News Broadcasting
ZEE5 commissions the second season of BBC Drama – The Broken News in partnership with BBC Studios India
Mumbai: ZEE5, India’s home-grown video streaming platform and multilingual storyteller for multiple entertainment seekers, in collaboration with BBC Studios India, is back with the second season of the successful and critically acclaimed series, The Broken News.
The upcoming season will continue to capture the lives, lies, loves and struggles of journalists and their battle between truth and sensationalism. With a stellar lead cast returning to their roles, the upcoming chapter marks the homecoming of characters that struck a chord with viewers. Unfolding the inner workings of journalism, this newsroom drama will continue the reality behind our daily news – the business and the politics of it and the behind-the-scenes action as these journalists try to balance work, ambition and integrity, amid the never-ending pressure to deliver ‘Breaking News’.
On the announcement of the second season, Manish Kalra, chief business officer, ZEE5 India said, “The Broken News is a series which authentically showcases the complications in the world of media. The first season of the show received enormous love from the audience. We hope to further fortify the creative ecosystem by presenting a gripping second chapter that sheds light on news narratives. Being a consumer-first brand, we have a strong pulse on consumer preferences, and we are sure that this show will yet again deliver to the expectation consumers have from The Broken News.”
ZEE5 chief content officer, Hindi originals Nimisha Pandey said, “We look forward to canvassing a fresh chapter of The Broken News in partnership with BBC Studios India. In the second season, we capture the evolving arcs of the characters of the show and the new conflicts that arise between two competing news channels. The Broken News season two reaffirms our commitment of presenting engaging and gripping dramas on ZEE5 and is a perfect addition to our content slate. The upcoming season will continue to offer an exciting insight into the world of journalism and compel the viewers to think about the news they consume.”
Commenting on the announcement of the second season, BBC Studios general manager India Sameer Gogate shared, “We are excited to announce the second season of The Broken News after the tremendous love for its first season and we’re delighted to see the return of this show helmed by Vinay Waikul and the brilliant lead cast Sonali Bendre, Jaideep Ahlawat and Shriya Pilgaonkar. The first season is best remembered for the wonderful performances of the actors, who enlivened the newsroom drama, and its success is a testimony to the strength of our formats that resonate across cultures. We hope the audience will welcome the upcoming season and immerse themselves in the captivating cycle of TV news journalism.”
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.
