Category: Financials

  • Q3-2015: Twitter revenue up 57.6%; GAAP loss down

    Q3-2015: Twitter revenue up 57.6%; GAAP loss down

    BENGALURU: Twitter’s new CEO and co-founder Jack Dorsey delivered his maiden report that said that his company had performed better than the previously announced guidance values. The company’s revenue for the quarter ended 30 September, 2015 (Q3-2015, current quarter) increased 57.6 per cent YoY to $569.24 million as compared to the $361.27 million. The previous guidance for the company was revenues in the range of $545 million and $560 million. Revenue growth in the current quarter increased 13.3 per cent QoQ from $502.38 million.

     

    GAAP net loss reported by the company reduced to $131.69 million in the current quarter as compared to the loss of $175.46 million in Q3-2014 and 136.66 million in the previous quarter. Non-GAAP net income grew 9.6 times to $66.98 million as compared to $6.97 million in the corresponding year ago quarter. Non-GAAP diluted income per share increased to $0.10 in Q3-2015 from $0.01 reported for Q3-2014.

     

    Adjusted EBIDTA in the current quarter increased 108 per cent to $142 million in Q3-2015 as compared to the $68 million in the corresponding year ago quarter.

     

    Advertisement revenue in the current quarter increased 60.3 per cent to $513 million from $320 million in the corresponding year ago quarter. Advertisement revenue from the US market increased 57.4 per cent YoY to $329 million (64.1 per cent of advertisement revenue) in Q3-2015 from $209 million (65.3 per cent of advertisement revenue) in Q3-2014. International advertisement revenue increased 66 per cent to $184 million (35.9 per cent of advertisement revenue) from $111 million (34.7 per cent of advertisement revenue) in Q3-2014.

     

    Data Licensing and other revenue in the current quarter increased 37 per cent to $56 million (9.8 per cent of total revenue) as compared to the $41 million (11.4 per cent of total revenue) in Q3-2014.

     

    Twitter’s worldwide monthly active users (MAU) increased 11.5 per cent to 320 million in the current quarter as compared to the 287 million in Q3-2014, but improved by just 1.3 per cent QoQ from 316 million. Excluding SMS Fast Followers, MAUs were 307 million for the third quarter, up eight per cent year-over-year, and compared to 304 million in the previous quarter. Mobile MAUs represented approximately 80 per cent of total MAUs.

     

    MAUs’ from the US increased by four per cent to 66 million in the current quarter as compared to 60 million in Q3-2014 and one per cent QoQ.

     

    “We continued to see strong financial performance this quarter, as well as meaningful progress across our three areas of focus: ensuring more disciplined execution, simplifying our services, and better communicating the value of our platform,” said Dorsey. “We’ve simplified our roadmap and organization around a few big bets across Twitter, Periscope, and Vine that we believe represent our largest opportunities for growth.”

  • Q2-2016: Sun TV YoY revenue up 11.6%, PAT up 41.4%

    Q2-2016: Sun TV YoY revenue up 11.6%, PAT up 41.4%

    BENGALURU: Sun TV Network Limited (Sun TV) reported 11.6 per cent growth in standalone revenue (Total income from operations or TIO) in Q2-2016 (quarter ended 30 September, 2015, current quarter) at Rs 568.09 crore as compared to Rs 509.02 crore in Q2-2015, but 17.8 per cent less than the Rs 691.09 crore in Q2-2016.

     

    The company reported 41.4 per cent higher profit after tax (PAT) in the current quarter at Rs 213.38 crore (38.4 per cent margin) as compared to the Rs 154.47 crore (30.3 per cent margin) and10.7 per cent more than the Rs 197.28 crore (28.5 per cent margin) in Q1-2016.

     

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

    All figures in this report are standalone.

     

    The company in its earnings release says that subscription revenues grew 10 per cent in the current quarter to Rs 197.42 crore as compared to the Rs 179.48 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter. Advertisement revenue in Q2-2016 increased 15.8 per cent to Rs301.37 crore as compared to Rs 260.26 crore in Q2-2016, but declined seven per cent from Rs 323.89 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    The board of directors of the company have decided not to declare any dividend for Q2-2016.

     

    Let’s look at the other numbers reported by Sun TV

     

    Sun TV’s total expenses (TE) in the current quarter at Rs 253.44 crore (44.6 per cent of TIO) was 15 per cent lower YoY than Rs 298.22 crore (58.6 per cent of TIO) and 38.5 per cent lower QoQ as compared to Rs 412.10 crore (59.6 per cent of TIO). The company’s TE in Q1 included IPL franchisee of Rs 85.05 crore (12.3 per cent of TIO), which is a non-recurring item during the other three quarters of the year.

     

    Sun TV’s ‘Other Expenditure’ (OE) is a major expense head that has declined QoQ by a huge margin. OE in Q2-2016 at Rs 31.31 crore (5.5 per cent of TIO) was 38.2 per cent more than the Rs 22.65 crore (4.4 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2015 and almost a third of the Rs 91.65 crore (13.3 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2016.

     

    Sun TV’s Employee Benefit Expense (EBE) in Q2-2016 increased 13.5 per cent to Rs 56.92 crore (10 per cent of TIO) as compared to the Rs 50.13 crore (9.8 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2015 and 4.4 per cent more than the Rs 54.51 crore (7.9 per cent of TIO) in the immediate trailing quarter.

  • Q3-2015: Comcast Cable revenue up 6.3%, loses 48K video subs; NBCU shines

    Q3-2015: Comcast Cable revenue up 6.3%, loses 48K video subs; NBCU shines

    BENGALURU: Comcast Corporation’s (Comcast) Cable Communications reported revenue growth of 6.3 per cent at $11,740 million in the quarter ended 30 September, 2015 (Q3-2015, current quarter) as compared to the $11,041 million in the corresponding year ago quarter. The segment’s revenue in the current quarter was almost flat (increased by 0.09 per cent) as compared to $11,729 million reported for the immediate trailing quarter.

     

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

    Subscription numbers have been mentioned in lakhs and revenue and other financial numbers in millions of US dollars.

     

    Operating cash flow of Comcast’s Cable Communications in Q3-2015 improved 6.4 per cent to $4748 million (40.4 per cent margin) as compared to the $4,464 million (40.4 per cent margin) in Q3-2014.

     

    In terms of decline in video customers, Comcast’s Cable Communication reported the best quarter among the last nine quarters. The company lost only 48,000 video customers in Q3-2015 as compared to the decline of 69,000 in Q2-2015.

     

    Comcast NBCUniversal segment reported a 20.8 per cent growth in revenue at $7,151 million in the current quarter as compared to the $5,921 million in Q3-2014. Operating cash flow of the segment in Q3-2015 improved 17 per cent to $1,657 million as compared to the $1,416 million in Q3-2014.

     

    Overall, Comcast reported a 11.2 per cent growth in consolidated revenue (excluding Olympics and Super Bowl) at $18,669 million as compared to the $16,791 million in the corresponding year ago quarter. Operating Income in Q3-2015 increased 6.9 per cent to $4001 million as compared to the $3745 million in Q3-2014, while Free Cash Flow increased 6.8 per cent to $2663 million as compared to $2494 million in Q3-2014. Earnings per share in the current quarter however declined 19.2 per cent to $0.80 as compared to $0.99 in Q3-2014.

     

    Comcast chairman and CEO Brian L Roberts said, ”I’m pleased to report that our businesses generated outstanding revenue and operating cash flow growth for the third quarter of 2015. At Cable Communications, overall customer relationships increased 156,000, a 90 per cent improvement compared to last year, video subscriber results were the best for a third quarter in nine years, high-speed Internet subscriber results were the best for a third quarter in six years, and churn across all product categories continues to improve. NBCUniversal also delivered terrific results, including another record-breaking box office quarter driven by Minions and Jurassic World, the highest summer attendance ever at our theme parks, and maintaining the #1 broadcast network ranking for five summers in a row. These outstanding results from our unique portfolio of complementary businesses underscore our confidence that we are well positioned to compete, continue our strong performance and drive shareholder value.”

     

    Cable Communications numbers

     

    Six sub-segments contribute to Comcast’s Cable Communications – Video; High Speed Internet; Voice; Business Services; Advertising; and ‘Other.’

     

    Growth in revenue was driven by increases of 10.2 per cent in high-speed Internet revenue, 19.5 per cent in business services and 3.3 per cent in video. The company says that the increase in Cable revenue reflects increased customer relationships, customers receiving higher levels of service and customers taking additional services, as well as rate adjustments.

     

    Customer relationships

     

    Overall, Cable Communications customer relationships in Q3-2015 increased to 274.21 lakh as compared to 268.57 lakh in Q3-2014. During Q3-2015, the segment saw net addition of 156,000 customer relationships as compared to the net addition of 82,000 in the corresponding year ago quarter.

     

    Single, double and triple play customers

     

    While the number of single product customers in the current quarter was lower at 83.67 lakh, it grew by 24,000, as compared to the 84.44 lakh in Q3-2014, which saw a decline of 66,000. Double Product customers were higher at 90.66 lakh in Q3-2015 as compared to 86.50 lakh in Q3-2014. In Q3-2015, the number of double product customers increased by 130,000 as compared to the increase of 76,000 in Q3-2014. Triple Product customers in Q3-2015 increased to 99.88 lakh as compared to 97.63 lakh in the corresponding year ago quarter. Q3-2015 saw the number of triple product customers’ increase by a mere 1,000 as compared to the increase of 72,000 n Q3-2014.

     

    Video

    Revenue from Video improved 3.3 per cent to $5,348 million in Q3-2015 as compared to the $5,179 million in Q3-2014. For the current quarter, the company reported a net loss of 48,000 customers, while its customer base declined by 118,000 to 222.58 lakhs as compared to the 223.76 lakh customers in Q3-2014.

     

    High Speed Internet

    High Speed Internet revenue in the current quarter increased 10.2 per cent to $3,129 million as compared to the $2,840 million in Q3-2014.

     

    The company added 320,000 high speed internet customers in Q3-2015 and reported a customer base of 228.68 lakh. In Q3-2014, Cable Communications had added 315,000 customers and reported a high spend internet customer base of 215.86 lakh.

     

    Voice

    Despite a higher customer base, Voice revenue in Q3-2015 declined 1.4 per cent to $900 million as compared to the $913 million in the corresponding year ago quarter.

     

    Voice customer base in Q3-2015 increased to 113.36 lakh as compared to the 110.70 lakh in the corresponding quarter of last year. In Q3-2015, Cable Communications added only 17,000 customers as compared to the 68,000 in Q3-2014.

     

    Business Services revenue in Q3-2015 increased 19.2 per cent to $1,208 million as compared to the $1,011 million in Q3-2014.

     

    Advertising revenue in the current quarter was almost flat (declined 0.2 per cent) to $593 million as compared to $596 million in the corresponding year ago quarter.

     

    Other’ revenue increased 11.2 per cent to $562 million in Q3-2015 as compared to the $ 502 in Q3-2014.

     

    NBCUniversal

     

    As mentioned above, NBCUniversal division revenue increased 20.8 per cent YoY in the current quarter, while Operating Cash Flow increased 17 per cent driven by strong results at Filmed Entertainment and Theme Parks.

     

    Four sub-segments add to NBCUniversal’s revenue – Cable Networks; Broadcast Television; Filmed Entertainment; and Theme Parks.

     

    Cable Networks reported seven per cent growth in operating revenue at $2,412 million in Q3-2015 as compared to the $2,255 million in the corresponding year ago quarter, driven by an 8.6 per cent increase in distribution revenue and a two per cent increase in advertising revenue, partially reflecting the introduction of NASCAR on Comcast’s sports network, NBCSN, as well as a 17.6 per cent increase in content licensing and other revenue. Operating cash flow decreased 3.9 per cent to $835 million compared to $868 million in Q3-2014, reflecting higher revenue, more than offset by increased sports programming costs, driven by the impact of NASCAR., informs the company.

     

    Broadcast Television revenue in the current quarter increased 11.3 per cent in Q3-2015 at $1,971 million as compared to the $1,770 million in Q3-2014 reflecting a 33.5 per cent increase in content licensing revenue, higher retransmission consent fees, and a 2.8 per cent increase in advertising revenue. Operating cash flow increased 6.1 per cent to $150 million compared to $142 million in Q3-2014, reflecting higher revenue, partially offset by an increase in programming and production costs associated with the timing of content provided under NBCUniversal’s licensing agreements and studio production costs.

     

    Filmed Entertainment revenue increased 64 per cent to $1,946 million in Q3-2015  as compared to the $1,186 million in the corresponding year ago quarter driven by higher theatrical revenue from the record performances of Minions andJurassic World, continuing on the earlier success of Furious 7. Operating cash flow increased $225 million to $376 million compared to $151 million in Q3- 2014, reflecting higher revenue, partially offset by an increase in the amortisation of film costs and higher advertising, marketing and promotion expense due to a larger film slate.

     

    Theme Parks revenue increased 14.1 per cent to $876 million as compared to the $786 million in the corresponding year ago quarter reflecting higher guest attendance and per capita spending, driven by the continued success of Orlando’s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, as well as Fast and Furious: Supercharged at the Hollywood park. Q3-2015 operating cash flow increased 14.1 per cent to $458 million compared to $402 million in the same period last year, reflecting higher revenue, partially offset by an increase in operating costs to support new attractions and $18 million of transaction-related costs associated with the development of a theme park in China.

  • Q2-2016: Dish TV PAT at Rs 87 crore; adds 3.38 lakh subscribers

    Q2-2016: Dish TV PAT at Rs 87 crore; adds 3.38 lakh subscribers

    BENGALURU: This is the third consecutive quarter that direct to home (DTH) company Dish TV has reported growth across important financial and operational parameters including operating revenues (TIO), profit after tax (PAT) and subscription numbers.

     

    Last fiscal and quarter (year and quarter ended 31 March, 2015, Q4-2015), the Subhash Chandra led Essel Group’s DTH operator Dish TV Limited turned the corner with a consolidated profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 3.14 crore and Rs 34.94 crore (margin 4.8 per cent) respectively. The company followed this up with even better numbers in the previous quarter (Q1-2015). Dish TV was the first among listed DTH companies in the country in FY-2015 and Q4-2015 to report PAT as opposed to the operating profits reported by a segment of the other Goliaths for whom DTH services is just another small segment.

     

    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 four per cent, 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 1 April, 2015 on a going concern basis.

     

    For the current quarter ended 30 September, 2015 (Q2-2015), Dish TV has reported Operating revenue of Rs 752.42 crore, hence registering a 15.8 per cent YoY growth as compared to Q2-2015’s number of Rs 649.90 crore and a 2.1 per cent QoQ growth as compared to Rs 736.68 crore.

     

    The company reported PAT of Rs 86.96 crore (11.6 per cent margin) for the current quarter as compared to a loss of Rs 14.2 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter and a whopping 60.4 per cent growth in profit as compared to the Rs 54.21 crore (7.4 per cent margin) in the previous quarter.

     

    The company’s subscriber base in Q2-2016 increased by 3.38 lakh to touch 137 lakh as compared to the 133 lakh reported at the end of the previous quarter (Q1-2016).

     

    Dish TV reported a YoY growth in Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) to Rs  171 as compared to the Rs 166, but a QoQ decline from Rs 173 in the previous quarter.

     

    Dish TV chairman Subhash Chandra said, “Dish TV further reinforced its leadership position during the quarter. The company, while being at the forefront of the DTH industry in India, reached out to television viewers with innovative products that promise to enhance their television viewing experience. Dish TV’s improving financial strength coupled with its passion to be ahead of the curve, should be an advantage to further enhance its presence in the vast and still untapped analogue and free-to-air television markets in the country.”

     

    Let’s look at the other numbers reported by Dish TV

     

    Dish TV’s total expenditure in Q2-2016 at Rs 630.44 crore (83.8 per cent of TIO) declined 1.5 per cent as compared to the Rs 639.90 crore (98.5 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2015 and declined 4.4 per cent as compared to the Rs 659.69 crore (89.5 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2016.

     

    A major expense head is content cost comprising programming, content and other costs. In Q2-2016 content cost at Rs 203.54 crore (27.1 per cent of TIO) was 17.1 per cent more than the Rs25.27 crore (29.7 per cent of TIO), but was 14.7 per cent lower than the Rs 212.01 crore (28.8 per cent of TIO) in the previous quarter.

     

    Employee Benefit Expense (EBE) in Q2-2016 at Rs 29.58 crore (3.9 per cent of TIO) increased 17.1 per cent as compared to the Rs 25.27 crore (3.9 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2015, but declined 14.7 per cent as compared to the 34.67 crore (4.7 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2016.

     

    Dish TV’s selling and distribution expense in Q2-2016 declined 26.1 per cent to Rs 68.09 crore (nine per cent of TIO) as compared to the Rs 92.09 crore (14.2 per cent of TIO) in the corresponding year ago quarter, but was 2.6 per cent more than the Rs 66.34 crore (nine per cent of TIO) in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    Dish TV managing director Jawahar Goel said, “Dish TV continued to actively contribute to the ‘Digital India’ movement by digitising analog TV homes in DAS phase 3 & 4 markets. A unique product mix and a strong brand recall enabled us to add a healthy 338 thousand net subscribers in a seasonally weak quarter. Our regional offering ‘Zing’ is now available across eight states and continues to be in high demand in its target markets.”

     

    Goel added, “Sticking to our guiding principle of growth with profitability, we enhanced operational efficiencies in the business and are pleased with an all-time high EBITDA margin of 33.9 per cent recorded during the quarter. We were positive at the net level as well and had a free cash flow of Rs. 84.9 crore. As we move ahead, we stay convinced about our pole position being related to our value for money offering and intend to constantly work on it for long term sustainable growth.”

  • Q2-2016: ENIL reports 11.6% YoY revenue & 15.8% PAT growth

    Q2-2016: ENIL reports 11.6% YoY revenue & 15.8% PAT growth

    BENGALURU: Indian private FM player Entertainment Network (India) Limited (ENIL) reported 11.6 per cent increase in Total Income from Operations (TIO) in the quarter ended 30 September, 2015 (Q2-2016, current quarter) at Rs 116.27 crore as compared to the Rs 104.14 crore in Q2-2015. TIO in the current quarter was 14.5 per cent more than the Rs 101.56 crore in immediate trailing quarter.

     

    The company’s profit after tax (PAT) in Q2-2016 increased 15.8 per cent to Rs 26.97 crore (23.2 per cent margin) as compared to the Rs 23.30 crore (22.4 per cent margin) in the corresponding year ago quarter and was 4.2 per cent more than the Rs 25.88 crore (25.5 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2016. The company had entered the Rs 100 crore PAT club in FY-2015 with a PAT of Rs 105.98 crore (24.2 per cent margin) on a TIO of Rs 483.48 crore. 

     

    Notes:  (1) 100,00,000 = 100 Lakhs = 10 million = 1 crore

    (2) The numbers in this report are consolidated unless stated otherwise.

     

     

    Let us look at some of the other numbers reported by ENIL

     

    The company’s EBIDTA in Q2-2016 at Rs 35.71 crore (30.7 per cent margin) was 13.7 per cent more than the Rs 31.40 crore (30.2 per cent margin) in the corresponding year ago quarter and almost flat (up by 90 basis points) as compared to the Rs 35.38 crore (34.8 per cent margin) in the previous quarter.

     

    ENIL total expense (TE) in Q2-2016 at Rs 90.86 crore (78.1 per cent of TIO) was 12.3 per cent more than the Rs 80.89 crore (77.7 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2015 and was 22.2 per cent more QoQ than the Rs 74.38 crore (73.2 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2016.

     

    ENIL paid 48.8 per cent higher license fee in Q2-2016 at Rs 7.83 crore (6.7 per cent of TIO) as compared to the Rs 5.27 crore (5.1 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2015 and 53.3 per cent more than the Rs 5.11 crore (5 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2016.

     

    The company’s marketing expense in Q2-2016 at Rs 15.47 crore was (13.3 per cent of TIO) was seven per cent lower than the Rs 16.63 crore (16 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2015, but 37 per cent more than th Rs 11.29 crore (11.1 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2016.

     

    Employee Benefit Expense (EBE) in Q2-2016 at Rs 21.67 crore (18.6 per cent of TIO) was 7.5 per cent more than the Rs 20.17 crore (19.4 per cent of TIO), but was 1.9 per cent lower than the Rs 22.10 crore (21.8 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2016.

     

    ENIL managing director and CEO Prashant Panday said, “We are extremely happy with our results. Despite a sluggish economy, we have grown our revenues and profits substantially. With Phase-3 auctions over, we are gearing up to launch brand Mirchi into exciting new towns like Kochi and Chandigarh, as well as launch our second brand of radio in most of the major markets of the country. Radio is going to boom in the next five years, and Mirchi will surely be at the forefront.”

     

    ENIL’s participation in the first batch of Phase-3 auctions has resulted in an expansion of its footprint into seven new towns – Chandigarh, Kochi, Kozhikode, Jammu, Srinagar, Guwahati and Shillong.

     

    Further, ENIL recently received the permission from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) to acquire four stations from TV Today Network Limited, viz., Amritsar, Patiala, Shimla and Jodhpur – which the company says will be re-branded and re-launched shortly as Mirchi, adding to its North India network strength. With these 11 stations, the core Mirchi brand will now be available in 43 cities.

  • Q2-2016: 18% YoY ad revenue jump ramps Hindustan Media Ventures revenue 16%

    Q2-2016: 18% YoY ad revenue jump ramps Hindustan Media Ventures revenue 16%

    BENGALURU: An 18.2 per cent YoY increase in advertising revenue ramped up Hindustan Media Ventures Limited (HMVL) total revenue by 16.2 per cent during the quarter ended 30 September, 2015 (Q2-2016, current quarter).

     

    The publisher that publishes Hindi newspaper ‘Hindustan’, Hindi socio cultural magazine ‘Kadambini’ and children’s Hindi magazine ‘Nandan’ among others, reported ad revenue of Rs 168.1 crore in Q2-2016 as compared to the Rs 142.2 crore in Q2-2015 and Rs 162.1 crore (1.1 per cent QoQ growth) in Q1-2016. HMVL total revenue in the current quarter increased to Rs 245.9 crore as compared to Rs 211.6 crore in Q2-2015 and Rs 235.4 crore (4.5 per cent QoQ growth) in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

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

     

    Circulation revenue in Q2-2016 increased 7.6 per cent to Rs 53.4 crore as compared to the year ago quarter circulation revenue of Rs 49.6 crore and was flat (increased 0.1 per cent) as compared to the Rs 53.4 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    The company’s profit after tax (PAT) in the current quarter increased 43.1 per cent to Rs 45 crore (18.3 per cent margin) as compared to the Rs 31.5 crore (14.9 per cent margin) in Q2-2015 and increased eight per cent to Rs 41.7 crore (17.7 per cent margin) in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    Total Expenditure in the current quarter increased eight per cent to Rs 180.19 crore as compared to the Rs 166.88 crore in Q2-2015 and was 3.1 per cent more than the Rs 174.72 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    Cost of raw materials consumed increased 1.2 per cent to Rs 85.75 crore in Q2-2016 as compared to the Rs 84.76 crore in Q2-2015 and increased 1.1 per cent as compared to the Rs 84.80 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    Employee Benefit Expense (EBE) increased 15.9 per cent to Rs 29.88 crore in Q2-2016 as compared to Rs 25.77 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter and increased four per cent as compared to the Rs 28.72 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    Company speak

     

    HMVL chairperson Shobana Bhartia said, “We are glad to report another quarter of strong growth in revenue and profits despite significant macroeconomic stress. The quarter witnessed healthy growth in advertising revenue across verticals. We also saw an increasing share of local business across all our markets. And lower raw material prices and a benign rupee continue to boost profitability. We have the momentum and expect to continue on the growth path as we move forward.”

  • Speculative media reports caused Wells Fargo downgrade: Eros

    Speculative media reports caused Wells Fargo downgrade: Eros

    BENGALURU: The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) listed Eros International Media lost nearly 20 per cent of its market value on Monday on the back of American multinational banking and financial services holding company Wells Fargo downgrading its parent company Eros International Plc, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

     

    Reacting to a notice from the bourses about the downgrade by Wells Fargo, Eros International Media (Eros) held speculative media reports responsible.

     

    Eros said that analysts downgrade or upgrade stocks regularly and ‘as such that is not a cause for much concern’. Also, the company has responded by pointing out in its reply that Wells Fargo did not revise their own earnings estimate for the quarter or the year end and their price target is $22, well above the price the stock was trading the date it was published. Eros claims in its response that another analyst from Macquire-Tim Nollen, published a very positive report and maintained outperform rating with a $25 target, on the same day as the Wells Fargo report that was published on 23 October, 2015.

     

    Eros’ response to the bourses goes onto assure its shareholders that the company’s fundamentals are strong and there have been no material changes in the previous announced fundamentals. “We continue to be market leaders in the Indian film industry with a dominant share in the global Indian box office. Our library of over 2000 films continues to be of a unique competitive advantage, which we monetise in conjunction with our new release slate of 65-70 films comprising Hindi and regional languages each year, across theatrical, television and digital and ancillary distribution platforms which constitute our diversified revenue streams,” the company said.

     

    The company added that its Q1 results have been strong and nothing materially has changed since then, in fact a further string of hits by the company such as Bajrangi Bhaijaan in Q2. Eros’ Q2 results, which are to be announced towards mid-November, will be strong and will be another opportunity for the company to answer further questions regarding all aspects of its operations and finances during that earnings call.

     

    The response to the BSE and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) has been signed by Eros company secretary and compliance officer Dimple Mehta.

     

    At the end of the day’s trade on the BSE, Eros International Media’s stock was down 19.11 per cent to close at Rs 354.40 as compared its Friday close of Rs 438.10. On Monday, the stock opened at Rs 418.80 but saw a drop as word of the Wells Fargo downgrade spread. The stock reached an intra-day low of Rs 351.

     

    On NYSE, shares of the parent company Eros International Plc, which has a market cap of $842.9 million, too have been losing ground over the last one week. As of 23 October, the company’s shares were down 45 per cent to $14.65 in one week on NYSE.

  • Q3-2015: DirecTV acquisition jacks up AT&T revenue 18.9%

    Q3-2015: DirecTV acquisition jacks up AT&T revenue 18.9%

    BENGALURU: The claimant to the world’s largest Pay TV service provider title in terms of subscriber’s, AT&T reported 26000 net domestic video subscriber adds to its recently acquired company DirecTV in the quarter ended 30 September, 2015 (Q3-2105, current quarter). However, the company lost 92000 of its Uverse (Fiber Optic) Pay TV subscribers in the US and 178,000 video subscribers in total including from its International segment.

     

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

    Subscription numbers have been mentioned in lakhs and revenue and other financial numbers in millions of US dollars.

     

    Four segments add to AT&T’s numbers – Business Solutions; Entertainment and Internet Services (EIS); AT&T Mobility; and International. In this report, numbers of two have been considered – EIS and International since they relate to video and wireless broadband.

     

    AT&T’s GAAP revenue in the current quarter increased 18.1 per cent to $39,091 million as compared to the $33,105 million in the immediate trailing quarter. The company reported a 4.3 per cent decline in GAAP net income attributable to AT&T of $2994 million as compared to the $3,130 million in Q3-2015. The company says that revenue growth in the current quarter was driven by the DirecTV acquisition, which added sales and created cost synergies.

     

    At the time of the DirecTV acquisition, AT&T said that it had about 26 million video customers in the United States and more than 19.1 million customers in Latin America, including Mexico and the Caribbean, including DirecTV subscribers. As on 30 September, 2015, AT&T has reported 379.94 lakh video subscribers, of which 195.7 lakh are DirecTV connections and 58.54 lakh are Uverse connections in the US.

     

    “We now have integrated solutions that are unlike any competitor in the market. With our national wireless and video capabilities, as well as our extensive broadband network, we now have assets that make us a unique competitor and the first scaled, fully-integrated US service provider,” said AT&T chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson.

     

    “We turned in outstanding financial results in the quarter. Our early integration efforts with DirecTV are going very well and we’ve just begun to scratch the surface on the video, wireless and broadband cross-selling opportunities,” Stephenson added.

     

    AT&T’s EIS segment had 526.37 lakh revenue connections as on 30 September, 2015 including 128.91 lakh legacy voice wireline connections besides video and broadband internet connections.

     

    As a consequence of the DirecTV acquisition on 24 July, 2015 and subsequent restructuring of segments, GAAP operating video revenue of the Entertainment and Internet services segment in the current quarter multiplied to $7162 million as compared to the $1719 million in the corresponding year ago quarter. Besides, the company’s International segment also reported Video revenue of $945 million in the current quarter.

     

    AT&T’s EIS segment reported GAAP operating revenue of $10858 million in the current quarter as compared to the $5553 million in Q3-2014 because of the DirectTV acquisition and restructuring. The segment has reported a GAAP operating profit of $1021 million as compared to a loss of $337 million in Q3-2014 and a loss of $208 million in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    AT&T’s Entertainment and Internet Services (EIS) segment had 143.22 lakh broadband internet subscribers (121.85 lakh IP and 21.37 lakh DSL) as 30 September, 2015 as compared to 144.65 lakh (110.1 lakh IP and 34.53 lakh DSL) in the corresponding year ago quarter. The segment reported GAAP revenue of $1685 million from broadband internet services in the current quarter as compared to the $1414 million in Q3-2014.

     

    Legacy voice and data services reported GAAP revenue of $1419 million in the current quarter as compared to the $1834 million in Q3-2014 and $1516 million in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    The company’s International segment reported GAAP revenue of $1526 million in the current quarter and an operating loss of $87 million. Figures for the corresponding year ago quarter have not been mentioned.

  • Q2-2016: Raj TV YoY EBIDTA up 26%

    Q2-2016: Raj TV YoY EBIDTA up 26%

    BENGALURU: South Indian television network Raj TV Limited (Raj TV) reported 26.1 per cent higher EBIDTA (Total Income from Operations or TIO plus Depreciation & Amortisation minus Total Expenditure or TE) for the quarter ended 30 September, 2015 (Q2-2016, current quarter) at Rs 3.88 crore (21.9 per cent margin) as compared to the Rs 3.08 crore (15.5 per cent margin) in Q2-2015. EBIDTA for the current quarter was however lower than the Rs 4.47 crore (22.6 per cent margin) in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

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

     

    TIO in the current quarter was also 11.7 per cent lower at Rs 17.73 crore as compared to the Rs 20.08 crore in Q2-2015 and was 10.3 per cent lower than the Rs 19.76 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    The company’s profit after tax (PAT) in Q2-2016 declined by a massive 65.9 per cent to Rs 0.26 crore (1.4 per cent margin) as compared to the Rs 0.75 crore (3.8 per cent margin) in Q2-2015 and was 77.7 per cent lower than the Rs 1.15 crore (5.8 per cent margin) in Q1-2016.

     

    The company’s Total Expenditure (TE) in Q2-2016 at Rs 15.46 crore (87.2 per cent of TIO) was 12.2 per cent lower than the Rs 17.61 crore (87.7 per cent of TIO) and was 8.5 per cent QoQ as compared to the Rs 16.90 crore (85.2 per cent of TIO).

     

    Raj TV’s cost of revenues in Q2-2016 declined 26.8 per cent to Rs 6.33 crore (35.7 per cent of TIO) as compared to the Rs 8.65 crore (43.1 per cent of TIO) and was 13.3 per cent lower than the Rs 7.30 crore (37 per cent of TIO) in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    The company’s administrative expense in Q2-2016 declined 21 per cent to Rs 2.23 crore (12.6 per cent of TIO) as compared to the Rs 2.83 crore (14.1 per cent of TIO) and was 17.9 per cent lower than the Rs 2.72 crore (13.8 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2016.

     

    Raj TV’s employee benefit expense (EBE) in Q2-2016 at Rs 5.29 crore (29.8 per cent of TI) was 4.3 per cent lower than the Rs 5.52 crore (27.5 per cent of TIO) and was 0.5 per cent more than the Rs 5.26 crore (26.6 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2016.

  • Q2-2016: Ortel YoY revenue up 24.6 percent, PAT more than doubles

    Q2-2016: Ortel YoY revenue up 24.6 percent, PAT more than doubles

    BENGALURU: The Bibhu Prasad Rath-headed regional cable television and broadband internet player Ortel Communications Ltd  (Ortel) has reported a 24.6 percent growth in revenue from operations (TIO) at Rs 45.79 crore as in the quarter ended 30 September 2015 (Q2-2016, current quarter) as compared to the Rs 36.74 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter. TIO in the current quarter was also higher by 12.8 percent as compared to the Rs 40.6 crore in the immediate trailing quarter. Ortel provides services in the Indian states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal,

     

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

    The numbers mentioned in this report are standalone.

     

    The company reported more than a doubling of PAT (up 2.3 times) to Rs 2.83 crore (5.9 percent margin) as compared to the Rs 1.23 crore (3 percent margin) in Q2-2015, and 15.9 percent more than the Rs 2.44 crore (5.7 percent margin) in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    Ortel President and CEO Rath said, “I am glad to report a strong operational and financial performance for the quarter ended   September 30, 2015. Performance during the quarter was driven by healthy addition in revenue generating units (RGUs) which stood at 571,834. We are witnessing encouraging traction to our LCO buyout strategy in emerging markets like Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, and I am confident that this would sustain going forward. Going forward, we would continue with our strategy of aggressive LCO buyouts across all our markets and diligently integrate the new  subscribers into Ortel’s last mile network. Healthy contribution from new RGUs along with ongoing focus on the high margin Broadband business would enable us to deliver strong financial performance in the forthcoming years.”

     

    The company’s EBIDTA (TIO plus Depreciation and Amortisation plus Other Income plus Fixed assets written off minus Total Expenditure) increased 31.3 percent to Rs 17.29 crore (37.8 percent margin) in the current quarter as compared to the Rs 13.17 crore (35.8 percent margin) and increased 8.8 percent as compared to the Rs 15.89 crore (39.1 percent margin) in Q1-2016.

     

    Ortel’s YoY RGUs grew 9.2 percent to 571,834 in Q2-2016 from 523,833 in Q2-2015 and increased 5.5 percent from 542,217 in Q1-2016.

     

    Cable TV RGUs’ increased 9 percent in Q2-2016 to 508,171 from 466,305 in Q2-2015 and grew 5.6 percent from 481,317 in Q1-2016.

    Ortel’s YoY primary digital cable RGUs grew 33.2 percent to 117,401 in Q2-2016 from 88,106 and grew QoQ to 4.5 percent from 112,296 in Q1-2016. Analogue cable RGUs’ increased to 330,739 from 322,175 in Q2-2015 and from 307,923 in Q1-2016. The company says that its Cable TV penetration stood at 23.7 percent and penetration in select 10 towns where company offers digital services stands at 71 percent.

     

    Broadband customers grew 8.9 percent to 63,663 in the current quarter from 57,528 in Q2-2015 and grew 4.5 percent from 60,900 in Q1-2016.

     

    The company has reported a slight drop in digital and analogue cable and broadband ARPUs’ in the current quarter. Digital cable ARPU in Q2-2016 was Rs 183 in Q2-2016; Rs 187 in Q2-2015 and Rs 185 in Q1-2016. Analogue cable ARPU in Q2-2016 was Rs 143; in Q2-2015 it was Rs 147 and in Q1-2016, it was Rs 144. Broadband ARPU in Q2-2016 was Rs 183, in Q2-2015, it was Rs 187 and in Q1-2016, it was Rs 185.

     

     

    Cable Subscription, Connection and Channel carriage fees

     

    The company’s cable subscription fees in Q2-2016 increased 4 percent to Rs 20.6 crore as compared to the Rs 19.8 crore in Q2-2015 and increased 3 percent as compared to the Rs 20 crore in Q1-2016. Connection fees declined to Rs 0.70 crore in the current quarter from Rs 1.1 crore in Q2-2015 and remained flat as compared to the Rs 0.7 crore in Q1-2015.Channel carriage fees in the current quarter increased 44.9 percent to Rs 9.7 crore from Rs 6.7 crore in Q2-2015 and increased 23.8 percent from Rs 7.8 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by Ortel

     

    Total Expenditure in Q2-2016 increased 13.3 percent to Rs 38.72 crore as compared to Rs 34.17 crore in Q2-2015 and increased 12.5 percent as compared to the Rs 34.42 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    The company’s Programming cost in the current quarter increased 7.2 percent to Rs 9.44 crore from Rs 8.81 crore in Q2-2015 and increased 5.9 percent from Rs 8.91 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    Bandwidth cost in Q2-2016 increased 19.3 percent to Rs 1.92 crore from Rs 1.61 crore in Q2-2015 and increased 7.9 percent from Rs 1.78 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    Employee Benefits Expense in the current quarter increased 45.5 percent to Rs 5.64 crore as compared to the Rs 3.88 crore in Q2-2015 and was 15.4 percent more than the Rs 4.89 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    Last quarter, Ortel announced that it had introduced free broadband option for all Ortel Cable TV subscribers in the states of Odisha, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh as a complimentary special value added service in order to target to deeper penetrate into markets by making internet affordable. Ortel says that its offer includes a free data limit every month for a year. The subscriber will be charged a nominal amount after exceeding the free data usage for the month.