Media house Zee News on Thursday reported a growth of over 20 per cent in its consolidated net profit during the financial year ended March 31 to Rs 44.56 crore.

The company had a consolidated net profit of Rs 37.07 crore during 2007-08, Zee News said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

The media house, which runs the news channel Zee News has declared dividend of Rs 0.40 per share to its shareholders for the financial year 2008-09.

On a standalone basis, the media house posted a net profit of Rs 44.56 crore during the latest fiscal, up 19.46 per cent as compared to Rs 37.30 crore of FY’08.

?While the economy was facing one of its worst time in recent history, we not only bucked the trend but registered significant growth in our top-line,? Zee News MD Laxmi Narain Goel said.

Shares of Zee News closed at Rs 39.20, down 4 per cent on the BSE.