Puneet Goenka, CEO, Zee Entertainment
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Rallying around queries on its re-entry into sports, Zee Entertainment Enterprises’ management stressed that the real impact of its new sports properties, especially FIFA, will be felt in Q2 of FY27.“The knockout stages were in Q2, so that’s when the traction and advertising picked up. As we mentioned, we had limited time before the June 11 start. The traction has picked up in Q2. So, Q2 should also see a revenue boost, given the momentum across these properties,” said Puneet Goenka, CEO at Zee Entertainment, during a conference call.New avatarComparing the company’s renewed sports vision to its earlier avatar, Zee stressed that football would never have reached even 50 million viewers in the old days, whereas it now reports 400 million viewers. Calling this a significant number for Zee, Goenka said the company plans to monetise its sports properties in a very prudent manner.“We will ensure that this business is sustained for us over the long term. We are also seeing a lot of other rights owners approaching us for partnerships,” said Goenka.Subscription revenueFurther, management expects subscription revenue to increase significantly in Q2 compared with Q1. The company’s subscriber base more than doubled in Q1, boosted by the FIFA announcements, alongside a sizeable non-sports consumer base.Goenka reasoned that digital subscribers will continue with their plans as long as the company consistently provides content that consumers prefer and enjoy. Management also spoke about exploring international markets for subscription growth and looking for hybrid models. Meanwhile, the ongoing war situation in West Asia has complicated the outlook for ad revenue.“The advertising front is a little more challenging given the current dynamics in the market. The situation in West Asia and the ongoing conflicts there are creating uncertainties for us. But we are confident that, given our market share is expected to improve significantly and with the festive season approaching us, we should be able to leverage these opportunities effectively,” said Goenka.Published on August 11, 2026
