iWorld
ZEE5 forays into Punjabi content with all-new lineup
Mumbai: ZEE5 has launched an all-new Punjabi content slate under the ‘Rajj Ke Vekho’ initiative, in order to strengthen its footprint in Punjab and neighbouring areas in Northern India. The video streaming platform’s new content slate will address the demand of over three crore Punjabi native speakers in India, it said.
The new offering consists of Punjabi films, web series, originals and shows including straight-from-the-theatre titles from Zee Studios including “Puaada”, “Qismat 2”, “Jinne Jamme Saare Nikamme”, and “Fufad Ji”, starring popular Pollywood actors Ammy Virk, Sonam Bajwa, Sargun Mehta, Binnu Dhillon, and Gurnam Bhullar.
ZEE5 India, chief business officer, Manish Kalra said the ‘Rajj Ke Vekho’ initiative is an attempt to bridge the gap between the TV watching audience and OTT users, bringing everybody onto a common platform. “Punjab, today, boasts of over 70 per cent internet penetration, a telecom infrastructure density that ranks third in the country, with one of the highest GDPs and per capita incomes in India. Despite this, the content offerings in the local Punjabi language are not as diverse as a crucial market like Punjab deserves. While intent among the audience is high, the availability of options is low, which is precisely what ZEE5 is here to address with the initiative,” he added.
iWorld
JioStar revenue hits Rs 9,784 crore as cricket fuels 22 per cent growth
A surge in digital viewership and sports dominance fuels a blockbuster quarter for the media giant
MUMBAI: JioStar is batting on a flat pitch. The media titan’s fourth-quarter results for the financial year 2026 reveal a business scaling new heights, propelled by an unprecedented appetite for premium sports and digital-first storytelling.
Gross revenue for the quarter soared by 22.15 per cent to Rs 9,784 crore, up from Rs 8,010 crore in the third quarter. Operationally, the momentum was equally strong; revenue from operations climbed 21 per cent to Rs 8,372 crore. These figures underscore the firm’s successful integration following the Reliance and Disney merger, creating a dominant force in the Indian market.
The annual performance has been nothing short of a spectacle. Full-year gross revenue reached a massive Rs 36,248 crore, while annual profit after tax hit Rs 3,210 crore. This rapid expansion reflects JioStar’s ability to capture and monetise the massive growth in India’s media consumption.
Cricket proved to be the ultimate growth engine. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and TATA IPL 2026 delivered “record-breaking viewership” across both television and digital screens. The World Cup final alone drew a global peak concurrency of 72.5 million on JioHotstar, cementing its status as the nation’s premier streaming destination. On television, JioStar maintained a commanding 34.2 per cent viewership share, reaching a staggering 810 million viewers nationwide.
The digital numbers were just as impressive. JioHotstar averaged 500 million monthly active users, driven by consistent subscriber growth and innovative AI-led content discovery tools. These advancements are ensuring that JioStar remains at the cutting edge of the global “Race for Attention.”
With a firm grip on the country’s most valuable sporting rights and a rapidly growing digital footprint, JioStar is perfectly positioned for the future. It has built the ultimate content powerhouse—one that is ready to dominate the Indian living room for years to come.
