GECs
Zee posts higher Q3 revenue, but profit takes a slight hit
MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) may trade in drama for a living, but its latest quarterly script proves the real fireworks are unfolding off-screen, somewhere between a London arbitration court and a crowded regulatory inbox.
On 22 January 2026, the broadcaster unveiled its third-quarter numbers for the period ended 31 December 2025, revealing a curious mix of rising revenue, sliding margins and a billion-dollar legal bouncer that refuses to be ducked.
The loudest noise came from Zee’s ongoing face-off with JioStar India Private Limited (formerly Star India) over ICC men’s cricket broadcasting rights. What was meant to be a partnership has turned into a full-blown legal test match at the London Court of International Arbitration, with JioStar claiming a staggering $1.003 billion, or roughly Rs 84,000 million, in damages for alleged breaches of the Alliance Agreement. Zee, however, insists the ball is firmly in the other court, counter-claiming $8.06 million plus interest and maintaining that JioStar itself violated contractual terms. Management has described the claims as legally untenable and unlikely to cause any material financial damage, even as proceedings continue
The financial script for the quarter ended 31 December 2025 shows a plot twist in profitability:
. Revenue from operations: Climbed to Rs 21,486 million, up from Rs 18,478 million in the previous quarter.
. Total income: Reached Rs 21,607 million, a healthy rise from the Rs 18,692 million seen in the sequential quarter.
. The profit pinch: Despite the top-line growth, net profit for the quarter sat at Rs 1,116 million, a slight dip compared to the Rs 1,260 million recorded in the same period last year.
. Exceptional items: The company recorded a restructuring cost of Rs 94 million during the quarter, relating to employee terminations and internal reshuffling.
Away from the balance sheet, regulatory and legal challenges continue to stack up. The Securities and Exchange Board of India has issued multiple show cause notices, the most recent dated 16 January 2026, alleging violations related to historical investments in inter-corporate deposits. Zee maintains that these amounts were fully provided for several years ago. A separate notice from August 2025, concerning an alleged property lien dating back to the 2018–19 financial year, has prompted the company to file a settlement application to avoid protracted litigation.
In other scenes from the boardroom:
. GST Dispute: Zee is contesting a Rs 1,736 million demand from indirect tax authorities regarding input tax credits.
. Insolvency Scuffles: The company is currently defending an application by IDBI Bank at the NCLT for initiation of insolvency proceedings, which Zee is vigorously seeking to dismiss.
. Studio Woes: Its subsidiary, Zee Studios Limited, is battling the cancellation of a land lease in Jaipur by RIICO, though management believes they have a “strong legal position” to reclaim the plot.
As the board, chaired by Uttam Prakash Agarwal, signed off the results after a meeting lasting nearly three and a half hours, the broader picture became clear. Viewership is improving, revenues are rising and digital subscriptions are gaining ground, but legal battles and swelling costs are stealing the spotlight. Whether Zee can quieten the courtroom noise and restore margin sparkle remains the unresolved cliffhanger heading into the next fiscal chapter.
GECs
Aparna Ramachandran joins Zee as EVP and head of network digital
MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited has appointed Aparna Ramachandran as EVP and head of network digital, signalling a sharper focus on strengthening its digital and streaming ecosystem.
Ramachandran joins Zee from Balaji Telefilms, where she served as head of digital originals, leading content strategy and production for the company’s digital platforms. She announced the move on LinkedIn, marking a new chapter in her career spanning more than 15 years across media, entertainment and technology.
Her professional journey includes senior roles at Viacom18 Media, Viu, FremantleMedia, Miditech, BigSynergy, BBC Worldwide, CNBC-TV18 and Bloomberg UTV. She began her career in 2005 as a software engineer at Infosys before transitioning into media and digital content leadership.
With experience across streaming media, broadcast television, content development, digital strategy, project management and video production, Ramachandran is expected to play a key role in shaping Zee’s network-wide digital growth and content innovation.
GECs
Zee TV launches on Samsung TV Plus with live German subtitles
London: Zee Entertainment has launched its flagship Zee TV as a live FAST channel on Samsung TV Plus across Germany, Austria and Switzerland, marking a first for South Asian television in Europe with round-the-clock live German subtitles.
The move takes Zee TV beyond its core diaspora audience and into the German-speaking mainstream, offering dramas, reality shows and family entertainment without subscriptions or language barriers. For FAST platforms, it sets a new benchmark in accessibility and scale.
Amit Goenka, president, international and digital businesses at Zee Entertainment, said the launch marked a turning point in the company’s global strategy.
“Zee TV Germany is a flagship launch and a defining moment in our journey to make entertainment truly borderless. By going live on Samsung TV Plus with 24/7 German subtitles, we are breaking language barriers and setting a new international benchmark for FAST streaming,” he said, adding that the partnership reflects Zee’s ambition to lead the FAST revolution through innovation and technology.
The rollout builds on the strong regional presence of Zee One and Zee5, both of which have cultivated loyal audiences across the DACH markets. The live FAST model now closes long-standing access gaps, particularly for younger diaspora viewers and first-time German-speaking audiences.
Samsung TV Plus said the partnership deepens its content portfolio in the region. Benedict Frey, country lead DACH and Benelux at Samsung TV Plus, said the addition strengthens its South Asian offering while widening appeal.
“Launching flagship Zee TV on Samsung TV Plus brings even more premium South Asian entertainment to our customers. Making this content available with live German subtitles is a meaningful step in serving diverse audiences and enriching the viewing experience,” he said.
Samsung TV Plus is Samsung’s free ad-supported streaming service, offering hundreds of live channels and on-demand titles across Samsung TVs, Galaxy devices and smart monitors.
Zee already commands a strong digital following across Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with social platforms engaging hundreds of thousands of viewers. The live FAST launch is expected to amplify reach and drive appointment viewing at scale.
Zee TV is now available exclusively on Samsung TV Plus in Germany on channel 4210. With this launch, Zee TV Germany becomes the group’s ninth channel in Europe.
The signal is clear: FAST has gone mainstream—and Zee has arrived early, translated and ready to scale.
GECs
Sri Adhikari Brothers officially rebrands itself as Aqylon Nexus
MUMBAI: Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network has formally adopted a new corporate identity, rechristening itself Aqylon Nexus Limited after receiving clearance from the ministry of corporate affairs.
The company has informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that the MCA has approved the change of name, with effect from January 23, 2026. The update was disclosed in compliance with Regulation 30 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements Regulations, 2015.
Confirming the approval, the company said the ministry had cleared the transition from Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network Limited to Aqylon Nexus Limited following the necessary regulatory process.
Aqylon Nexus said it has begun the formal exercise of replacing the old name across statutory filings and regulatory records. The broadcaster added that it is coordinating with relevant authorities and departments to complete the transition.
Under Section 12 of the Companies Act, 2013, the MCA has directed the company to continue displaying its former name alongside the new one for a period of two years.
Founded in 1994 and based in Mumbai, the company has been a long-standing presence in India’s television and content ecosystem. The rebrand reflects a repositioning effort as the media and entertainment sector undergoes rapid consolidation and structural change.
The legacy name remains on paper—for now. The business, however, is clearly turning the page.
-
iWorld3 months agoTips Music turns up the heat with Tamil party anthem Mayangiren
-
iWorld12 months agoBSNL rings in a revival with Rs 4,969 crore revenue
-
I&B Ministry3 months agoIndia steps up fight against digital piracy
-
MAM3 months agoHoABL soars high with dazzling Nagpur sebut
-
iWorld2 days agoNetflix celebrates a decade in India with Shah Rukh Khan-narrated tribute film
-
News Broadcasting6 months agoWion marks Independence Day with global showcase of India’s spirit
-
iWorld3 months agoThe Night Manager returns with new secrets, new spies and old scars
-
I&B Ministry2 months agoCentre drafts OTT rules to boost access for hearing disabled
