Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited reported total consolidated profit for the period of ₹45.6 crore, down 40.4% year over year, as total expenses grew faster than revenue in the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2026.
The company’s results filing showed revenue from operations rose 13% to ₹2,224.6 crore from ₹1,969.2 crore a year earlier, while total expenses increased 16.2% to ₹2,184.1 crore. The filing separately lists ₹47.8 crore as profit attributable to owners. An earlier EconoTimes report cited rounded net-profit figures of ₹48 crore against ₹77 crore and a 37.7% decline; the filing distinguishes profit attributable to owners from total profit for the period.
Subscription revenue advanced 30.2% to ₹1,332.4 crore. Advertising revenue slipped 0.4% to ₹803 crore. On an Oct. 30 earnings call, management linked subscription growth partly to FIFA World Cup 2026, more digital subscribers, higher average revenue per user and increased linear TV subscription prices. Executives did not break out tournament-linked revenue.
Revenue from ZEE5 and the company’s other digital businesses combined rose 101% to ₹626 crore. The businesses reported EBITDA of ₹41.6 crore, compared with a loss of ₹31.2 crore a year earlier. Management said 35% to 40% of subscribers who joined for FIFA remained subscribed.
Costs weighed on group profitability. Advertising and publicity expenses rose 54.7% to ₹571 crore, and EBITDA fell 52% to ₹70.8 crore. The EBITDA margin narrowed to 3.2% from 7.4% a year earlier. Management linked higher programming costs to FIFA and a broader content offering.
Management said it expected subscription growth to continue into the second half of FY27. Management said festive-season demand could support advertising revenue.
