ITV

Category: Multi System Operators

  • Den Networks gets Govt nod for increasing FDI to 74%

    Den Networks gets Govt nod for increasing FDI to 74%

    MUMBAI: Multi system operator (MSO) Den Networks has received clearance from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) to increase its foreign investment limit from the existing 49 per cent to 74 per cent.

     

    As was reported by Indiantelevision.com, on 29 July MSO Hathway Cable and Datacom had received the FIPB approval to up its foreign investment to 74 per cent, whereas Den Networks’ proposal had been deferred. Pertinent to note here is that on 14 July there was buzz that the company had received FIBP nod for the same. However, that was not the case and the MSO finally received the nod only today (13 August, 2015).

     

    With this, Den Networks, which is currently building its broadband base and also working towards digitisation in phase III and IV areas, is looking at attracting overseas capital into the company.

     

    The MSO had sought to increase foreign investment limit beyond 49 per cent and up to 74 per cent by FIIs, NRIs, FPIs, and other eligible foreign investors through route of secondary market and / or open market purchase.

     

    Earlier in March this year, the Board of Directors of Den Networks had approved the proposal to increase foreign investment limit.

     

    The decision was subject to shareholder approval (through postal ballot), FIPB nod and adherence to all other statutory requirements.

     

    Currently, FIIs hold 20.27 per cent stake in Den Networks.

  • Siti Cable seeks shareholders’ nod for raising $100 million

    Siti Cable seeks shareholders’ nod for raising $100 million

    MUMBAI: Multi system operator (MSO) Siti Cable is looking at raising up to $100 million through equity shares via public issue, private placement or qualified institutional placement (QIPs) route. The MSO for the same has sought shareholders approval. 

     

    Siti Cable will utilise the funds to meet expenditure to expand its business in phase III and IV of digitisation, ongoing acquisition of MSOs, LCOs and primary points, value added services (VAS), working capital requirements as well as to reduce debts. 

     

    The company sought shareholders’ approval to raise funds through one or more placements of equity shares in domestic and/or one or more international markets whether by way of private placement or otherwise, in one or more tranches, so that the total amount raised shall not exceed rupee equivalent of $100 million.

     

    The members had approved raising of funds of up to $100 million by passing a special resolution through postal ballot in October 2014, against which the MSO has already raised Rs 221.11 crore.  

     

    “Since the validity of the shareholders’ approval as per Regulation 88(1) of Securities and Exchange Board of India (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2009 (‘SEBI Regulations’), is 12 months, it is proposed to seek fresh approval of the shareholders in this regard,” the company said.

  • Home Ministry plans to scrap security clearance norms for MSOs

    Home Ministry plans to scrap security clearance norms for MSOs

    NEW DELHI: The Home Ministry has recently streamlined and relaxed national security clearance norms for certain sensitive sectors including the media sector, the Lok Sabha was told today.

     

    The Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said the new policy guidelines include doing away with national security clearance for multi system operators (MSOs) in the media sector.

     

    The guidelines are aimed at bringing about a healthy balance between meeting the imperatives of national security and facilitating the ease of doing business and promoting investment in the country.

     

    It may be recalled that while several MSOs had been waiting endlessly for security clearances to ensure they get licences for digital addressable system (DAS) from the Government, the Home Ministry had, earlier this year, indicated requirement of fresh security clearance before renewal of permission can be considered.

     

    Then in June, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had asked MSO applicants to file their applications in an affidavit, wherein they would give assurance that they have no criminal cases pending against them, and that they would shut down if they were refused security clearance. However, it now seems that these steps would be done away with completely with the Home Ministry changing its stance on security clearance for MSOs.

     

    Meanwhile in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said security clearance is a pre-requisite for grant of permission to TV channels.

     

    Hence, the Ministry has not permitted any private satellite TV channel without security clearance by the Home Ministry. In cases where security clearance is denied or withdrawn, action is taken towards cancellation of permission under the Guidelines.

  • Q1-2016: Hathway YoY revenue up 6%; Broadband subscription revenue up 56%

    Q1-2016: Hathway YoY revenue up 6%; Broadband subscription revenue up 56%

    BENGALURU: Indian multi system operator (MSO) Hathway Cable and Datacom Limited (Hathway) reported 5.7 per cent growth in standalone Total Income from Operations (TIO) in Q1-2016 (quarter ended 30 June, 2015, current quarter) to Rs 264,41 from Rs 250.11 crore in Q1-2015 and was 2.1 per cent lower than the Rs 270.03 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    The company’s EBIDTA in the current quarter declined 25.4 per cent to Rs 32.73 crore (12.8 per cent margin) as compared to the Rs 43.87 crore (17.5 per cent margin) in the corresponding year ago quarter but was 5.7 per cent more than the Rs 30.98 crore (11.5 per cent margin) in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    Note: 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore

     

    Hathway’s loss in the current quarter widened to Rs 43.91 crore as compared to the Rs 0.93 crore in Q1-2015, but was considerably lower than the Rs 76.99 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    Subscription numbers

     

    Hathway’s television subscription revenue in Q1-2016 declined five per cent to Rs 105.5 crore as compared to the Rs 111 crore in Q1-2015 and declined 12.7 per cent as compared to the Rs 120.9 crore in Q4-2015. The company says that it has deployed one lakh set top boxes, taking its digital subscriber base to 86 lakh or 72.9 per cent of its total cable TV subscriber base of 118 lakh in the current quarter.

     

    Broadband subscription revenue in Q1-2016 at Rs 65.1 crore improved sharply by 56.5 per cent as compared to the Rs 41.6 crore in Q1-2015 and increased 12.8 per cent as compared to the Rs 57.7 crore in Q4-2015. The company says that it has added 50,000 broadband subscribers in Q1-2016, and claims a broadband subscriber base of 4.6 lakh, of which 1.7 lakh are under Docsis 3.0. Broadband ARPUs increased from Rs 530 to Rs 577 (exit Q1FY16) says Hathway.

     

    Hathway reported Phase I ARPU at Rs 100 (net of tax) and Phase II ARPU at Rs 76 (net of tax) in the current quarter as compared to Rs 67 (net of tax) in Q4 FY15.

     

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by Hathway

     

    Hathway’s standalone Total Expenditure in Q1-2016 increased 14.5 per cent to Rs 290.87 crore (110 per cent of TIO) as compared to the Rs 254.10 crore (101.6 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2015 but was 5.5 per cent lower than the Rs 307.66 crore (113.9 per cent of TIO) in Q4-2015.

     

    Standalone Pay Channel cost in Q1-2016 increased 8.8 per cent to Rs 93.32 crore (35.3 per cent of TIO) as compared to the Rs 85.81 crore (34.3 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2015 but was 13.1 per cent lower than the Rs 107.34 crore (39.8 per cent of TIO) in Q4-2015.

     

    Employee Benefit Expense in Q1-2016 increased 18.3 per cent at Rs 17.21 crore as compared to the Rs 14.55 crore in Q1-2015, and increased 1.2 per cent as compared to the Rs 17.01 crore in Q4-2015.

  • Court dismisses $20 bn lawsuit against Comcast, Time Warner Cable; NAAAOM to appeal

    Court dismisses $20 bn lawsuit against Comcast, Time Warner Cable; NAAAOM to appeal

    MUMBAI: Federal Judge Terry Hatter issued a short ruling dismissing the $20 billion racial discrimination in contracting lawsuit filed by the National Association of African American Owned Media (NAAAOM) and Entertainment Studios Networks, Inc.

     

    Judge Hatter’s ruling did not provide any detail as to why the case was dismissed except to say that the Plaintiffs had failed to allege a claim for relief.

     

    “Knowing that our lawsuit helped the FCC and the DOJ deny Comcast’s bid to buy Time Warner Cable is already a big win for us. We are going to immediately appeal this decision to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals who I believe will deliver us a favorable decision,” said Entertainment Studios Networks chairman, CEO and founder Byron Allen.

     

    “We will continue to vigorously pursue Comcast and Time Warner Cable, who spend approximately $25 billion annually licensing cable networks with less than $3 million going to 100% African American owned media. We will not stop until the discrimination stops and we achieve true economic inclusion,” said NAAAOM president Mark DeVitre.

  • Hinduja’s NXT Digital tots 1 million subscribers in 3 weeks

    Hinduja’s NXT Digital tots 1 million subscribers in 3 weeks

    MUMBAI: In a short span of three weeks, Hinduja Group’s headend in the sky (HITS) venture – NXT Digital has signed up as many as one million analogue TV households in phase III markets.

     

    Grant Investrade Limited managing director Tony D’silva said, “In just over three weeks since NXT Digital was announced, it has already been signed up to reach one million analogue TV households in phase III markets through LMOs and MSOs who have opted for our services.”

     

    Over the last 21 days, the HITS player has reached out to the cable fraternity across several cities. “The fraternity is extremely excited about NXT Digital,” he said. 

     

    LMOs and MSOs, according to D’silva,  see NXT Digital as a partner that will not only help them make the mandated transition from analogue to digital, but remain independent and owners of the networks they have built with sheer dint of hard work over the years.

     

    The roll-out of digital addressable systems (DAS) in phase III and IV markets across 110 million TV households is being seen as the biggest and the most significant step for the media and entertainment industry in India.

     

    A state-of-the-art broadcast facility in Noida has been designed and purpose-built to provide top quality service, which will roll out in end-August this year. While the satellite-based service will have a national footprint, in view of the deadline for DAS rollout, Grant Investrade is concentrating on the phase III and IV markets for its marketing and subscription drive to enable the cable fraternity provide digital services there.

     

    D’silva said, “NXT Digital will empower and enable the distribution fraternity including LMOs and MSOs to offer a world of exciting digital services to their end-subscribers in all the analogue households across markets. Crucially, NXT Digital will not only help the LMOs and MSOs go digital as per government mandated standards and within the set deadlines, but, throughout the process, help them be independent and retain the ownership of their network.”

  • Q2-2015: Cable Networks props CBS revenue to 1% growth

    Q2-2015: Cable Networks props CBS revenue to 1% growth

    BENGALURU: CBS Corporation reported a one per cent growth in revenue to $3219 million in the quarter ended 30 June, 2015 (Q2-2015) as compared to the $3188 million in the corresponding year ago quarter.

     

    The company’s slight revenue growth was propped by a 19.2 per cent growth by its Cable Network segment, which is one of the four that contribute to the company’s numbers. Cable Networks segment reported revenue of $615 million in the current quarter as compared to the $516 million in the corresponding year ago quarter.

     

    The other three segments-Entertainment, Publishing and Local Broadcasting reported decline in revenue in Q2-2015 by 2.7 per cent, 5.7 per cent and 1.7 per cent respectively as compared to Q2-2014.

     

    Adjusted operating income was $641 million for the second quarter of 2015 compared with operating income of $730 million for the same prior-year period, reflecting higher investment in programming and digital distribution initiatives says CBS. Adjusted net earnings from continuing operations were $365 million for the second quarter of 2015 compared with net earnings from continuing operations of $418 million for the same prior-year period, as a result of the lower adjusted operating income.

     

    Company speak

     

    “CBS is at the center of the action during an extremely exciting time in media. We continue to succeed as a result of our world-class content, and Les and his team are positioning the Company to prosper in the quarters and years ahead,” said CBS executive chairman Sumner Redstone.

     

    “This quarter underscores the key steps we are taking to build out our long-term growth strategy. Central to that strategy is the progress we’re seeing with our fast-growing, non-advertising revenue sources, and there’s so much more to come as our investment in global content and new distribution pathways pays off. We are now on target to surpass our goal of $2 billion in retransmission consent and reverse compensation revenue by 2020 – thanks to a series of recent deals that reset the value of our content in the marketplace. Additionally, the launch of Showtime’s streaming service and the rapid expansion of CBS All Access are generating incremental revenue streams that will continue to grow in the years ahead,” added CBS president and CEO Leslie Moonves.

     

    “Of course, our premium content remains the cornerstone of our success, and I am confident this fall’s new primetime lineup will lead us to another victory next season. In fact, our schedule is so strong that we achieved solid pricing increases and the highest rates overall in the advertising upfront, and we also expect healthy increases in the scatter market throughout the year. As we lay the groundwork for a lucrative 2016 and beyond, we are also holding the line on costs, and we remain as focused as ever on investing in the best content, enhancing our strong financial position, and returning value to shareholders,” Moonves said.

     

    Overall numbers

     

    Revenues for Q2- 2015 increased, driven by affiliate and subscription fees that grew 28.3 per cent to $752 million as compared to the $586 million, driven by Showtime’s distribution of the highest-grossing pay-per-view boxing event of all time, as well as 40 per cent growth in retransmission revenues and fees from CBS Television Network-affiliated television stations. Advertising revenues decreased 2.6 per cent to $1594 million as compared to $1636 million in the corresponding quarter of last year. Content licensing and distribution revenues were down 9.7 per cent to $815 million in the current quarter from $903 million in Q2-2014, primarily reflecting lower domestic television licensing revenues, which were partially offset by higher international television licensing revenues.

     

    Segment numbers

     

    Entertainment

     

    CBS Entertainment segment comprises CBS Television Network, CBS Television Studios, CBS Global Distribution Group, CBS Interactive, and CBS Films.

     

    Entertainment revenues were $1785 million for Q2- 2015 compared with $1835 million for the same prior-year period, primarily reflecting the timing of television licensing revenues. Advertising revenues were down two per cent because of a sale of an Internet business in China during Q1-2015 and the timing of certain sporting events on the CBS Television Network. Affiliate and subscription fees were up 50 per cent, driven by growth in rates.

     

    Entertainment operating income for Q2- 2015 was $262 million compared with $341 million for Q2-2014, reflecting lower revenues and higher investment in programming and digital distribution initiatives.

     

    Cable Networks

     

    Details of Cable Networks revenue comprising Showtime Networks, CBS Sports Network, and Smithsonian Networks have been mentioned above.

     

    Cable Networks operating income for the second quarter of 2015 of $220 million increased from $213 million for the same prior-year period, as the revenue growth was partially offset by higher programming costs for the pay-per-view boxing event.

     

    Publishing (Simon & Schuster)

     

    Publishing revenues for Q2- 2015 were $199 million compared with $211 million for the same prior year period. Digital revenues represented 24 per cent of Publishing’s total revenues for Q2-2015. Bestselling titles in the second quarter of 2015 included The Wright Brothers by David McCullough and Finders Keepers by Stephen King, as well as the continued success of the Pulitzer Prize-winning 2014 release, All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.

     

    Publishing operating income of $25 million for the second quarter of 2015 increased nine per cent from $23 million in Q2- 2014, as the revenue decline was more than offset by lower production and distribution costs.

     

    Local Broadcasting

     

    Local Broadcasting comprises CBS Television Stations and CBS Radio.

     

    Local Broadcasting revenues of $654 million for Q2-2015 decreased two per cent from $665 million in the same prior-year period. The decline was the result of lower advertising revenues, including political spending from last year’s midterm elections. Growth in affiliate and subscription fees partially offset the decline. CBS Television Stations revenues were up one per cent, and CBS Radio revenues decreased five per cent.

     

    Local Broadcasting operating income for the second quarter of 2015 was down eight per cent to $198 million from $215 million for the same prior-year period, primarily reflecting the revenue decline.

  • ABS Seven Star launches hybrid STBs; targets 2 lakh consumers in Mumbai by Dec 2015

    ABS Seven Star launches hybrid STBs; targets 2 lakh consumers in Mumbai by Dec 2015

    MUMBAI: Innovation is the key to a successful business and realizing this is Mumbai based multi system operator (MSO) ABS Seven Star. 

     

    As reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, ABS Seven Star, which so far had been operating MPEG 2 headend, has now launched its MPEG 4 headend with as many as 500 national and international channels. Additionally, the MSO has started rolling out MPEG 4 set top boxes (STBs) as well. 

     

    In keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, these indigenous STBs manufactured by ABS Productions are hybrid boxes with both Ethernet and cable. The STBs have been loaded with facilities like YouTube, web TV, video on demand (VOD), internet browsing, TV Everywhere and cloud computing among others.

     

    “Our offering will convert your television set to a smart TV. The box will have 75 HD and 3D channels. We are also creating content, apart from the ones we have taken the rights for. The box will have 75 of our own channels, which includes education channel among others,” informs ABS Seven Star CMD Atul Saraf.

     

    Priced at Rs 3500, the hybrid box also comes with 5GB online space. “This allows consumers to use their TV set as a computer and save data as well,” he adds. The company has also come up with a HD only box loaded with VOD and internet, which is priced at Rs 2500. 

     

    While 10,000 hybrid boxes have so far been manufactured, ABS Productions has rolled out 30,000 HD boxes and is looking at manufacturing 30,000 boxes every month. 

     

    In order to give a fillip to VAS, ABS Seven Star will provide the services to consumers at a fixed fee of Rs 30 per month. “Consumers will then have to pay for the content they choose to watch,” he says. 

     

    ABS Seven Star has also tied up with content distribution network (CDN) to have a multi screen presence. 

       

    The MSO through these services is looking at an average revenue per user (ARPU) of Rs 1200. “Today, consumers are anyways paying separately for cable and internet. With our new offering, we will be giving them both the services with just one equipment,” informs Saraf. 

     

    ABS Seven Star is connecting through national long distance (NLD) players to have a presence in Rajasthan, UP, Haryana, Bihar and Orissa. “We are looking at acquiring 200,000 consumers in Mumbai by December 2015,” points out Saraf.

  • FY-2015: Cable and Filmed Entertainment boost Fox op income 3.1%

    FY-2015: Cable and Filmed Entertainment boost Fox op income 3.1%

    BENGALURU: Rupert Murdoch’s Twenty-First Century Fox Inc. (Fox) reported a 3.1 per cent increase in adjusted annual total segment operating income before depreciation and amortisation (OIBDA) of $6488 million for the year ended 30 June, 2015 (FY-2015) as compared to the $6291 million last year due to higher contributions from the company’s Cable Network Programming and Filmed Entertainment segments.

     

    The company reported total revenues in FY-2015 of $28.99 billion, a $2.88 billion decrease from prior year revenues of $31.87 billion. Excluding the net revenues from the Direct Broadcast Satellite Television (DBS) businesses, Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland AG, which were sold in November 2014 to Sky plc (Sky), in both years, adjusted revenues increased $890 million, or 3.4 per cent, over the $26.06 billion of adjusted revenues in the prior year. This increase was primarily driven by double-digit revenue growth at the Cable Network Programming segment.

     

    Fox reported annual total segment operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBDA) of $6.72 billion, which is equal to the amount reported in the prior year. Excluding the OIBDA contributions from the DBS businesses in both years, OIBDA increased $197 million, or the above mentioned 3.1 per cent, over the $6.29 billion of adjusted OIBDA in the prior year.

     

    Company Speak

     

    Fox executive chairman Rupert Murdoch said, “We made clear operational strides over the last year that will further position us to benefit from the strong and growing global demand for high quality video content. We delivered a solid financial performance, driven by sustained gains in affiliate fees, while we continued to invest in building our new channels Fox Sports 1, FXX and Star Sports. The appeal of our new sports rights resonated with consumers globally, whether it was Star Sports in India setting new records with hundreds of millions of viewers for the ICC Cricket World Cup, or the more than 25 million viewers who watched the Women’s World Cup Final on Fox. Our film studio achieved outstanding critical and box-office success with a truly diverse range of films and we are proud of the creative excellence that earned it the most Academy Awards in the industry. Our company is well positioned for this time of opportunity in our industry. We will balance the utilization of our strong balance sheet to drive growth. Today’s announcement of our new $5 billion buyback authorization reflects our ongoing program to provide direct shareholder returns.”

     

    Cable Network Programming

     

    Cable Network Programming annual segment OIBDA increased five per cent to $4.65 billion, driven by a 12 per cent revenue increase led by continued strong affiliate revenue growth and higher advertising revenues. The revenue improvement was partially offset by a 16 per cent increase in expenses, representing higher sports programming costs driven by the broadcasts of the ICC Cricket World Cup at Star Sports, increased Major League Baseball and NASCAR rights costs at Fox Sports 1 (FS1), and higher professional team rights costs at the regional sports networks (RSNs) as well as increased entertainment programming costs at FX Networks. The segment OIBDA growth was adversely impacted by five per cent from foreign exchange rate fluctuations, primarily in Latin America and Europe.

     

    Domestic affiliate revenue increased 17 per cent reflecting the combination of sustained growth at the regional sports networks (RSNs), Fox News Channel and FX Networks, increased contribution from FS1, and the consolidation of the Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network (the YES Network). International affiliate revenue increased three per cent driven by strong local currency growth at the Fox International Channels (FIC) and Star, partially offset by a 12 per cent adverse impact from the strengthened US dollar.

     

    Domestic advertising revenue grew four per cent over the prior year period led by double-digit growth at the sports channels, including the impact of the consolidation of the YES Network, as well as growth at Fox News and FX Networks. International advertising revenue increased 14 per cent due to strong local currency growth at Star and FIC, which was partially offset by a five per cent adverse impact from the strengthened US dollar.

     

    OIBDA from the domestic channels increased 12 per cent from the prior year, led by strong double-digit growth at the RSNs, which includes the impact of the consolidation of the YES Network, as well as higher contributions from Fox News Channel and National Geographic Channels. Annual OIBDA at the company’s international cable channels declined 16 per cent from the prior year as double digit local currency growth at the FIC channels and Star entertainment channels was more than offset by the impact of the ICC Cricket World Cup at Star Sports and the adverse impact from the strengthened US dollar, primarily in Latin America and Europe.

     

    Television

     

    Full year segment OIBDA of $718 million decreased $164 million or 19 per cent versus the prior year. The decline principally reflects the absence of advertising revenue and OIBDA generated from the broadcast of the Super Bowl in the prior year. Excluding the impact of the Super Bowl in the prior year, segment revenues were consistent with the year ago as strong retransmission consent revenue growth was counterbalanced by a 6 percent decline in advertising revenues reflecting overall lower general entertainment ratings at the Fox Broadcast Network.

     

    Filmed Entertainment

     

    Full year segment OIBDA of $1.45 billion increased $87 million, or six per cent, over prior year amounts reflecting higher film studio contributions partially offset by lower contributions from the television production businesses and the absence of full year contributions from Shine Group (Shine), which was contributed into the Endemol Shine Group joint venture in December 2014. The film studio’s growth was led by strong worldwide theatrical and home entertainment performance across a diverse set of releases, including Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, The Fault In Our Stars, Taken 3, Gone Girl, Kingsman: The Secret Service and The Maze Runner as well as the home entertainment performance of Rio 2. The film studio’s commercial and creative success was further highlighted by the all-time industry record it set of more than $5.5 billion in global box-office receipts for calendar 2014, as well as its industry leading eight Academy Awards for Fox Searchlight, including Best Picture for Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). Segment OIBDA growth was also adversely impacted by nine per cent from foreign exchange rate fluctuations.

     

    Total equity (losses) earnings of affiliates

     

    Annual equity earnings from affiliates were $904 million as compared with $622 million in the prior year. The increased contributions from affiliates reflects increased contributions from Sky primarily resulting from the Company’s share of Sky’s gains on the sale of its ownership stakes in National Geographic Channels International, Sky Betting & Gaming (Sky Bet) and its shares in ITV partially offset by purchase price amortization recorded by Sky related to its acquisition of the DBS businesses from the Company, as well as the absence of pre-tax gains related to the Company’s participation in Sky’s share repurchase program which ended last fiscal year. The higher Sky contributions were partially offset by the inclusion of equity losses of Endemol Shine Group, the absence of the YES Network contributions in the current year resulting from its consolidation in February 2014 and higher losses from Hulu.

  • Q1-2016: Den Networks revenue down 11%, posts net loss of Rs 52 crore

    Q1-2016: Den Networks revenue down 11%, posts net loss of Rs 52 crore

    BENGALURU: Den Networks Ltd (Den Networks) reported lower Total Income from operations (TIO) in the quarter ended 30 June, 2015 (Q1-2016) at Rs 265.60 crore, 11.1 per cent less than the Rs 298.81 crore in Q1-2015 and 1.7 per cent lower than the Rs 270.30 crore in Q4-2015. 

     

    The company’s loss in the current quarter at Rs 51.89 crore was lower than the Rs 61.15 crore reported in the immediate trailing quarter Q4-2015. The company had posted a profit of Rs 1.12 crore (0.4 per cent margin) in the corresponding year ago quarter – Q1-2015.

     

    Note: 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore

     

    However, there were a few silver linings in the in the gloomy financial picture. Den’s Broadband revenue increased sharply to Rs 5.21 crore against Rs 1.06 crore in Q1-2015. Den, through a wholly owned subsidiary has participated in India Soccer League through the Delhi Dynamos FC. The company says that the response to the ISL is unprecedented and has given a huge advantage to the Den brand. Soccer revenue flow has started in current quarter at Rs 93 lakh, reveals Den.

     

    Some of Den Networks operational highlights in the current quarter include the fact that Den says that it has seeded 20 lakh boxes in phase III markets ahead of December 2015 deadline. It claims a 21 per cent market share in India’s digital cable subscribers (25 per cent in Phases 1 and 2). Further, the company’s Cable EBITDA improved by 26 per cent from Rs 14 crore in Q4-2015 to Rs 18 crore in the current quarter.

     

    Den Networks’ Broadband reach has increased 50 per cent in terms of number of homes passed and subscribed and broad band ARPU is Rs 760. Also, the company reports a strong growth in Den-Snapdeal clocking with the venture clocking an annualised GMV of Rs 144 crore in the current quarter as compared to the Rs 117 crore in previous quarter.

     

    Den Network’s operating loss (EBIDTA) in the current quarter was lower at Rs 4.67 crore as compared to the Rs 5.97 crore in Q4-2015. The company had reported a positive EBIDTA of Rs 57.16 crore (19.1 per cent margin) in the corresponding year ago quarter.

     

    The company’s Total Expenses in Q1-2016 at Rs 320.33 crore (120.6 per cent of TIO) was 12.4 per cent higher than the Rs 284.93 crore (95.4 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2015, but was one per cent lower than the Rs 323.70 crore (119.8 per cent of TIO) in Q4-2015. 

     

    Content cost in Q1-2016 at Rs 136.06 crore (51.2 per cent of TIO) was 27.9 per cent more than the Rs 106.42 crore (35.6 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2015, but was 2.2 per cent lower than the Rs 139.13 crore (51.5 per cent of TIO) in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    The company’s finance costs in Q1-2016 declined 7.8 per cent to Rs 18.27 crore (6.9 per cent of TIO) as compared to the Rs 19.82 crore (6.6 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2015, but was 11.6 per cent more than the Rs 16.37 crore (6.1 per cent of TIO) in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    Employee Benefit Expense at Rs 34.15 crore (12.9 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2016 was 20 per cent more than the Rs 28.46 crore (9.5 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2015 and was 13.4 per cent more than the Rs 30.12 crore (11.1 per cent of TIO) in Q4-2015.