News Broadcasting
Zee posts Rs 1,115 crore profit as legal heat with Star rises
MUMBAI: Just when you thought the drama was reserved for primetime, Zee Entertainment’s first quarter of FY26 delivered its own plot twist, a cocktail of climbing profits, flat revenues, and a billion-dollar legal cliffhanger.
For the quarter ended 30 June 2025, Zee posted a standalone profit of Rs 1,115 million, up from Rs 469 million in Q4 FY25. Revenue from operations stood at Rs 16,839 million, a steep drop from Rs 20,042 million in the previous quarter and Rs 20,007 million a year ago. Yet, the bottom line perked up thanks to lower operational costs (Rs 9,574 million), subdued ad spends (Rs 2,531 million), and a positive fair value gain of Rs 185 million.
Consolidated numbers tell a slightly flashier story: Zee clocked Rs 18,498 million in revenue and a net profit of Rs 1,437 million from continuing operations, despite a decline from Rs 22,203 million in the previous quarter. No surprises ad revenue dipped to Rs 7,585 million from Rs 8,375 million, while subscription revenue held steady at Rs 9,817 million.
Zee managed to tame the finance cost dragon just Rs 77 million this quarter and depreciation remained under Rs 600 million. Tax outgo was Rs 535 million on a consolidated basis, including Rs 473 million current tax.
What’s missing from this quarter? Exceptional items. After a Rs 2,024 million pre-tax profit in Q4, Zee reported no one-offs this time, a marked shift from the Rs 361 million in restructuring costs and write-offs reported in the same quarter last year.
Still, the real cliffhanger lies in the 1,003 million dollars legal dispute with Star India. Star claims the termination of their Alliance Agreement was valid and now wants damages that have ballooned from 940 million dollars to over a billion dollars as of April 2025. Zee’s defence? A robust counterclaim and demand to recover 8 million dollars plus interest with arbitration hearings slated for November.
Meanwhile, Zee has been busy spinning off new stories. It incorporated two new entities lbullet Enterprise Limited and Advance Media Distribution Limited in June 2025 to bolster distribution and vertical synergies.
And for those keeping score on compliance subplots: the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) overturned SEBI’s order against one of Zee’s KMPs last October, although investigations continue. For now, it’s one less legal plotline to follow.
With the company’s consolidated EPS at Rs 1.50 and a market bracing for the November arbitration climax, Zee seems to be scripting a cautious yet intriguing comeback.
Zee may be facing more than just viewer fatigue but for now, it’s dodged the ratings dip where it matters most: the bottom line.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
