone.
Unveiling the platform during a prime-time broadcast, managing editor Rahul Sinha urged viewers to test any suspicious video themselves. “Trust is the new benchmark,” added ZMCL marketing head Anindya Khare, noting that the system not only safeguards audiences, particularly younger, digital-first viewers but also provides advertisers with a brand-safe environment rooted in credibility.
On the tech front, ZMCL CTO Vijayant Kumar explained that Neural Defend’s AI engine can detect even the most sophisticated manipulations within seconds. “This is not just innovation for today but a safeguard for tomorrow’s information ecosystem,” he said.
By integrating deepfake detection across TV, web, and digital platforms, Zee News is cementing its position as a technology-first newsroom, one that is not only reporting the truth but also helping audiences verify it.
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.
