diff --git a/src/calibre/library/database2.py b/src/calibre/library/database2.py
index dce0b34aef..0fa25e88fd 100644
--- a/src/calibre/library/database2.py
+++ b/src/calibre/library/database2.py
@@ -2451,7 +2451,6 @@ class LibraryDatabase2(LibraryDatabase, SchemaUpgrade, CustomColumns):
         stream.seek(0)
         mi = get_metadata(stream, format, use_libprs_metadata=False)
         stream.seek(0)
-        mi.series_index = 1.0
         mi.tags = [_('News')]
         if arg['add_title_tag']:
             mi.tags += [arg['title']]