Zee Entertainment reports 13% YoY growth in revenue

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) reported a 13% year-on-year (YoY) increase in operating revenue to Rs. 22,246 million, supported by strong performance across its digital, linear television, music and subscription businesses.

The company's digital platform, ZEE5, recorded its highest-ever quarterly revenue, registering a remarkable 101% year-on-year growth. The performance was driven by a compelling multilingual content slate and an enhanced user experience. 

The company's sports business also gained momentum with the FIFA World Cup 2026, which provided a positive start to its sports initiatives. The tournament garnered a total reach of over 400 million across live and non-live platforms, with cumulative watch time of approximately 50 billion minutes. The event also provided a strong foundation for Unite8 Sports while contributing to increased user engagement and growth for ZEE5.

The linear television business continued to strengthen its market position, with the network recording a 20% market share as of Week 24, according to BARC data. This marks its highest market share in seven years. A sharpened content strategy, backed by new fiction and non-fiction offerings, helped drive stronger consumer engagement across platforms. The company also reinforced its non-fiction portfolio through iconic franchises such as Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, while Jeena Issi Ka Naam Hai was announced as an upcoming addition.

Subscription revenues emerged as another key growth driver, increasing 30% year-on-year across the company's linear and digital businesses. Growth was supported by higher average revenue per user (ARPU) and subscriber additions in the digital segment, alongside increased pricing in the linear television business.

Advertising revenues registered a 20% sequential increase during the quarter, despite geopolitical uncertainties weighing on overall market sentiment, reflecting improved momentum in the advertising business.

Zee Music Company continued to expand its digital footprint, garnering over 59 billion total video views during the quarter and crossing 179 million subscribers on YouTube. The segment maintained healthy profitability while expanding its music catalogue across multiple languages.

With strong operating performance across its key business segments, Zee Entertainment's new strategic initiatives remain well-positioned to support its future growth trajectory. The company's focus on strengthening its content ecosystem, enhancing consumer engagement and expanding its digital and sports offerings is expected to remain central to its growth strategy.