News Broadcasting
Zee strikes a sacred chord as Bhajan Club turns bhakti into a live beat
Zee Live’s new IP blends devotion and energy, launching ahead of Mahashivratri.
MUMBAI: What happens when devotion meets the drop? Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited is betting the answer lies in rhythm, community and live energy with the launch of Bhajan Club, a new original spiritual entertainment IP from its experiential vertical Zee Live.
Positioned as a contemporary cultural property, Bhajan Club reimagines devotional music as a live-first, high-participation experience. Think bhajans with concert-style energy, curated sets, collective singing and clapping, and an atmosphere that feels celebratory while staying rooted in bhakti. The idea is simple but timely: make spiritual gatherings feel immersive, social and accessible, especially for younger audiences.
While the format is inclusive across age groups, the pull towards Gen Z is deliberate. Urban youth are increasingly gravitating towards experiences that are meaningful yet vibrant, and Bhajan Club taps into that shift by blending tradition with innovation, and community with technology. It reflects a wider cultural moment where devotion is being rediscovered in shared, music-led spaces rather than quiet corners.
The IP launches on 12 February, strategically timed ahead of Mahashivratri on 15 and 16 February. As part of the debut, audiences will chant “Om Namah Shivay” in collective celebration of the union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The experience will extend beyond the venue, with Bhajan Club set to stream on Zee5 and Zee Zest. The launch aims to engage over 350 live attendees on-ground and reach more than 4 million viewers across TV and OTT.
Headlining the opening edition is Keshavam, widely regarded as a pioneer of the bhajan clubbing movement. Known for their concert-like devotional performances, the band has built a following that cuts across traditional devotees and younger listeners by fusing spiritual music with modern soundscapes.
The timing is no coincidence. Over the past year, “bhajan clubbing” has gained traction in urban culture, with ticketed events and social media conversations framing it as a new-age way to experience devotion. The trend even found mention in Mann Ki Baat, where prime minister Narendra Modi referenced the phenomenon, signalling its growing cultural relevance.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises chief content officer Raghavendra Hunsur said the IP reflects how audiences are engaging with devotional content in newer ways. He described Bhajan Club as an experience-led, content-driven format that is easy to discover, participate in and return to, with availability across multiple consumer touchpoints.
Zee Live business head Gareth Eswin Thomas added that live entertainment is evolving rapidly, with formats that combine cultural identity and contemporary energy resonating strongly with younger audiences. Bhajan Club, he said, aims to bring people together through music and shared emotion, while keeping bhakti firmly at its core.
Going forward, Bhajan Club will roll out as a series of curated live experiences supported by strong digital amplification. Each edition will revolve around devotional themes, familiar bhajans and participative moments, while building a community layer that keeps the conversation going beyond event days.
With Bhajan Club, Zee is turning devotion into a shared rhythm, proving that in today’s cultural remix, faith too can find its beat.
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.
