ITV

Category: DTH

  • Dish TV adds 9 Malayalam channels for Kerala market

    Dish TV adds 9 Malayalam channels for Kerala market

    MUMBAI: In yet another move to diversify its presence in the market, direct-to-home (DTH) operator Dish TV has added nine new Malayalam channels in its bouquet for viewers in Kerala.

    Dish TV now offers the maximum regional entertainment amongst all DTH players with a total of 27 channels and services on its platform in the state. The DTH player also has the widest overall content basket with a bouquet of 500+ channels and services.

    The latest addition of the channels include: Kaumudy, Reporter, TV New, People, Jeevan, Safari, Kochu, Kappa and Goodness. Dish TV offers various Malayalam channels across different subscription packs in all genres like movies, news, devotional and general entertainment for the Malayali speaking audience.

    Dish TV India chief operating officer Salil Kapoor said, “Being a pioneer and market leader Dish TV has always stood up to its promise of providing maximum width and depth of content with an overall of 500+ channels and services. Dish TV has always taken the lead in enhancing the value proposition and believes in providing the maximum and the best in entertainment to its subscribers. Our endeavor is to increase affinity with our audiences by providing them the choice of content they would like to watch. And now by adding nine exceedingly popular Malayalam news and entertainment channels in our channel bouquet, we take pride to offer maximum Malayalam content to our customers in Kerala and we will continue to expand our offerings with further additions.”

    The list channels as follows:

  • Videocon d2h expands HD offering to 39, adds two new channels

    Videocon d2h expands HD offering to 39, adds two new channels

    MUMBAI: Videocon d2h has upped its HD channel offering to 39 with the addition of two new channels namely Viacom 18’s Colors Infinity and Fox Group’s Nat Geo Wild HD.

     

    Additionally, the DTH operator has also added Colors Infinity (SD) to its portfolio of channels.

     

    Colors Infinity airs critically-acclaimed series such as Fargo, Orange Is The New Black, Better Call Saul, Forever, The Big C, The Musketeers, My Kitchen Rules and The Flash for the first time in India.

     

    On the other hand, Nat Geo Wild HD will feature wildlife related programs and factual content involving nature, science, culture, and history.

     

    Colors Infinity will be available as channel 183, Colors Infinity HD as channel 184, whereas Nat Geo Wild HD will be available as channel 462 on Videocon d2h.

     

    Subscribers can access Colors Infinity standard definition channel as a part of Diamond Pack available at Rs 385 per month for 407 channels & services. Colors Infinity HD & Nat GeoWild HD will be part of Videocon d2h’s Premium HD add-on and Platinum HD pack available at Rs 590 per month for 452 channels & services.

     

    “We believe that our ability to provide a substantial lineup of top entertainment choices in English, infotainment and HD is the key in serving the needs of India’s premium consumers. And the more such stellar options we provide, the more Videocon d2h will emerge as India’s definitive DTH choice,” said Videocon d2h executive chairman Saurabh Dhoot.

     

    Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera added, “By adding new English entertainment channels like Colors Infinity and infotainment channel Nat Geo Wild HD, Videocon d2h is creating a television viewing experience our subscribers can’t get anywhere else. Our aim is to ensure that every Indian home is able to experience top quality entertainment that rivals the world’s most established television markets.” 

  • Dish TV launches Zing in Kerala with 27 Malayalam channels

    Dish TV launches Zing in Kerala with 27 Malayalam channels

    MUMBAI: A decade after serving the nation with direct to home (DTH) services media mogul Dr Shubash Chandra owned Dish TV has now launched its regional DTH brand Zing in the Kerala market targeting Malayalam viewers.

     

    It may be recalled that in an exclusive interview with Indiantelevision.com recently, Dish TV CEO RC Venkateish had said that after being present in the Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra market, Zing would expand into the Kerala market.

     

    Special conceptualisation and customization has been done keeping the Malayalam viewers in the state of Kerala, who are rapidly moving over to the digital platform. 

     

    The bouquet of services are derived from a consumer survey revealing the most watched channels in this region. As an attempt to give the best services to the consumers at a reasonable price, Zing will offer 27 Malayalam channels and services along with 150+ channels at an exclusive price of Rs 99 per month.

     

    Venkateish said, “Our consumer demographic study has indicated that large segment of TV viewers from medium and small town prefer content from their own region. Zing will address this need and provide maximum available regional content (27 Malayalam Channels and Services) to viewers through exciting packs as compared to other DTH brands.”

     

    He added, “Zing is our unique initiative where a complete new brand is being launched to address this need for regional content. Now not only will packages cater to specific audiences across states, but even communication will be in the customer’s language of choice.”

  • Q1-2016: Affirmation that DTH in India has turned the corner?

    Q1-2016: Affirmation that DTH in India has turned the corner?

    BENGALURU: If numbers reported by direct-to-home (DTH) operators in Q1-2016 are anything to go by, then the segment might just have turned the corner last quarter.

     

    As may be recalled, Indiantelevision.com had reported in the last quarter that the DTH industry in India had probably reached an inflection point in FY-2015 (financial year ended 31 March, 2015, previous year), and more so during the last quarter of the previous year (Q4-2015). The financial results for the quarter ended 30 June, 2015 (Q1-2016, current quarter) seem to confirm this fact.

     

    Another endorsement of this website’s surmise is a single statement in the Sun TV Network’s earning release for the current quarter – Subscription revenues continue to grow with cable TV revenues growing by approximately 13 per cent and DTH subscription revenue growing by nine per cent over the same quarter of last year. Sun TV had approximately eight per cent market share among the private Indian DTH players as on 31 March, 2015.

     

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

     

    This report covers only the three of the seven DTH service providers in India (as had the previous one) since the other four – Reliance Digital TV, Sun Direct (about 97 lakh subscribers as on 31 March, 2015), Tata Sky and DD Free Dish are not listed on the bourses and their financial numbers are not available, unless the principals of these companies/segments chose to reveal them. The three players – Airtel DTH, Dish TV and Videocon d2h have already been covered in our earlier report mentioned above.

     

    Despite Q1 being a relatively weak quarter seasonally, two of the three players – Airtel DTH, Dish TV and Videocon d2h have reported QoQ and YoY growth across all the important parameters that include revenue, operating profits with healthy margins, subscription numbers, average revenue per user (ARPU) for the current quarter. The third player Videocon d2h, has also shown improved numbers across all the parameters mentioned above, except in the case of operating profits – the company’s YoY and QoQ loss reduced significantly in Q1-2016.

     

    Dish TV is the largest DTH player in terms of subscriber base and probably revenue too, in India. The company posted a 55.2 per cent QoQ growth in consolidated profit after tax of Rs 54.21 crore (7.2 per cent margin) in Q1-2016 on revenue of Rs 736.68 crore. For the corresponding quarter of last year, Dish TV had reported a loss of Rs 14.97 crore on revenue of Rs 618.04 crore.

     

    As a matter of fact, Dish TV is also the first among listed DTH companies in the country in FY-2015 and Q4-2015 to report a profit after tax as opposed to the operating profits reported by a segment of the other goliaths for whom DTH services is just another small segment.

     

    Airtel DTH reported the highest YoY growth in ARPU in Q1-2016, as well as the highest ARPU among the three players in this report.

     

    Let us look at some of the numbers reported by the three players:

     

    Airtel DTH

     

    For Bharati Airtel Limited (Airtel), Digital TV services (Airtel DTH) contributes just a small fraction to its overall numbers. The DTH segment’s contribution to overall Airtel numbers is approximately four per cent to revenue and three per cent to EBIDTA, and yet it had a seven per cent share in the company’s capex investments pie to the extent of Rs 211.3 crore fresh investments in Q1-2016. Overall, cumulative investment made by Airtel into its DTH segment is Rs 5621.6 crore (about three per cent of Airtel’s overall cumulative investments).

     

    Mentioning the DTH segment in Airtel’s Q1-2016 earning release, Airtel MD and CEO, India & South Asia Gopal Vittal said, “I am pleased that our revenue growth is broad based across all business units, especially the domestic enterprise and corporate segment, which saw revenues grow by 18.1 per cent, and DTH business which had a underlying topline growth of 26.8 per cent.”

     

    Airtel DTH reported 15.8 per cent increase in YoY revenue to Rs 684.8 crore in Q1-2016 as compared to the Rs 591.5 crore in Q1-2015 and 7.9 per cent more than the Rs 634.8 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    The telecom major’s DTH segment reported a 67 per cent growth in operating profit (EBIDTA) in the current quarter at Rs 240.8 crore (46.1 per cent margin) as compared to the Rs 143.8 crore (24.3 per cent margin) in Q1-2015 and 15.9 per cent more than the Rs 207.8 crore (32.7 per cent margin) immediate trailing quarter.

     

    Airtel’s DTH segment reported 10.9 per cent YoY growth in Airtel DTH customer base for the current quarter at 104.12 lakh as compared to the 93.88 lakh in Q1-2015 and 3.4 per cent growth as compared to the 100.73 lakh in Q4-2015.

     

    As mentioned above, ARPU in Q1-2016 improved significantly to Rs 222 as compared to the Rs 214 in both Q1-2015 and Q4-2015. Monthly churn in the current quarter was higher at 0.8 per cent as compared to the 0.6 per cent in the corresponding year ago quarter, but lower than the one per cent in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    Dish TV

     

    Dish TV has shown almost flat QoQ revenue growth in Q1-2016. The company reported 0.9 per cent higher consolidated net total Income from Operations (TIO) in the current quarter at Rs 736.68 crore as compared to the Rs 729.93 crore in the immediate trailing quarter and 19.2 per cent more than the Rs 618.04 crore in Q1-2015.

     

    As mentioned above, the company has reported 55.2 per cent higher PAT at Rs 54.21 (7.4 per cent margin) as compared to the Rs 34.94 crore (margin 4.8 per cent) in Q4-2015. The company had reported a loss of Rs 14.97 crore in Q1-2015, while it had reported a consolidated PAT of Rs 3.14 crore for FY-2015.

     

    With effect from 1 April, 2015, Dish TV says that it has started netting-off certain collection fees paid to its trade partners from its topline. This has resulted in the company’s topline getting shrunk by around four per cent, with a similar number being decreased from the middle line.

     

    Further, Dish TV transferred its non-core business (including set-top boxes, dish antenna and related services) to its wholly owned subsidiary Dish Infra Services Private Limited (formerly known as Xingmedia Distribution Private Limited) on 1 April, 2015 on a going concern basis.

     

    The company reported addition of 3,90,000 net subscribers in Q1-2016, taking its total subscriber base to 1.33 crore as on 30 June, 2015. Post consolidation, Dish TV’s ARPU was Rs 173 versus Rs 172 (QoQ) in Q4-2015. The company reported consolidated subscription revenues at Rs 628.88 crore, up 20.6 per cent YoY.

     

    Dish TV chairman Subhash Chandra said, “Dish TV has been actively contributing to the ‘Digital India’ movement by digitizing analog TV homes in DAS phase 3 and 4 markets and remains optimistic about its prospects to acquire a substantial share in these markets.”

     

    Dish TV managing director Jawahar Goel added, “Our first quarter results are in line with the success of our regional and high definition (HD) strategy. Our regional offering, ‘Zing’, would soon be launched in Kerala and would carry the largest cache of vernacular channels offered in that market. ‘Zing’ cemented Dish TV’s supremacy in the DAS Phase 3 and 4 markets with custom-made content, hardware and service packages for the regional audience. High definition continues to be a value driver and a key differentiator for us compared to other DTH offerings in India. Dish TV’s industry leading bandwidth capacity supports 42 HD channels, the largest on offer by any distribution platform so far.”

     

    Further, Dish TV recently formed a content negotiating joint venture (JV) called Comnet with its group company and multi system operator (MSO) Siti Cable Network Limited. Both Dish TV and Siti Cable are equal partners in the JV that came into existence on 1 July, 2015. As part of the JV, both companies will hold joint discussions with broadcasters post, which separate direct contracts between the broadcaster and distribution platform will be signed. The JV also tends to bring together the industry on contentious taxation issues like the recent arbitrary hike in entertainment tax in Delhi.

     

    Videocon d2h

     

    For Videocon d2h, the addition of 6.1 lakh gross subscribers and 4.6 lakh net subscribers in Q1-2016 coupled with higher ARPU for Q1-2016, resulted in a YoY 32.1 per cent growth in subscription revenue and 23.3 per cent growth in revenue from operations (TIO) in Q1-2016. On a QoQ basis, subscription revenue increased 3.7 per cent, while TIO increased six per cent. The company also reported a marked fall in finance costs and consequently the company’s loss in the current quarter more than halved to Rs 24.4 crore as compared to the Rs 55.8 crore in Q1-2015 and was less than a third of the Rs 75.7 crore in Q4-015.

     

    TIO in Q1-2016 at Rs 662.83 crore was 23.3 per cent more than the Rs 537.65 crore in Q1-2015 and 6 per cent more than the Rs 625.27 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    Videocon achieved strong subscription revenue growth of 32.1 per cent to Rs 599.61 crore (90.5 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2016 as compared to the Rs 453.77 crore (84.4 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2015 and growth of 3.7 per cent as compared to the Rs 578.33 crore (92.5 per cent of TIO) in the immediate trailing quarter Q4-2015.

     

    Average revenue per user (ARPU) in Q1-2016 at Rs 205.30 was 9.7 per cent more than the Rs 187.14 in the corresponding year ago quarter and was 1.5 per cent more than the Rs 202.17 in Q4-2015. (Conversion rate from 1 dollar = 62.59 Indian rupee for all the three quarters).

     

    The company considers advertisement revenue as an important contributor to its numbers, and is beginning to see an encouraging response from multiple advertisers. Videocon d2h recently set up an advertising team to sell ad inventory on its own proprietary channels and added three proprietary channels – d2h nursery rhymes; d2h Cinema HD; and another music channel. The company has also launched three Active services, namely, Active Kids, Active Games and Active Learning in this quarter, which the company says are beginning to get traction from its customer.

     

    Videocon d2h executive chairman Saurabh Dhoot said, “We are pleased to declare a strong set of results for the quarter ended 30 June, 2015 and are on track to achieve the guidance provided for fiscal 2016. With a strong subscriber growth outlook, DTH sector gaining market share over cable and an improving ARPU scenario; we believe we are just at the beginning of a multi-year strong growth opportunity.”

     

    Conclusion

     

    The three players considered in this report had an approximate combined market share of 67 per cent in among the private players India at the end of the previous year, or more than two-thirds. It is still early days as yet to really conclude that the DTH sector in India has turned the corner based on good results for only two consecutive quarters reported by three companies that represent about two thirds of the sector. Of course, the amount of representation goes up to 75 per cent of the private players, if one were to consider the Sun TV market share of eight per cent. However, looking at the intensity and the moves of these players, it is quite likely that the sector should continue showing improved positive results, and may have turned the corner in Q4-2015.

  • Q1-2016: Airtel DTH revenue up 15.8% at Rs 684.8 crore

    Q1-2016: Airtel DTH revenue up 15.8% at Rs 684.8 crore

    BENGALURU:  Bharati Airtel Limited’s Digital TV services – Airtel DTH reported 15.8 per cent increase in y-o-y revenue to Rs 684.8 crore in the quarter ended 30 June, 2015 (Q1-2016) as compared to the Rs 591.5 crore in Q1-2015 and 7.9 per cent more than the Rs 634.8 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    The telecom major’s DTH segment reported a 67 per cent growth in operating profit (EBIDTA) in the current quarter at Rs 240.8 crore (46.1 per cent margin) as compared to the Rs 143.8 crore (24.3 per cent margin) in Q1-2015 and 15.9 per cent more than the Rs 207.8 crore (32.7 per cent margin) immediate trailing quarter.

     

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

     

    The Airtel DTH segment customer base reported 10.9 per cent y-o-y growth for the current quarter at 104.12 lakh as compared to the 93.88 lakh in Q1-2015 and 3.4 per cent growth as compared to the 100.73 lakh in Q4-2015. Average revenue per user (ARPU) in Q1-2016 improved to Rs 222 as compared to the Rs 214 in both Q1-2015 and Q4-2015. Monthly churn in the current quarter was higher at 0.8 per cent as compared to the 0.6 per cent in the corresponding year ago quarter, but lower than the one per cent in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    Airtel MD and CEO, India & South Asia Gopal Vittal said, “The year has begun on a healthy note, with underlying revenue growth accelerating to 12.7 per cent in India. Our customer base has continued to steadily expand. Mobile minutes and data traffic have grown by 7.4 per cent and 83.4 per cent respectively. I am pleased that our revenue growth is broad based across all business units, especially the domestic enterprise and corporate segment, which saw revenues grow by 18.1 per cent, and DTH business, which had an underlying topline growth of 26.8 per cent. Our capex programme is mostly directed at increasing 3G / 4G coverage and improving all-round customer experience.”

     

    Overall, Airtel says that consolidated revenues for Q1-2016 at Rs 23,671 crore grew by 3.1 per cent over the corresponding quarter last year. Consolidated Mobile data revenues at Rs 3,459 crore, grew by 56.9 per cent y-o-y, uplifted by data traffic growth of 86.5 per cent. India revenues reported a growth of 10 per cent y-o-y, led by 22.2 per cent in Airtel business (B2B) and 15.8 per cent in Digital TV.

     

    Adjusted for the impact in reduction of termination rates, India revenues grew on an underlying basis by 12.7 per cent and Mobile revenues by 12.2 per cent y-o-y. Mobile Data revenue at Rs 2,609 crore registered a growth of 67.3 per cent y-o-y in India, uplifted by increase in the Data customer base by 25.8 per cent and traffic by 83.4 per cent. Data ARPU has moved up by Rs 42 to Rs 181 in Q1-2016, led by 42.7 per cent increase in data usage per customer. Mobile Data revenues contribute to 19.2 per cent of Mobile India revenues vis-?-vis 12.4 per cent in the corresponding quarter last year.

     

    Consolidated EBITDA in Q1-2016 at Rs 8262 crore grew by 6.4 per cent y-o-y with EBITDA margin expanding by 1.1 per cent to 34.9 per cent, driven by India’s margin expansion by 2.1 per cent y-o-y. Net Profit after tax (PAT) increased 40.2 per cent to Rs 1554.3 crore (6.6 per cent margin) in Q1-2016 as compared to the Rs 1108.5 crore (4.8 per cent margin) and was 23.8 per cent more than the Rs 1255.3 crore (5.4 per cent margin) in Q4-2015.

  • BBC Worldwide inks VOD deal with Tata Sky

    BBC Worldwide inks VOD deal with Tata Sky

    MUMBAI: In its first VOD deal in India, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Worldwide has signed an agreement with direct to home (DTH) provider Tata Sky’s SVOD and TVOD services.

     

    As a part of this deal, subscribers in eight Indian metros will have the opportunity to access the best of the BBC’s drama and comedy via BBC On-Demand, on Tata Sky. Viewers can also access it online via their TVs, PCs, tablets and mobiles.

     

    Programmes that will be available on the service includes Luther, starring Idris Alba, who won a Golden Globe for his role as a brilliant but emotionally impulsive murder detective; The Honorable Woman starring Maggie Gyllenhaal who won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of a powerful businesswoman haunted by events from her past in a thriller set in the Middle East; and Burton and Taylor, based on the legendary acting duo, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor starring Dominic West and Helena Bonham Carter.

     

    The block will kick-start with the classic hit Yes, Prime Minister, contemporary comedy, Citizen Khan and the endearing drama, Being Erica.

     

    “In a study commissioned by BBC Worldwide earlier this year, we found that quality of content, British humour, and a love of original British dramas were the top reasons why people, including Indians, enjoy British television programmes. We are very excited to be working with Tata Sky to bring these award winning and high quality programmes, many never before seen in India, to Tata Sky’s subscribers, where they can access them anytime, anywhere,” said BBC Worldwide India SVP and GM Myleeta Aga.

     

    Tata Sky chief content officer Paolo Agostinelli added, “We are very pleased to be partnering with BBC Worldwide to launch BBC-on-demand, Viewing habits and customer needs in the industry are evolving as fast as ever. We are committed to remain the best choice in the country when it comes to premium entertainment, which means we must be able to offer top branded content and the best viewing experience, including increasingly popular time-shifted and device-shifted binge viewing content. We are confident that this is only the start of a very fruitful relationship with BBC.”

  • Doordarshan Freedish to hold e-auction; looks to tot 112 TV channels

    Doordarshan Freedish to hold e-auction; looks to tot 112 TV channels

    NEW DELHI: Doordarshan will be holding its 21st e-auction for its free-to-air DTH platform Freedish on 12 August in an attempt to touch the target of 112 television channels in the next few months.

     

    While Doordarshan has set a reserve price of Rs 3.7 crore per slot for the online e-auction, according to information available with Indiantelevision.com, the bid amount is said to have gone up to Rs 4.2 crore in earlier e-auctions.

     

    However, DD sources refused to divulge the number of slots being auctioned to prevent bidders from forming a consortia to bid or resort to other malpractices.

     

    DD sources also said that while Freedish may be encrypted to keep a tab on the number of subscribers, it would remain free-to-air.

     

    The e-auction will be conducted by C1 India Pvt. Ltd., Noida on behalf of Prasar Bharati.   

     

    The reserve price in the 15th e-auction was Rs 3 crore and was raised to Rs 3.7 crore in the 16th auction.

     

    Currently, Freedish has 64 channels including its own channels, and Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha TV.

     

    The eligibility terms and conditions including other relevant details for this e-auction are displayed on DD’s website- www.ddindia.gov.in. 

     

    However, the participation amount (EMD) in the e-auction is Rs 1.5 crore, which has to be deposited in advance on or before 12 August evening along with a non-refundable processing fee of Rs 10,000 in favour of PB (BCI) Doordarshan Commercial Service, New Delhi.

     

    Incremental amount for the auction will be Rs 10 lakh and the time for every slot e-auction will be of fifteen minutes duration.

     

    Of the reserve price, Rs 1.1 crore will be deposited within one month of placement and another Rs 1.1 crore within two months along with service tax of 14 per cent on the bid amount.

     

    The balance bid amount will be deposited within six months, failing which the reserve price will be forfeited. 

     

    Applicants must provide details of the uplink and downlink permission documents received from the concerned Ministries with the applications to ensure they are not rejected. 

     

    The demand drafts of unsuccessful bidders will be returned immediately or within a week after the e-auction process is completed.

  • “We are aiming to get digital users to switch to our OTT platform”: RC Venkateish

    “We are aiming to get digital users to switch to our OTT platform”: RC Venkateish

    At a time when digitization of cable television is throwing up a major challenge to direct-to-home (DTH) operators, Dish TV has reported a 55.2 per cent higher profit after at Rs 54.21 crore in the quarter ended 30 June. It is the first DTH company to report a profit after tax, also adding 390,000 subscribers, which was only slightly lower than the figure of 404,000 in the fourth quarter of 2014-15. Dish TV now has 13.3 million subscribers. The ARPU is more or less the same, but subscriber acquisition costs are running at Rs 1750 per subscriber.

                         

    In an interview with Indiantelevision.com, Dish TV CEO RC Venkateish spoke of the work that had gone into achieving this success.

     

    Excerpts:

     

    To what do you attribute your success in reaching out to more subscribers and coming up with an impressive revenue figure?

     

    I feel that the credit goes to better marketing strategies and the youth-based Zing, which has been lapped up by the people because of the local content. In fact, Zing has also succeeded because there is greater emphasis on the language of the region where it is beamed with local content and programming.

     

    Can you throw some light on the plans to launch Zing in the Kerala market?

     

    Zing has been present in the Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. And we are now expanding and moving to Kerala with Malayalam content.

     

    Dish TV’s subscription figures are somewhat lower than those in the last quarter of 2014-15. Comment.

     

    Well, the effort is to consolidate and grow. Dish expects to add 1.5 to 1.7 million subscribers this year. Do not overlook the fact that last year we had got 332,000 subscribers in the same period (first quarter of 2014-15). The gradual shift to digitization will also help, and therefore the concentration at present is on Phase III and Phase IV.

     

    But the ARPU shows an increase of only one rupee over the previous quarter, ending up at Rs 173 a month.

     

    The ARPU is always typically low in the first quarter but picks up later.

     

    The Government is emphasizing on indigenous set top boxes. Are you installing local STBs for your subscribers?

     

    Dish is currently getting these mostly from Korea though every effort is being made to get good quality indigenous STBs.

     

    Dish TV also has a tie-up with Kolkata Knight Riders. How much of the budget goes into marketing and advertising?

     

    The players wear Dish TV armbands, and the tie-up gives us the opportunity to have in-stadia advertising through boards etc.

     

    I would not say budget, but around 3.5 per cent of the topline sales go into advertising and marketing. The advertising is not done merely through Zee’s own channels but also through other channels, digital platforms, hoardings, newspapers and FM channels.  

     

    Can you tell us something about your future plans?

     

    We are working on our over-the-top (OTT) platform – DishOnline and aiming to get digital subscribers on to this platform.

     

    There has been some tirade against local channels run by DTH operators. Comment.

     

    We do not have a local channel. But the channel that opens as one switches on Dish is aimed only at advertising various schemes of the platform and modes of payment.

     

  • Videocon d2h launches mobile TV app; strengthens OTT commitment

    Videocon d2h launches mobile TV app; strengthens OTT commitment

    MUMBAI: In order to strengthen its over the top (OTT) service, direct to home (DTH) operator Videocon d2h has launched a mobile TV app. The new app – Direct to Mobile TV will make it possible for Videocon d2h subscribers to watch television anytime, anywhere on their mobile phones.

     

    Available on both iOS and Android, the Direct to Mobile TV app will give viewers instant access to a wide range of news, entertainment, sports and movie channels. The platform currently boasts of more than 70 select live TV channels and more than 3,000 movies and videos.

     

    Priced at Rs 60 per month, the offering includes channels, such as Sony Entertainment Television, Sony Max, Sony Music, Sab, Aaj Tak and many regional language channels. The service also features a programme guide, show reminders and social media integration, besides the What’s Hot section.

     

    Videocon d2h executive chairman Saurabh Dhoot said, “We are happy to be on the leading edge of India’s OTT revolution with the launch of our Direct to Mobile TV app. This is an important move for Videocon d2h, as we strengthen our commitment to introducing new technologies to our subscribers, allowing them to have a robust and enhanced experience while viewing our contents. We are confident that an increasing number of consumers will enjoy this offering in the days to come.”

     

    The Direct to Mobile TV service targets an increasing number of working professionals, shoppers and students spending time outside their homes with round-the-clock access to TV, films and other desired programmes regardless of location.

     

    Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera added, “With our new Direct to Mobile TV app, Videocon d2h’s subscribers will never have to miss their favourite shows while on the move. We believe it affirms our continuous focus on innovation and our ability to deliver high quality solutions and services. We are sure that this mobile TV app will be of great interest to our viewers and will ensure our prominent presence in the OTT space.”

  • Q1-2016: Dish TV q-o-q PAT up 55%, adds 390K net subscribers

    Q1-2016: Dish TV q-o-q PAT up 55%, adds 390K net subscribers

    BENGALURU: Last fiscal and quarter (year and quarter ended 31 March, 2015, Q4-2015), the Subhash Chandra led Essel groups DTH operator Dish TV Limited (Dish TV) turned the corner with a consolidated PAT of Rs 3.14 crore and Rs 34.94 crore (margin 4.8 per cent) respectively. 

     

    Dish TV was probably the first among listed DTH companies in the country in FY-2015 and Q4-2015 to report a profit after tax as opposed to the operating profits reported by a segment of the other goliaths for whom DTH services is just another small segment.

     

    This quarter (quarter ended 30 June, 2015, Q1-2016), the company has reported 55.2 per cent higher PAT at Rs 54.21 (margin 7.4 per cent) as compared to the above mentioned PAT in Q4-2015. The company had reported a loss of Rs 14.97 crore in Q1-2015.

     

    Note:  (1)100,00,000 = 100 Lakh = 10 million = 1 crore

     

    (2) With effect from April 1, 2015, Dish TV says that it has started netting-off certain collection fees paid to its trade partners from its topline. This has resulted in the company’s topline getting shrunk by around 4 percent, with a similar number being decreased from the middle line. The values for the prior comparative periods have also been recast to reflect the same.

     

    (3) Dish TV recently transferred its non-core business (including set-top boxes, dish antenna and related services) to its wholly owned subsidiary Dish Infra Services Private Limited (formerly known as Xingmedia Distribution Private Limited) on April 1, 2015 on a going concern basis. The Company today reported its maiden consolidated quarterly numbers.

     

    The company reported addition of 3,90,000 net subscribers in Q1-2016, taking its total subscriber base to 1.33 crore as on 30 June, 2015. Post consolidation, Dish TV says that Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) was Rs 173 versus Rs 172 (q-o-q) in Q4-2015. ARPU however would have been Rs 180, as compared to Rs 179 in Q4-2015, without the effect of consolidation. The company reported consolidated subscription revenues at Rs. 628.88 crore, up 20.6 percent y-o-y.

     

    The company reported 0.9 per cent higher consolidated net total Income from Operations (TIO) in the current quarter at Rs 736.68 crore as compared to the Rs 729.93 crore in the immediate trailing quarter and was 19.2 per cent more than the Rs 618.04 crore in Q1-2015.

     

    Dish TV chairman Subhash Chandra said, “Dish TV has been actively contributing to the ‘Digital India’ movement by digitizing analog TV homes in DAS phase 3 and 4 markets and remains optimistic about its prospects to acquire a substantial share in these markets. Continuing its focus on growth with profitability, the company delivered another quarter of encouraging financial results.”

     

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by Dish TV

     

    Dish TV total expenditure in Q1-2016 at Rs 659.69 crore (89.5 per cent of TIO) was 0.7 percent lower than the Rs 664.08 crore (91 per cent of TIO) in Q4-2015 and was 8.7 per cent more than the Rs 606.80 crore (98.2 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2015.

     

    A major expense head is programming /content and other costs (content costs). In Q1-2016 content cost at Rs 212.01 crore (28.8 per cent of TIO) was 2.1 per cent more than the Rs 207.62 crore (28.4 per cent of TIO) and was 5.3 per cent more than the Rs 201.39 crore (32.6 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2015.

     

    Employee Benefit Expense (EBE) in Q1-2016 at Rs 34.67 crore (4.7 per cent of TIO) was 39.7 per cent more than the Rs 24.81 crore (3.4 per cent of TIO) an was 34.8 per cent more than the Rs 25.72 crore (4.2 per cent of TIO) in the corresponding year ago quarter.

     

    Dish TV managing director Jawahar Goel said, “Our first quarter results are in line with the success of our regional and high definition (HD) strategy. Our regional offering, Zing, would soon be launched in Kerala and would carry the largest cache of vernacular channels offered in that market. Zing cemented Dish TV’s supremacy in the DAS Phase 3 and 4 markets with custom-made content, hardware and service packages for the regional audience. High definition continues to be a value driver and a key differentiator for us compared to other DTH offerings in India. Dish TV’s industry leading bandwidth capacity supports 42 HD channels, the largest on offer by any distribution platform so far.”

     

    “Led by robust subscriber additions and an improving ARPU, subscription revenues for the quarter increased 20.6 per cent over the corresponding quarter last fiscal. EBITDA of Rs 2,368 million recorded a significant 51.3 per cent jump over the corresponding quarter. Net Profit for the quarter was Rs 54.2 crore compared to a loss of Rs 15 crore in the first quarter last fiscal. The resultant free cash flow was Rs 68.9 crore. Amid improving financial performance, churn for the quarter remained steady at 0.7 per cent per month,” added Goel.