ITV

Category: Press Release

  • Zoom surges ahead of the competition

    MUMBAI: Zoom, India’s premier glamour and entertainment news channel from the BCCL stable, has overtaken the competition across 6 Metros among C&S AB 15-44 Yrs audience, and broken into the top 10 viewed channels in the 2nd week of January 2007 as per TAM media research.

    Zoom started the year on a high note with an increase of 63% GRP’s in the 6 metros over the last quarter of 2006. In the Hindi speaking markets (HSM), it has shown a notable increase of 32%. The growth of over 55% among C&S Males SEC AB 25+ (purchase decision makers), is a significant development, which makes it a serious contender across many media plans.

    The growth can be attributed to the improvement in the channel’s placement, across distribution networks nationally supported by intensive marketing efforts and improved content.

    The channel’s move towards the entertainment news format and decidedly Bollywood slant has made it appealing to more and more people. The recently launched movie slot in the evening is garnering better prime time ratings for the channel.

  • Essel Propack ‘s Global Sales cross Rs. 10 Bn for the year ended 31 Dec 2006

    MUMBAI: Essel Propack today announced the un-audited consolidated global results for the year ended 31 December 2006. The Company reported a substantial increase in its global revenues for the year 2006. The sales have crossed Rs. 10 Billion mark (Rs. 10,099 Million) with a net profit close to Rs. 1 Billion (Rs. 985 Million). During the year 2006, the Company’s consolidated global sales registered a growth of 24% over the same period of 2005, while the EBIDTA and net profit grew by 19% and 9% respectively.

     

    The international operations of the Company have contributed 72% (up from 69% in the year 2005) of the consolidated revenue, thus reflecting the trend of increasing overseas growth and consolidation.

     

    The global performance also reflects a growth in sales and net profit of 28% and 10% respectively during Q4 of 2006 over Q4 of 2005.

     

    Announcing the results at Mumbai, Ashok Goel, the Vice Chairman & Managing Director of Essel Propack said, “We have grown steadily in our tube business. Our efforts to leverage EP’s core competencies of plastic processing has begun to pay off with increasing contribution from Medical Devices and Speciality packaging businesses.”

     

    During the year 2006, many steps were undertaken to sustain consistent growth and increase in revenues. One such significant step was to broad-base the business with addition of new product lines. The acquisition of medical devices and speciality packaging business in 2006 were a move in this direction.

     

    R. Chandrasekhar, President, Essel Propack added, “As we progress, during the coming years, the Medical Devices and Speciality Packaging will increasingly contribute to the top and bottom line.”

     

    Speaking about the Speciality Packaging materials business, Ashok Goel said, “The business is well positioned to ride on the increasing need for packaging solutions, fuelled by factors such as India becoming the world manufacturing hub for prescription drugs, the retail boom and therefore the need for convenience packaging. There are further value propositions to up the value chain in Pharma and exports which can be easily tapped into leveraging on EP’s capabilities of extrusion lamination.”

     

    The thrust was also on rapidly expanding the capabilities and footprint with plastic tubes. The existing capacity of the UK plant was expanded. A new green field plant in USA went on stream in December 2006. The expansion and the green field are based on new state-of-the-art technologies, which give better operational flexibilities and more economical costs of operation.

     

    The year 2006 saw additions of new customers from the skin and hair care segments in US. These segments offer an increased value proposition and are complementary to the thrust in plastic tubes. This step has further improved the company’s margins. Further, in certain markets, the company has exited low margin businesses.

     

    During the year, the organisation’s another focus area had been the turnaround of the acquired businesses in UK and the start-ups in Mexico and Russia. By the end of 2006, EP was successful in turning around the laminated tube business in UK and Mexico. The plastic tube business in UK has reached the breakeven levels by end 2006. The Russian business is still evolving and has a good potential. The efforts will continue along the turnaround plan during the coming year.

     

    EP has been successful in opening up new segments in Pharma and sampling with Minitube Technology. This technology has found wide acceptance in Pharma and oral care. Despite continuously expanding capacities, the capacities are fully booked by the end of 2006.

     

    To optimize the resources, EP has been continuously evaluating options to close down facilities with unviable capacities. Moving in this direction, during 2006, the Nepal plant was closed down.

    In 2007, the company will continue to focus on moving the revenue platforms to higher value products, continue the turn around of units, improving the margins further and also improving the returns.

     

    Essel Propack is promoted by Essel Group. Essel Propack, head quartered in India, manufacturers laminated tubes, plastic tubes, medical devices and speciality packaging materials. The Company provides tube packaging solutions to toothpaste, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, toiletries, food and industrial sectors all over the world. In Medical Devices, the company manufactures cardio-vascular catheters and delivery systems.

    The Speciality Packaging Materials of the company currently caters to the Food and Pharma industry. The Company has state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in 13 countries with 24 plants across the globe. Essel Propack’s stock is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange.

  • Reliance Communications announces financial results for the quarter ended 31 DEC 2006

    MUMBAI: Reliance Communications Limited today announced
    its unaudited consolidated financial results for the quarter ended
    31 December 2006. The highlights of financial performance are:

    Net Profit of Rs. 924 crore (US$ 209 million), higher by 198% compared to Net Profit of Rs. 310 crore (US$ 70 million) in the corresponding quarter last year

    EBITDA at Rs. 1,527 crore (US$ 346 million), growth of 76% over the corresponding quarter last year

    Revenue growth of 26% at Rs. 3,755 crore (US$ 851 million) from Rs. 2,991 crore (US$ 678 million)

    EBITDA margin expands to a record 41% from 29%, with strong contributions across all businesses – Personal, Global and Enterprise.

    Shareholders Equity crosses Rs. 20,000 crore (more than US$ 4.5 billion). Net Debt to Equity Ratio further reduces to 0.07:1, providing substantial borrowing capacity to fund future growth

    Capex for FY2007 now expected at over Rs. 7,700 crore (US$ 1.75 billion) Commenting on the results, Mr Anil Dhirubhai Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Communications Limited said:

    “We have delivered another quarter of strong revenue and EBITDA growth across all our business segments. Net profits have increased by 3 times in the past year.

    This performance has lifted Reliance Communications into the select group of companies with annualised EBITDA of well over Rs 5,000 crore (US$1.1 billion), EBITDA margins above 40%, Shareholders Equity of over Rs 20,000 crore (US$4.5 billion), and a Stockmarket Value of nearly Rs 94,000 crore (over US$21 billion). Reliance Communications is now one of Asia’s most valuable telecom companies.

    We remain focused on further strengthening our position within India’s rapidly growing telecom sector, achieving profitable growth, and delivering long term value for our 2 million shareholders.”

    UNLOCKING VALUE

    FLAG TELECOM

    The Board of Reliance Communications has approved the global listing of FLAG Telecom.

    Reliance Communications has turned around the performance of FLAG Telecom over the past year and aligned it with the Indian franchise.

    FLAG Telecom sees enormous growth potential in bridging the digital divide and had recently announced its nearly Rs 7,000 crore (US$1.5 billion) Next Generation Network project which on completion will make the company the largest fully IP-enabled global undersea cable system operator touching 80% of the world population.

    The potential global listing of FLAG Telecom would highlight the hidden value created in its business and provide further focus on the unique growth opportunities.

    RELIANCE TELECOM INFRASTRUCTURE

    The Board of Reliance Communications noted the shareholder approval given to the scheme of demerger of the wireless towers business. The Board approved Reliance Telecom Infrastructure to examine options for unlocking the value of its assets.

    BUSINESS REVIEW

    PERSONAL (wireless)

    Reliance Communications added a record 4 million wireless customer (net) during the quarter, compared with 2.1 million in the corresponding quarter last year.

    At end-December 2006, the Company had over 30 million wireless customers on its network, representing a market share of 20.5% of the All India wireless market. It maintained market share of net wireless customer additions at 20.2% in Q3 FY2007.

    Revenues of the Personal business increased by 39% to Rs. 2,752 crore (US$ 624 million) from Rs. 1,981 crore (US$ 449 million). EBITDA increased 62% to Rs. 1,029 crore (US$ 233 million) from Rs. 636 crore (US$ 144 million).

    Global

    FLAG Telecom won major new contracts worth more than US$ 100 million (about Rs. 440 crore) during Q3 FY2007.

    In the increasingly competitive ILD market, Reliance Communications maintained its leading market share of 40%.

    Reliance India Call has recently been introduced in Australia and the worldwide access of our Reliance Global Call service has been extended to 200 countries.

    EBITDA increased by 68% during the quarter to Rs. 355 crore (US$ 80 million). The Global business achieved higher profit margins, with an increased contribution from the portfolio of data services. EBITDA margins increased to 27% from 15%.

    ENTERPRISE (broadband)

    The number of access lines increased to 530,000 in Q3 FY2007 from 217,000.

    Leveraging the 20,000 kms of metro fiber optic cables, the number of buildings directly connected to the Reliance network increased by 110,000 in the past quarter to 379,000.

    Major new orders booked by the Enterprise business during the quarter increased by over 25%. Reliance Communications has 50% market share of new Enterprise business acquisitions.

    Enterprise achieved revenue growth of 149% to Rs. 316 crore (US$ 72 million) and an EBITDA margin of 47% in Q3 FY2007.

    * * * * *

    Background

    Reliance Communications Limited is part of the Reliance – Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group.

    Reliance Communications is India’s largest integrated communications service provider in the private sector with over 32 million individual consumer, enterprise, and carrier customers.We operate pan-India across the full spectrum of wireless, wireline, and long distance, voice, data, and internet communication services. We also have an extensive international presence through the provision of long distance voice, data and internet services and submarine cable network infrastructure globally.

  • Confluence of Young Film Makers

    NEW DELHI: Over 25 films from Germany, Nepal and India are to be screened in the First Frame 2007 international students’ film festival being held on February 6 and 7 in the capital.

    Organised by the Madhubala Institute of Communication and Electronic Media (MBICEM), the Festival will feature documentary, fiction and short films. Awards will be presented for best Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Film, and a special award to be presented by the co-sponsor UNITECH.

    First Frame 2007 has gone global this year and the media partner for the event is SAHARA NCR. The event has been co-sponsored by UNITECH and is supported by Bajaj Hindustan and other corporate organizations.

    Former Film and Television Institute of India Director Mr. Mohan Agashe, senior film critic and indiantelevision.com Consulting Editor Mr. B B Nagpal, and KATHA Centre for Film Studies Director Mr. Prabodh Parikh are among the jury for the Festival. The final entries were shortlisted from those received from Germany, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Canada, Nepal and India by a four-member panel comprising renowned poet Kailash Bajpai and filmmakers Pankaj Singh, Ajay Bedi, and Raza Haider.

    Many of the entries received have been to prestigious festivals including the Mumbai International Film Festival, Berlin Asia Pacific Film Festival, Asian Film Festival (Singapore), Indian Social Forum 3-Screen Festival, and the first Wordless International Short Film Festival.

    The Film Festival opens on February 6, and screenings are open to all. Ancillary activities include workshops like Reality Films by renowned documentary filmmaker from Magic Lantern Foundation, Delhi, Gargi Sen, and Gone in 30 seconds, conducted by Advertising professional Azaz Ahmed, Creative Head, Publisis India. These workshops can be attended by registration and payment of nominal fee.

    Started in 1996, MBICEM is a media institute affiliated to Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, imparting education in Print Media, Radio, Television, Advertising and Video Production. The institute aims to equip the students with professional skills to meet the requirements of the corporate media world.

    First Frame in its very first edition in 2003 screened both fictional and documentary films. The participation of students was from three media colleges of Delhi; MBICEM, IP College for Women and Sri Aurobindo Institute of Mass Communication. Mrs. Aruna Vasudev, Editor, Cinemaya, was the guest of Honor for the event. The 2004 edition was bigger, inviting participation from institutes at national level like MCRC, St.Xavier’s College Mumbai, YMCA and FTII.

  • SaharaOne telecasts premiere of Khosla Ka Ghosla on Sunday 21 Jan at 11 am with a repeat at 8 pm

    MUMBAI:Khosla Ka Ghosla is a sweet black comedy in the life of a dysfunctional Indian family and centers around the dream of every middle class man to own a house. The film set in Delhi, traces the trials and tribulations the Khosla family faces while trying to fulfill this dream.

    Kamal Kishore Khosla (Anupam Kher), is a simple man by nature with simple desires. He always brings a smile on the most serious of situations. His only dream in life is to build his own home on a plot of land, which he intends to buy – a plot where he would build his small little ‘ghosla’, or nest. To his horror he realises that the plot he has paid for had already been booked by a land shark, Kishan Khurana (Boman Irani). And this man is sure about the fact that the only way Khosla gets his ‘ghosla’ is if he pays up a large sum of money. Not only does Khosla sees his dream shattering but also sees his life savings being taken away by the land broker. All attempts at getting back his property fall on deaf ears. What’s more, Khosla’s dream of staying with his entire family of children and grandchildren in his dream home, now seems to be an impossible dream as his younger son decides to move to America.

    Will it be possible for him to gain all that he has lost? His friends and colleagues decide to help him. But before he can agree to go ahead Khosla must make sure that they genuinely want to help or do they have a plan of their own?

    A hilarious comedy, the film focuses on relationships, trust and togetherness. Dibakar Banerjee makes his directorial debut with this film which was screened at the Cannes film festival in 2006. The film also stars Ranveer Shorey, Parvin Dabbas, Tara Sharma, Vinay Pathak, Navin Nischol and Kiran Juneja among others.

  • “Miss Rang De Sankranthi” cow crowning contest by Radio Mirchi

    BANGALORE: Radio Mirchi, Bangalore’s Sakkhat hot radio station is always at its wackiest best when it comes to engaging with the people of Bangalore. The auspicious occasion of Makara Sankranthi saw an unique celebration – a cow dressing contest where the best dressed ‘Cow’ was crowned Miss Rang De Sankranthi !

     

    The contest started off with a gathering of cows from in and around Bangalore on an early Monday afternoon. The owners were seen enjoying themselves dressing up their cows and getting creative with ribbons, colour papers etc. to outsmart the rest. Once ready, the cows were made to “Cat Walk” around the grounds to judge the three best dressed cows! Also seen enjoying herself was the renowned film director Kavitha Lankesh who gave away the prizes. The winner sauntered away with attractive cash prizes like: Rs, 4000/- for the winner, the first runner up won Rs. 3000/- and the second runner up won Rs. 2000/-.

     

    Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Romen Sood, Executive VP and Regional Director South and East, Radio Mirchi said “Radio Mirchi is rooted in the culture of this city, identifying with traditions that mark any important festival. Our initiative ‘Rang De Sankranthi’ is aimed at adding colour and a streak of uniqueness to the cheer & gaiety that marks Makara Sankranthi celebrations in the city.”

     

    The Makara Sankranti celebrations in Bangalore kick started on Jan 11, 2007 with a Rangoli competition called “Rang De Sankranthi” which was held at different pockets of the city. A traditionally decorated ‘Canter’ was also going around the city spreading cheer by distributing Pongal, Sugarcane and the traditional “Yellu Biru”.

  • Subha Barry to address IAA

    MUMBAI: Ms. Subha Barry Managing Director and head of Multicultural Careers and Inclusion for Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., will address the India Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA) on 24th. January in Mumbai.

    Her address entitled “Desi’s as bosses in a Videshi Corporate World” assumes great relevance in the age of the Indian Multinational Corporation.

    This is the second in the IAA’s special series of lectures called “International Indians”. Ms. Barry is credited with creating the firm’s Multicultural and Diversified Business Development group that helped establish Merrill Lynch as the preeminent wealth management firm among diverse and multicultural markets.

    She headed the group until 2005 when she was appointed to her current role where she is responsible for managing and integrating existing and new diversity efforts across the corporation globally.

  • Watch NDTV’s Jai Jawan with Preity Zinta on Republic Day

    MUMBAI: Watch Preity Zinta – the Bollywood sensation and an army girl herself – spend a day at the army training base at Hissar, Haryana, on NDTV’s hallmark show Jai Jawan.

    Preity travels to the armour-training camp and experiences the kind of life that these jawans lead – difficult, yet a life they are proud of. The firing range, the tanks, the army school, special song and dance requests, a quiver full of smiles and dimpled memories to take back home…. Catch Preity Zinta with Abhigyaan Prakash (NDTV) as they pay a special tribute to the Indian army, a salute to our country’s true heroes only on Jai Jawan, on NDTV.

    Watch Jai Jawan with Preity Zinta on January 26, at 9:30pm, on NDTV 24X7 and at 7:30 pm on NDTV India

  • Arnab Goswami receives Society Young Achievers’ Awards

    Mumbai:Times Now editor in chief Arnab Goswami was awarded the Society Young Achievers’ Awards 2007 in the Media category at Hilton Towers, Mumbai on 25 January. The Society Young Achievers Award recognizes young talent for their achievements in the fields of media, fine arts, films, music, sports, fashion & business.

    The award for Young Achiever in Media was given to Arnab Goswami for his contribution and achievement in the world of News. A post-graduate from Oxford University, author and journalist, Arnab is Editor-in-Chief of the country’s fastest growing News channel, TIMES NOW. Amongst the others nominated for the award were Meneka Doshi, Mumbai Bureau Chief, CNBC TV 18; Muzamil Jaleel, Kashmir Bureau Chief, Indian Express and Arko Datta, Photographer, Reuters for their outstanding performance in journalism.

    On receiving the award, Arnab Goswami, Editor-in-Chief, TIMES NOW said, “What we do at TIMES NOW is News and for our viewers we are focused on making sense of the news. I accept this recognition on behalf of all my colleagues at TIMES NOW”

    Recipient of the Asian Television Award for the best news presenter, Arnab is known for his keen and insightful anchoring on ‘The News Hour’ and for his sharp interviews with prominent News makers on ‘Frankly Speaking’, both on TIMES NOW. He is known to have brought the otherwise reticent Sonia Gandhi for an interview on television.

    The award for the media category was adjudged by a jury comprising Mr. Vijay Darda and Mr. Kumar Ketkar and by votes from readers of the magazine.

  • HBO lines up Republic Day special

    MUMBAI: HBO’s blockbuster of the month airs on Friday 26 January at 9 pm.The “Eighth Wonder of the World” returns for the third time in this lavish film directed by Academy Award winner Peter Jackson. Thanks to unrivalled, state-of-the-art computer effects wizardry and animatronics, Jackson finally brings justice to the 1933 classic starring Fay Wray.

    Scheming and bankrupt filmmaker Carl Denham (Jack Black, The Holiday, Tenacious D: The Pick Of Destiny) embarks on a desperate plan to get the studio and the creditors off his back. He relies on playwright Jack Driscoll (Academy Award® winner Adrien Brody, Hollywoodland, The Jacket) to finish the pages of a half-baked screenplay.

    Denham talks starving vaudeville performer Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts, The Painted Veil, Stay) into joining them on a film shoot to a far-flung island. The adventure begins when they board a steamer, setting sail for the South Seas at Denham’s behest in their search for the mythical and eerie Skull Island, where rumors of a gargantuan monster abound. Denham believes this monster could clinch the blockbuster he so badly needs.

    Upon reaching the island, Ann is abducted by a fierce tribe who make her their next offering to Kong. Kong takes the terrified Ann, but Ann’s courage and empathy soon let her see through Kong, and a bond between them begins to grow. From Manhattan to the South Seas and back, expect loads of drama, fun, and scream-inducing scenes in what movie critic Roger Ebert calls “magnificent entertainment…one of [2005’s] best films.”