ITV

Category: Cable TV

  • Derek Chang Named president & CEO of Liberty Media

    Derek Chang Named president & CEO of Liberty Media

    MUMBAI: The John Malone-headed Liberty Media Corp has announced the appointment of veteran media, sports, and entertainment executive Derek Chang as its president&  CEO, effective 1  February  2025.

    Chang, a Liberty Media board member since 2021, brings extensive experience from leadership roles at the NBA, DirecTV, Scripps, and EverPass Media, among others. Liberty Media  chairman John Malone, will serve as interim CEO until Chang assumes the role.

    “I am thrilled to welcome Derek as CEO,” said Malone. “His deep industry expertise and leadership make him the ideal choice to guide Liberty’s next chapter.”

    Chang expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity, stating his focus will be on optimising Liberty Media’s portfolio and advancing key assets like Formula 1 and MotoGP.

    Chang will join the Liberty Media board’s executive committee alongside Malone, Dob Bennett, and Chase Carey.

    Liberty Media operates interests in media, sports, and entertainment businesses, including Formula 1 and Live Nation.

  • GTPL: Investing in Q3 FY 2025 for growth

    GTPL: Investing in Q3 FY 2025 for growth

    MUMBAI: It has been a challenging year for the cable TV industry, with increasing pressure on their broadband operations from wireless operators like Jio, Airtel, and Vi. Cord-cutting continues to grow, alongside the rise of cord-nevers. This trend is likely to be reflected in the financial results of listed MSOs and DTH operators.
    Some of these challenges are evident in the results of one of India’s top MSOs, GTPL Hathway, although the company is investing for growth.

    The Anirudhsinh Jadeja-led group reported a 7.64 per cent growth in revenue for the third quarter ended 31 December 2024, reaching Rs 565.16 crore, compared to Rs 521.69 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year. The company spent Rs 14.93 crore on the purchase of project material (nil in Q3 ended 31 December 2023). Operating expenses rose significantly to Rs 441.70 crore (Rs 364.22 crore), while finance costs increased to Rs 6.6 crore (Rs 4.4 crore). These higher costs impacted the profit before exceptional items and tax (PBEIT), which declined to Rs 14.24 crore (Rs 25.91 crore).

    Despite a lower tax outgo of Rs 3.58 crore (Rs 13.83 crore), net profit fell to Rs 10.66 crore (Rs 19.13 crore). Total comprehensive income also decreased to Rs 10.69 crore (Rs 19.21 crore).

    The company declared in its investor presentation that its active cable TV subscribers and paying subscribers were at 9.6 million and 8.9 million in Q3 FY25 as against 9.4 million  and 8.7 million in Q3FY24 respectively. Its subscription income from CATV fell six per cent in Q3FY25 to Rs 211.2 crore (Rs 225.1 crore in Q3FY24), while its placement income rose 21 per cent to Rs 308 crore (Rs 254.2 crore in Q3FY24).

    Its content costs climbed 14 per cent  to Rs 382.4 crore in Q3FY25 from Rs 335.1 crore. GTPL Hathway’s EBITDA fell 14 per cent to Rs 65.4 crore in Q3FY25 from Rs Rs 75.7 crore in Q3FY24. 

    On the broadband front, its active subscriber base at 1,042,000  in Q3 FY25 showed an increase of 37,000 over the previous year’s corresponding quarters. Average revenue per user too rose by Rs 5 to Rs 465 in the same period. Its home passes were higher by 350,000 touching 5.95 million by 31 December 2024. 

    On a nine-month basis ending 31 December 2024, GTPL Hathway reported total income of Rs 1653.37 crore, up from Rs 1545.56 crore in the same period the previous year. However, expenditure on project material rose to Rs 21.70 crore (Rs 0 in the previous year’s comparative period). Higher operating expenses at Rs 1196.57 crore (Rs 1087.1 crore) and increased finance costs (Rs 15.61 crore vs Rs 11.55 crore) led to a lower PBEIT of Rs 53.48 crore (Rs 90.07 crore). Net profit after tax fell to Rs 39.65 crore, compared to Rs 66.29 crore.

    During the current quarter, GTPL sold its entire 61 per cent  equity stake (12,200 shares) in its subsidiary GTPL Bansidhar Telelink for Rs 0.12 million. Additionally, it entered into a share transfer agreement to acquire the remaining 49 per cent stake (1,00,000 equity shares of Rs 10 each) in its subsidiary GTPL Vision Services from existing shareholders for Rs 1131 per share, totaling Rs 113.10 million.

    The company clarified that revenue from operations includes projects executed by the group, amounting to Rs 7.6 crore for the quarter and nine months ended 31 December 2024, compared to Rs 41.64 crore for the same periods in the previous year and the year ended 31 March 2024.

  • Jio Platforms engages Gurpreet Phull as head-content & alliances

    Jio Platforms engages Gurpreet Phull as head-content & alliances

    MUMBAI: He’s been at Jio Platforms Ltd (JPL) for the past three months and Gurpreet Phull has kept his joining the MDA group company low-key. Today, however, he came out and announced  on Linkedin that he is “on a new journey. This time for the larger impact, to the new revolution” as head – content & alliances, JioTV Os, Jio App Store, Jio Homes and Jio Devices.

    He has been on the content distribution and alliances side for the past decade. Beginning May 2015 till February 2019 at Bharti Airtel as  lead- content alliances and acquisition strategy- DTH and mobile TV app, he was one of the founding members of Airtel Xtream. Moving on he joined Dish TV from February 2019 to November 2021 as head product marketing and content marketing strategy. He heeded the call from OTTPlay CEO & founder Avinash Mudaliar to head partnerships and growth at HT Digital Streams and he stayed there for three years until the JPL offer came his way.

    However, the B.Tech and IIM-C post graduate, began his working life as a software engineer at BirlaSoft and then worked in Raymond for almost four years, first, as a senior management trainee for a year and a half ,and then straightaway in the CEO’s office as his executive assistant. He also had a nine-month spell  at Myntra which gave him exposure to the ecommerce world. 
     

  • JioStar, Zee and Sony release new channel and bouquet pricing

    JioStar, Zee and Sony release new channel and bouquet pricing

    MUMBAI: It’s that time of the year when broadcasters disclose how much the distribution platform operators will have to pay for the channels they pipe into Indian TV homes. The three major networks JioStar, Zee and Sony Pictures Networks India have rolled out their reference interconnect orders  (Rios) regarding the broadcast tariffs that cable ops, DTH ops and IPTV players have to cough up for 2025. At first glance, it appears s if broadcasters have been reasonable in their rate increases by hiking channel prices between five and 15 per cent on the higher side. And quite a few channel prices have been maintained as well. The rates become effective 1 February 2025.

    Let’s begin with JioStar.Its 134 channel offering after the merger of Star and Jio definitely looks impressive. As do the number of packs its distribution team has come up with: 83 in all packs, which includes 85 standard definition channels, 44 HD channels, five FTA channels. The bouquets also include 19 news channels from Network 18, infotainment channels from both National Geographic and AETN18, general entertainment channels in various languages from both Star and Colors, kids channels (including Disney), music channels (MTV and Maa Music), regional language channels and of course above all sports channels in various languages.

    On an a la carte basis, JioStar’s channels in various languages in standard definition have been priced at between Rs 25 (for Maa TV and Colors Kannada respectively)  and 10 paise (all its news channels).

    Its HD channels are priced between Rs 25 a(Maa HD, Star Plus HD, Vijay HD, Colors Kannada and Asianet) and 10 paise(VH1 HD, MTV Beats HD and MTV HD). .

    On the bundle side, its cheapest pack, apart from the free to air channels, is at     Rs 17 for the Disney Kids SD pack with the most expensive one being the Star Premium Pack Marathi Lite Hindi HD at Rs 240.

    The  Star Value Pack  SD Hindi pack,  priced at Rs 110 has 30 channels including both Star Plus and Colors, a chunk of news channels, movie channels, infotainment channels, kids channels – but no Disney – the sports channels Star Sports 1 Hindi, Sports 18, and Star Sports 3. The Star Premium Pack Lite Hindi HD which is priced at Rs 210 has 43 channels, including seven sports channels, Colors HD but no Star Plus.

    The broadcaster has built clever packs which are a mix of regional language channels only and it has also mixed regional languages to create special packs and regional language channels with its  Hindi channels to create even more niche packs to meet the requirement of nomadic domestic Indians.

    Network Status Action
     JioStar if you already have an agreement  click here  
      if you are new to Jiostar and want one click here
    Zee TV To get the Zee updated RIO form  click here
    Sony Pictures Networks India to get the a la carte pricing  click here
      to get the Happy India bouquet pricing  click here
    Source: networks and Indiantelevision.com 

    Let’s now take a look at Zee. Zee has kept the number of packs limited to 30 and it’s a la carte rates are also pretty much simpler. It’s mainline general entertainment channels in every language apart from Malayalam have been kept at a price of Rs 19 (Zee TV Hindi, Zee TV Marathi, Zee Bangla, Zee Sarthak, Zee Telugu and Zee Kannada). Zee Keralam, however, has been priced at Rs 10 on a la carte basis. Its movie channels have been kept between a band of Rs 19 (Zee Cinema) and 10 paise (Zee Classic). It has priced most of its HD channels at Rs 19 with the lowest one priced at Rs 3 (& prive HD).

    Zee TV has bundled its regional language channel packs at a higher price than its Hindi ones. For instance, the Zee all-in-one pack Hindi HD has a sticker price of Rs 89 while its all-in-one Telugu and Tamil packs are priced at Rs 120.It has also thrown in penetration incentives if the distribution platform operators place the channels in the preferred LCN number that are agreed upon between Zee and the DPO.

    Now on to Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI). SPNI has increased the a la carte pricing for some of its  channels, while keeping them steady for others. For example, Sony Wah  which was priced at Rs 0.1, is now priced at Rs 1. Similarly, Sony Max 2 has increased to Rs 2 from Rs 1, and Sony Sports Ten 4 is now priced at Rs 19, up from Rs 17. Additionally, the pricing for bouquets has been revised which has gone up  between four per cent and 12 per cent. The Happy India Smart – Hindi pack is now priced at Rs 54 (previously Rs 48), while the Happy India Smart – Marathi pack is now priced at Rs 56 (previously Rs 51). The Happy Smart Bangla too has risen from 51 to Rs 56 but with the channel Max 1 being added to it.

    Hopefully, these marginal price revisions don’t start a battle between the  cable TV and DTH fraternity and broadcasters like they did the last time in 2023 when broadcasters had to resort to switch offs because cable TV operators resisted. The DPOs must remember the price of almost everything has gone up: the rupee is at Rs 85, potatoes are at Rs 60 and even petrol is at a high.

    Already, consumers are turning away from cable TV and DTH as is evident in the drop in the number of subscribers in the past six months. For the sake of the entire cable and satellite TV industry, the entire trade must work together and not battle against each other. Otherwise, the number of cord cutters and cord-nevers will only increase. And along with it, the tribe of streamers. 

  • Sony exec Vikram Vijay Chandan turns author with Love Life and Cricket

    Sony exec Vikram Vijay Chandan turns author with Love Life and Cricket

    MUMBAI: When you have been distributing sports channels for more than 20 years as a TV distribution executive, it gives you a first-hand look at the game of cricket than possible otherwise. And that’s what’s prompted Sony Pictures Networks Distribution India vice-president of sales Vikram Vijay Chandan to pen a book about the sport and its applicability to life.

    Called Love Life and Cricket, the book has made its debut on Amazon.  The cricket-mad Vikram has been podcasting about cricket for a while now and draws parallels between life and the game in every situation. He penned the book over four years, while holding his day job at Sony, meeting cable operators and executives at DTH platform doing deals to carry the Sony sports channels.

    “This book is a culmination of my journey, experiences and learnings around the game I love,” said he on linkedin. “Cricket, often referred to as a religion in India, is more than just a game. It’s a reflection of life itself. Just as cricket has its ups and downs, life too has its share of triumphs and tribulations. Love, in its purest form, is the glue that holds relationships together. Just as a batsman and bowler engage in a beautiful dance, love is the harmony that exists between two people.In cricket, every ball is a new opportunity, just like every day in life. We must seize each moment, just as a fielder seizes a catch, and make the most of it.
    As we navigate the ups and downs of life, cricket reminds us of the importance of perseverance, teamwork, and sportsmanship. And just as love conquers all, cricket too has the power to unite people across cultures and borders.So, let’s cherish the love, live life to the fullest, and enjoy the game of cricket – for in its simplicity lies a profound beauty that reflects the very essence of human existence.”

    Based in Gurugram, Vikram has also been expressing his thoughts and views about action on the ground through his Instagram handle and his opinions have got more than 20 million views.

    Love Life and Cricket has been published by Beeja House which is run by the mentor of writers Geetika Saigal.  

    You can get onto Amazon and buy your copy by clicking on the link: Love Life and Cricket
     

  • Hathway Cable & Datacom acquires 61.15 per cent shares of its Nanded subsidiary

    Hathway Cable & Datacom acquires 61.15 per cent shares of its Nanded subsidiary

    MUMBAI: It’s acquisition  and consolidation time in cable TV land. Multisystem operator Hathway Cable & Datacom informed the BSE on 27 November 2024 that it had acquired the balance 61.15 per cent  equity stake ( 20,54,832)  equity shares from the existing shareholders (including Hathway MCN Pvt Ltd  – a Hathway offshoot) of Hathway Cable MCN Nanded Pvt Ltd  (“Hathway Nanded”), a subsidiary of the company for an aggregate cash consideration of Rs. 11 (Rupees eleven only). 

    The acquisition of equity shares is for consolidation of business operations. Post-acquisition, Hathway Nanded has now become a wholly owned subsidiary of Hathway Cable & Datacom.  

    Hathway Nanded, incorporated in India on 11 March 2008, runs cable TV operations and has a presence in Nanded, Maharashtra. It had a turnover of Rs 5.58 crore in FY 2023-2024, Rs 7.08 crore in FY 2022-2023 and Rs 8.79 crore in FY 2021-2022.  

    It informed the stock exchange that one of the transferors (out of eleven), namely  Hathway MCN Pvt Ltd, is a related party of Hathway Cable  and the acquisition is on an arm’s length basis. None of the company’s promoter / promoter group / other group companies have any interest in the above transaction.  No governmental or regulatory approvals were required for the acquisition.

     

  • SN Sharma gets AIDCF responsibilities once again

    SN Sharma gets AIDCF responsibilities once again

    MUMBAI: It’s back to being president of the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF). DEN Networks CEO S.N. Sharma who led the AIDCF from April 2019 to March 2021 as its president has once again been appointed to that post. His term will continue till March 2025 when a new head will hopefully be selected. 

    The AIDCF was set up in 2014 with VD Wadhwa, the then CEO of Siti Networks as its head.

    Sharma, a veteran and popular figure in the cable TV industry, succeeds Fastway CEO Peeush Mahajan, who stepped down from the position in May 2024 due to personal reasons (apparently, he’s migrated to Canada and won’t be coming back). Peeush took over as president in April 2023 and his term was supposed to end in March 2025.

    Sharma had been acting president of the association since then. 

  • Prasar Bharati, RailTel, and PlayboxTV launch the affordable ‘Freedom Plan’

    Prasar Bharati, RailTel, and PlayboxTV launch the affordable ‘Freedom Plan’

    Mumbai: In a groundbreaking collaboration, Prasar Bharati, RailTel Corporation of India, and PlayboxTV unveiled the Freedom Plan under RailWire broadband. This OTT bundled internet service aims to deliver high-speed connectivity and premium entertainment to underserved regions across India.

    At an event attended by PlayboxTV, founder & CEO, Aamir Mulani; RailTel, CMD, Sanjai Kumar; and Prasar Bharati, CEO, Gaurav Dwivedi, the Freedom Plan was announced as an affordable and accessible solution tailored for Tier 2, Tier 3 cities, and rural areas.

    For just Rs 299 monthly, subscribers will enjoy 30 Mbps internet speed, access to 10 premium OTT platforms, including Prasar Bharati’s Waves, over 400 live TV channels, and 200+ games. This collaboration marks RailTel as the first telecom provider to integrate Prasar Bharati’s Waves OTT platform, developed to showcase India’s rich cultural and entertainment legacy.

    The Freedom Plan underscores India’s mission to bridge the digital divide. RailWire’s extensive reach will empower rural households with a unique combination of connectivity and entertainment. The partnership also focuses on engaging millions of daily commuters, ensuring seamless on-the-go access to top-tier content.

    Mulani expressed, “It is very exciting to see Prasar Bharati, India’s premier entertainment and Infotainment hub, launch its very own OTT platform Waves. I feel proud to be the first OTT aggregation platform to onboard them and offer it to our customers. The Freedom Plan being launched by RailTel under RailWire broadband is packed with rich content including Waves. Priced at Rs. 299 monthly I feel it is the perfect entertainment plan for every household in India.”

    Waves, Prasar Bharati’s OTT platform, delivers a curated blend of nostalgic classics like Mahabharat, Ramayan, and Shaktiman, along with live TV, movies, podcasts, and games. The platform is available on Android, iOS, connected TVs, Firestick, and Chromecast.

    Dwivedi remarked, “Waves OTT platform represents a transformative leap for Prasar Bharati as we embrace the digital revolution to connect with India’s vast and diverse audience like never before. RailTel through Freedom Plan under Railwire broadband with its wider reach in 2/3 tier towns including rural & remote areas along with capabilities of OTT aggregator PlayboxTV will help us reach a newer and wider audience through their vast network of ISPs and LCOs. This collaboration with RailTel Corporation of India and PlayboxTV reflects our vision of making high-quality, culturally rich, and family entertainers accessible to every corner of the nation. Together, we aim to redefine digital engagement and bridge the gap between traditional broadcasting and modern streaming, empowering millions across India with seamless connectivity and premium entertainment”

    Kumar highlighted the transformative potential of this initiative, saying, “Our Home internet service RailWire aims to bring affordable internet to underserved parts of the country. This collaboration aligns with India’s vision of becoming a knowledge economy by promoting digital literacy and ensuring every household can participate in the country’s digital transformation. The Freedom Plan delivers content for all age groups including children, youth, adults, and senior citizens by making it a perfect fit for family consumption. The Freedom Plan is a step toward achieving a digitally empowered society by connecting even the remotest parts of India with high-quality internet and entertainment,”

    RailTel, known for its pan-India optical fiber network, partners with PlayboxTV to extend the Freedom Plan to regions overlooked by mainstream providers. The initiative will connect remote areas with seamless browsing and rich digital content, driving India closer to becoming a digitally empowered society.

     

  • Comcast to spin off cable TV networks into new company SpinCo

    Comcast to spin off cable TV networks into new company SpinCo

    MUMBAI: The reshaping of legacy behemoth media and entertainment companies continues. US media megacorp Comcast today announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company comprised of a strong portfolio of NBCUniversal’s cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets including Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow and Sports Engine, through a tax-free spin-off. 

    The well-capitalised independent company (SpinCo) will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. Over the past twelve months ended 30 September 2024, SpinCo generated approximately $7 billion in revenue.

    It will be an industry-leading news, sports and entertainment cable television business with a focused strategic direction. SpinCo’s stable of marquee brands will provide a diverse and differentiated content offering that will reach approximately 70 million US households. 

    Comcast is targeting to complete the spin-off in approximately one year, subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions, including obtaining final approval from its board, satisfactory completion of SpinCo financing, receipt of tax opinions and receipt of any regulatory approvals. 

    “When you look at our assets, talented management team and balance sheet strength, we are able to set these businesses up for future growth,” said Comcast chairman & CEO Brian L. Roberts. “With significant financial resources from day one, SpinCo will be ideally positioned for success and highly attractive to investors, content creators, distributors and potential partners.” 

    The planned spin-off will also strategically position NBCUniversal with its leading broadcast and streaming media properties, including NBC entertainment, sports, news and Bravo – which all power Peacock – along with Telemundo, the theme parks business and film and television studios.

    “This transaction positions both SpinCo and NBCUniversal to play offense in a changing media landscape,” said Comcast president Mike Cavanagh. “Taken together, the entirety of NBCUniversal will be on a new growth trajectory, fuelled by our world-class content, technology, IP, properties and talent – all working in concert with each other as an integrated media company.”

    The company said in a press release that “as a global media and technology company, Comcast will be well-positioned to continue to invest in its strategic core growth businesses across its content & experiences and connectivity & platforms businesses, including residential broadband, wireless, business services, streaming, studios and theme parks. The transaction is expected to be accretive to revenue growth at Comcast and approximately neutral to Comcast’s leverage position.”

    While SpinCo will operate as an independent business, it will enter into a transition services agreement with NBCUniversal to allow SpinCo to operate seamlessly from day one. 

    The new firm will be led by CEO Mark Lazarus, the current chairman of NBCUniversal Media group. Anand Kini who is the current chief financial officer of NBCUniversal and EVP of corporate strategy at Comcast, will serve as SpinCo’s  chief financial officer and chief operating officer. Together, the press release said, the duo will lead the development of an independent strategy, while also establishing SpinCo as a potential partner and acquirer of other complementary media businesses.

    “As a standalone company with these outstanding assets, we will be better positioned to serve our audiences and drive shareholder returns in this incredibly dynamic media environment across news, sports and entertainment,” said Mark Lazarus. “We see a real opportunity to invest and build additional scale and I’m excited about the growth opportunities this transition will unlock. Our financial strength will also provide capacity for an attractive capital return policy while allowing for investment in the growth of these businesses.”

  • Hathway Cable Q2 FY2025: Revenues rise, profits too

    Hathway Cable Q2 FY2025: Revenues rise, profits too

    MUMBAI: The cable TV sector is under pressure in India is known to many and  a lot has been written about the rampant cord cutters and cord-nevers. But this is one multisystem operator which seems to be bucking the trend – the Reliance Industries-owned Hathway Cable & Datacom. 

    At least that’s the first perception you get when you look at its financials for Q2FY2025 ended 30 September 2024, which were filed with the Bombay stock exchange on 11 October.

    Revenue from operations is up to Rs 5127.4 million as against Rs 4837.9 million in the previous year’s corresponding quarter. Profit before tax  is at Rs 398.8 million compared to Rs 339.3 million (Q2 FY 2024). Net profit too has  risen to Rs 257.8 million (Rs 200.3 million) a 28.4 per cent increase. EBITDA during the quarter showed a bit of an uptick at Rs 859.9 million (Rs 826.3 million).

    The company’s revenue from the broadband business for H1 FY2025 ended 30 September has slipped to Rs 3027.8 million (Rs  3132.2 million), even as it has risen for its cable TV business to  Rs 6801.5 million (Rs 6698 million).

    On a quarterly basis for Q2 FY2025  there has been a drop in its broadband revenues to Rs 1515.9 million (Rs 1564.6 million in Q2FY 2024) while cable TV has shown an increase to Rs 3440.1 million (Rs 3273.3 million). However, margins seem to be getting squeezed in both these segments with its cable TV business turning up negative segment results at Rs 143.2 million (negative Rs 138.1 million in Q2 FY2024). Its broadband segment too has reported  lower results  at Rs 56 million (Rs  115.8 million). 

     

    Picture courtesy Hathway Cable & Datacom Annual Report