ITV

Category: Post Production

  • Q1-16: Prime Focus YoY revenue up 28.1 percent

    Q1-16: Prime Focus YoY revenue up 28.1 percent

    BENGALURU: Prime Focus Limited (PFL) has reported a 28.1 percent YoY revenue growth for the quarter ending September 30, 2015 (Q1-2016, current quarter) at Rs 448.57 crore as compared to the Rs 350.17 crore in Q1-2015. However, QoQ, the company’s revenue declined 13.4 percent from Rs 518.21 crore.

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

    (2) The company had filed results for a fifteen month period ended June 30, 2014, hence YoY comparison is being done between Q1-2016 and Q1-2015 and QoQ comparison is between Q1-2016 and  Q4-2015 (quarter ended June, 2015).

    The company’s quarterly bottom line has been negatively affected due to significant exceptional costs primarily in relation to previously announced divestiture of PFL PLC and planned restructuring / integration costs in relation to the merger with Double Negative. In Q1-2016, this amounted to Rs 12.26 crore, in Q4-2015 it was 159.29 crore and in Q1-2015 this figure was Rs 34.27 crore.

    The company reported a net loss of Rs 22.51 crore in Q1-2016; a loss of Rs 22.01 crore in Q1-2015 and a loss of Rs 213.76 crore in the immediate trailing quarter Q4-2015.

    The company’s simple EBIDTA for Q1-2016 at Rs 52.07 crore (11.6 percent margin) more than quadrupled (4.7 times) YoY from Rs 11.19 crore (3.2 percent margin, but declined 39.6 percent from Rs 86.17 crore (16.6 percent margin) in Q4-2015.

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by PFL

    Figures A and B below show PFL’s major expense heads. As is obvious, a major expense head for the company is employee benefit expense or EBE.

    PFL’s EBE in Q1-2016 at Rs 282.57 crore (61.6 percent of TIO) increased 21.4 percent YoY from Rs 232.77 crore (60.4 percent of TIO) and increased 7.4 percent QoQ from Q4-2015 at Rs 263.11 crore (50.8 percent of TIO).

    Technician’s Fees in the current quarter increased 53.8 percent YoY to Rs 9.77 crore (2.2 percent of TIO) from Rs 6.35 crore (1.8 percent of TIO) and increased 6.1 percent QoQ from Rs 9.21 crore (1.8 percent of TIO)

    Fig B indicates that EBE also shows a linear upward trend in terms of percentage of TIO over the eleven quarters starting Q4-2013 until the current quarter Q1-2016.  EBE has been the highest in Q1-2016 (61.6 percent) in terms of absolute rupees, but in terms of percentage of TIO, it was highest in Q3-2015 at 64 percent

    Finance and Interest costs in Q1-2016 at Rs 17.75 crore (4 percent of TIO) increased 12 percent YoY from Rs 15.84 crore (4.5 percent of TIO), but declined 30.1 percent QoQ from Rs 25.39 crore (4.9 percent of TIO).

  • Prime Focus Technologies bags award for ‘Digital Next’ campaign

    Prime Focus Technologies bags award for ‘Digital Next’ campaign

    MUMBAI: Prime Focus Technologies (PFT), the technology arm of Prime Focus, has bagged two Platinum Awards as part of the 2015 MarCom Awards competition.

     

    PFT was recognised for its sales collateral, part of a larger, ongoing campaign, Digital Next, launched in April 2015 at National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).

     

    MarCom Awards is a creative competition for any individual or company involved in the concept, writing and design of print, visual, audio and web materials and programs.

     

    The Digital Next offerings help address the challenges faced by the media and entertainment industry to meet the demands of the digital consumer, with a focus on building a connected enterprise and digital ecosystem, over-the-top (OTT) solutions and distribution.

     

    Designed in the shape of an iPhone that emulates various well-known Apple iOS interface menus, the collateral won Platinum Awards in both Brochure for Business to Business and Print Creativity for Brochure categories.

     

    “By utilising a nearly ubiquitous design interface, we are able to communicate the shift to Digital Next realities in a manner that resonates with these exact customers who are struggling to cater to the needs of hyper digital consumers. Receiving these MarCom Awards is an honour and further validation that we’re presenting our offerings in an effective way,” said Prime Focus Technologies vice president and head, global marketing & communications T. Shobhana. 

     

    At the forefront of PFT’s Digital Next offerings is the CLEAR Media ERP Suite, an enterprise software for virtualising the content supply chain.

  • Endemol Beyond USA launches digital eSports & gaming network

    Endemol Beyond USA launches digital eSports & gaming network

    MUMBAI: Endemol Shine North America’s premium content network Endemol Beyond USA is set to launch its new eSports & gaming Smasher Network with the debut of its flagship series Legends of Gaming hosted by Toby Turner.

     

    The network has unveiled seven new original series including Rule’m Sports, based on the hit UK series and hosted by YouTube star Jesse Wellens.

     

    Smasher Network marks the second digital-first network from Endemol Beyond USA, following the launch of ICON, the premium global lifestyle network creatively led by digital pioneer Michelle Phan that is launching in 11 territories globally.

     

    Smasher Network will be available across more than 20 platforms, including YouTube, Roku, TiVo, DailyMotion, Amazon Fire TV, Verizon go90, Vessel and also at Endemol Beyond USA’s OTT platform GetBeyond.US.

     

    In addition to Rule’m Sports, new series set to launch on Smasher Network include: Game Fame, We’re in the Game,Fantasy League, Pro v Pro, and Smashed Up.

     

    Endemol Beyond USA interim president and COO Adrian Sexton said, “eSports is trending globally and we’re excited to be at the tipping point with ‘Legends of Gaming’ hosted by the mega-talented Toby Turner. Our premium networks’ strategy, starting with ICON Network and Michelle Phan, and now heading into Smasher with eSports and gaming, puts us right in the middle of one of the most passionate and intense fan bases in digital. Game on!”

     

    Endemol Beyond USA is producing over 100 videos for Legends of Gaming, with 37 episodes of the premiere series hosted by YouTube sensation Toby Turner (aka Tobuscus). Pizza Hut is on board as the principal integration partner, as well as sponsors Razer and iBuyPower, who outfitted the stage with top-of-the-line equipment and custom gaming systems for the Legends. In addition, Endemol Beyond USA is producing another 37 segments of Legends of Gaming: Game Play showing the complete competition; and 37 companion pieces entitled Legends of Gaming: Bloopers and Outtakes, which gives fans an inside look at the antics that were a part of each episode. There will be cast profiles, win/fail videos and recaps, as well. Legends videos will post seven days a week on YouTube, across five months from 7 October through February 2016.

     

    Legends of Gaming is based on the Endemol Beyond UK format of the same name, which launched in 2014 and is currently in its second season. The US version follows four teams of two gamers who are coached by some of the biggest names in the gaming industry.

     

    Legends talent roster collectively represents 57 million subscribers and followers and over 7.3 billion lifetime views across YouTube and other social media platforms. Coaches include Fatal1ty, Perfect Legend, HotShotGG and Hafu. Contestants include gamers The Jovenshire, Syndicate, Terroriser, TmarTn, OMGitsfirefoxx, iiJERiiCHOii, Lui Calibre and runJDrun.

  • Prime Focus World’s DeepGen stereo technology bags AIS award

    Prime Focus World’s DeepGen stereo technology bags AIS award

    NEW DELHI: Prime Focus World (PFW) has won a Lumiere award for its proprietary DeepGen stereo technology.

     

    The award was given by the Advanced Imaging Society (AIS) for technical achievement at their 6th annual technology and new products awards ceremony at Paramount Studios in Hollywood.

     

    PFW’s DeepGen technology, part of its Hybrid Stereo Pipeline, allows the use of deep compositing data in the stereo conversion process, providing superior conversion results, a more efficient workflow and more flexibility and control.

     

    PFW global CEO Namit Malhotra said, “Driving greater innovation through our R&D and pipeline teams is the future of our industry. I believe that our commitment to creating technological breakthroughs is our biggest differentiator, and I wholeheartedly support the effort to help drive our industry forward by constantly raising our own bar.”

     

    Accepting the award on behalf of the PFW technology team were PFW global head of view-D Eoin Greenham and software developer Laszlo Rikker, who attended the awards along with PFW global technical supervisor Rajat Roy and software developer Luke Gray.

     

    “I’m delighted to accept this award on behalf of the PFW technology development team. Having the opportunity to work on some of the best 3D content with the biggest studios in the world is a great honor, and being tasked with finding solutions and developing ever more efficient ways of working is both rewarding and gratifying. It’s a privilege to be working for a dynamic company that is constantly breaking new ground and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in stereo conversion,” said Greenham.

     

    PFW won the award alongside companies such as AMD, Barco, Jaunt, Nokia, Sony Computer Entertainment and Technicolor.

  • FY-15: Prime Focus revenue up 80%; Q4-2015 YoY revenue up 2.4 times

    FY-15: Prime Focus revenue up 80%; Q4-2015 YoY revenue up 2.4 times

    BENGALURU: Prime Focus Limited (PFL) reported 80 per cent revenue growth for the year ending 30 June, 2015 (FY-2015) at Rs 1607.59 crore as compared to the Rs 892.9 crore during the corresponding 4 quarter (12 month period) of the previous year. Last year, the company had reported revenue of Rs 1081.42 crore for the 15 month period ended 30 June, 2014.

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

    (2) The company had filed results for a fifteen month period ended 30 June, 2014, hence YoY comparison is being done between Q4-2015 and Q5-2014 and QoQ comparison is between Q4-2015 and  Q3-2015 (quarter ended 31 March, 2015).

    YoY, PFL’s revenue increased by 2.4 times in Q4-2015 at Rs 518.21 crore as compared to the Rs 214.99 crore in Q5-2014.

    AnchorThe company’s yearly and quarterly bottom line has been negatively affected due to significant exceptional costs primarily in relation to previously announced divestiture of PFL PLC and planned restructuring / integration costs in relation to the merger with Double Negative.

    The company reported a net loss of Rs 292.22 crore in FY-2015 and a loss of Rs 213.76 crore in Q4-2015. The company’s simple EBIDTA for FY-2015 at Rs 241.23 crore (15 per cent margin) was 22.6 per cent more than the Rs 196.76 crore (19.1 per cent margin) for the 15 month period ended 30 June, 2014. PFL says in its earnings release that EBIDTA for the 12 month period ended 30 June, 2014 was Rs 179.6 crore.

    EBIDTA for Q4-2015 at Rs 86.17 crore (16.6 per cent margin) was more than five times the Rs 14.29 crore (6.6 per cent margin) in Q5-2014, but declined 18 per cent as compared to the Rs 105.15 crore (25 per cent margin) in the immediate trailing quarter.
     

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by PFL:

    Figures A and B below show PFL’s major expense heads. As is obvious, a major expense head for the company is employee benefit expense or EBE.

    PFL’s EBE in Q4-2015 at Rs 263.11 crore (50.8 per cent of TIO) was 13 per cent more the Rs 232.94 crore (64 per cent of TIO) in Q3-2015 and more than double (2.07 times) the Rs 127.11 crore (59.1 per cent of TIO) in Q5-2014.

    Fig B indicates that EBE also shows a linear upward trend in terms of percentage of TIO over the nine quarters starting Q4-2013 until the current quarter Q3-2015. EBE has been the highest in Q4-2015 in terms of absolute rupees, but in terms of percentage of TIO, it was highest in Q3-2015.

    Finance and Interest cost in Q4-2015 at Rs 25.39 crore (4.9 per cent of TIO) was 45.1 per cent more than the Rs 17.50 crore (8.1 per cent of TIO) in Q5-2014 and 78.69 per cent more than the Rs Rs 14.21 crore (3.4 per cent of TIO) Q3-2015.

  • Prime Focus Technologies secures patent for DAX & Digital Dailies

    Prime Focus Technologies secures patent for DAX & Digital Dailies

    MUMBAI: The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent expanding upon  Prime Focus Technologies’ (PFT)  existing patents for its DAX and Digital Dailies, part of PFT’s CLEAR Media ERP Suite.

     

    This patent strengthens and broadens PFT’s intellectual property around file based workflows and Digital Dailies.

     

    The new patent is for “a system and method for media content collaboration throughout a media production process,” broadening previous patents issued in 2013 and 2010.

     

    “This patent showcases the evolution, development and leadership that PFT continues to bring to its clients. The 929 patent strengthens our IP and is a reflection of the pioneering efforts of company and people that made it happen. The patent is seen as validation why 80 per cent of network series television uses DAX,” said Prime Focus Technologies president, North America Patrick Macdonald King.

     

    DAX with Digital Dailies allows for the secure exchange, collaboration and distribution of work-in-progress materials throughout the content creation lifecycle. This includes, but is not limited to, accessing who viewed, liked, shared and downloaded content (takes, scenes, cuts), incorporating user comments and timecode stamps for content review and approvals, transcoding, batch watermarking, image management and more.

  • Prime Focus Technologies launches secure screener application for movie studios

    Prime Focus Technologies launches secure screener application for movie studios

    MUMBAI: With awards season around the corner and multiple screeners currently in circulation, Prime Focus Technologies (PFT) will be offering SecureScreener as the industry’s first digital, contemporary and safe screener application.

     

    SecureScreener, a superior substitute to DVD and online channel distribution, is part of Clear, the world’s first and most proven hybrid cloud-enabled Media ERP Suite that virtualises the content supply chain.

     

    SecureScreener provides entertainment companies with a robust alternative to the logistical hassle of shipping DVD screeners, as well as peace of mind that screener content is always secure. The application offers access to content anytime, anywhere, while also providing instant feedback including exactly who has viewed, shared and downloaded watermarked content with the option to further customise with expiration and access settings. Recipients even have the option to view the content offline.

     

    Through Clear’s unbreakable Secure Player, SecureScreener delivers a safe, high-quality viewing experience on a variety of platforms, ensuring a seamless end-to-end experience.The Secure Screener is also available as an iPad app.

     

    The cloud-based application also addresses the financial commitments made by studios by eliminating recurring costs that has no productive use. In fact, it is estimated that for every $20 of direct cost spent on physical screeners, $80 more are lost in indirect costs. SecureScreener provides a solution to this monetary drain, reducing the overall cost of screener distribution.

     

    “As studios continue to grapple with the challenges of security in the digital age, SecureScreener stands alone as the safe, cloud-based solution to piracy threats, providing peace of mind that content is secure. In addition to the threat of piracy, there’s a large financial commitment made each year to screeners, both direct and indirect. SecureScreener reduces costs, while also providing studios with more control over their content than ever before,” said Prime Focus Technologies founder and CEO Ramki Sankaranarayanan. 

     

    SecureScreener is one of five Clear modules addressing specific business challenges to help broadcasters, studios, brands, sports and digital businesses drive creative enablement, enhance ecosystem efficiencies and sustainability, reduce cost and realise new monetisation opportunities. SecureScreener is available as a standalone business solution or bundled together as a Cloud Media ERP Suite with: Cloud MAM, Operations Cloud, Broadcast Cloud and Production Cloud.

  • Prime Focus Technologies equips Europe for Digital Next realities at IBC 2015

    Prime Focus Technologies equips Europe for Digital Next realities at IBC 2015

    MUMBAI: Prime Focus Technologies (PFT) is addressing the challenges faced by the media and entertainment industry to meet the demands of the digital consumer at IBC 2015. 

     

    Focusing on ‘Digital Next’ realities, PFT is offering solutions for broadcasters, studios, production houses and networks that will help virtualise the content supply chain and build a connected enterprise. 

     

    Clear Media ERP Suite: Enterprise software for virtualising the content supply chain: Building a connected and digital ecosystem is key to managing the business of content. With cycle times being reduced from 30 days to 30 minutes, and higher speed and content volume demands, businesses need to be agile in the digital era. To do this, margin-pressed film studios and broadcasters need to shift focus towards flexible, modular, cost effective and collaborative enterprise software to improve operational efficiencies. 

     

    PFT’s Clear Media ERP Suite, on display at IBC 2015, brings content to the center of the business and has helped content enterprises cut 30 per cent of operational costs and gain 40 per cent more efficiencies. The CLEAR Media ERP Suite is rich in applications that allow for workflow orchestration across enterprise, supply chain and partner ecosystems. In virtualising these processes, PFT has helped content providers drive creative enablement, enhance efficiencies, lower the total cost of ownership and discover new monetization opportunities. 

     

    Clear Operations Cloud, also on display at IBC 2015, is industry’s first ever end-to-end content operations on cloud for multi-platform distribution. With 800 million iTunes users, 60 million subscribers on Netflix, six billion hours of video watched per month on YouTube, and with 19 per cent of US millennials using Amazon Prime, content providers are in a mad race to get content to digital platforms faster and cheaper. They need to do that with not only the lowest total cost of delivery but enable it to be more discoverable for the consumers quickly. PFT’s Clear Operations Cloud helps do just that – not just store and transcode, but perform end-to-end content operations on the cloud.  Powered by transcoders including Elemental, Rhozet, AmberFin, Digital Rapids and more, PFT’s Operations Cloud is a unique infrastructure that offers content enterprises the ability to choose the transcoder that suit them best, while utilising PFT’s custom workflow orchestration to package and deliver.

     

    PFT’s Clear Operations Cloud also provides 4K support, including a 4K up-conversion module, by leveraging the Academy Award winning Lowry image processing libraries. This is supported by GPU Cloud Computing infrastructure.

     

    “Media and Entertainment companies cannot have islands of automation anymore. If they need to battle low margins and build operational efficiencies, they need to digitally transform to build a connected enterprise. They need to become hyper digital to cater to the hyper digital consumer. That’s the digital next reality,” said Prime Focus Technologies founder and CEO Ramki Sankaranarayanan. 

  • Q1-2016: Distribution segment pulls down Animation gains to loss for DQE

    Q1-2016: Distribution segment pulls down Animation gains to loss for DQE

    BENGALURU: The Tapas Chakravarti led DQ Entertainment (International) Limited (DQEIL) reported consolidated loss of Rs 12.65 crore in the quarter ended 30 June, 2015 (Q1-2016) as compared to a loss of Rs 12.06 crore in Q1-2015 and a loss of Rs 26.33 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    The loss in the current quarter would have been higher but for a foreign exchange (forex) gain of Rs 6.8 crore as compared to a forex loss Rs 0.39 crore in Q1-2015 and a forex gain of Rs 3.95 crore in Q4-2015.

     

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

    (2) All numbers are consolidated unless stated otherwise.

     

    Segment Performance

     

    The company’s distribution segment reported an operating loss of Rs 6.51 crore on operating revenue of Rs 1.80 crore in Q1-2016 as compared to the operating loss of Rs 1.19 crore on operating revenue of Rs 10.71 crore in Q1-2015 and an operating loss of Rs 12.53 crore on operating revenue of Rs 5.94 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    The company’s Animation segment reported an operating profit of Rs 2.08 crore in Q1-2016 from operating revenue of Rs 23.93 crore as compared to the operating loss of Rs 1.07 crore from operating revenue of Rs 9.93 crore in Q1-2015 and an operating profit of Rs 33.88 crore from operating revenue of Rs 69.87 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by DQEIL

     

    DQEIL reported 24.6 per cent increase in total income from operations (TIO) in Q1-2016 to Rs 25.73 crore as compared to the Rs 20.64 crore in Q1-2015. TIO in the current quarter was a little more than a third (33.9 per cent) of the TIO of Rs 75.81 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    Total Expenditure in Q1-2016 increased 6.8 per cent to Rs 29.62 crore as compared to the Rs 27.72 crore in Q1-2015, but declined 65.3 per cent as compared to the Rs 85.3 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    The company’s finance expense in Q1-2016 was almost double (increased 93 per cent) at Rs 14.56 crore as compared to the Rs 7.55 crore in Q1-2015 but dropped 13.2 per cent as compared to the Rs 16.78 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    DQEIL Production expense (PE) in Q1-2016 increased 74.4 per cent to Rs 3.75 crore as compared to the Rs 2.15 crore in Q1-2015 and declined 77.6 per cent as compared to the Rs 16.75 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    The company’s Employee Expenses (EBE) in Q1-2016 at Rs 13.30 crore declined 20 per cent as compared to the Rs 16.64 crore in Q1-2015 and was 2.1 per cent lower than the Rs 13.59 crore (in Q4-2015.

     

  • Prime Focus Technologies secures SoC2 certification

    Prime Focus Technologies secures SoC2 certification

    MUMBAI: Prime Focus Technologies (PFT), the technology arm of Prime Focus, has secured a Service Organization Control (SOC) 2 certification and expanded upon its ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS).

     

    These certifications assure clients that PFT meets some of the highest standards for security, availability, confidentiality and processing integrity controls in the Media and Entertainment (M&E) industry.

     

    PFT is the first M&E industry-focused cloud-based provider to receive a SOC 2 certification. The SOC 2 certification process is based on standards set forth by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), which recently updated the Trust Service Principles and Criteria (TSP) used in granting a SOC 2 certification to better align with current security concerns worldwide. To secure a SOC 2 certification, PFT underwent a meticulous audit to measure and report on the design and operating effectiveness of its controls.

     

    In addition, PFT expanded up its ISO 27001 certification, one of the most widely recognized, internationally accepted, independent security standards. This certification applies to all PFT locations and solutions including its hybrid cloud technology, content processes and data centers serving its CLEAR Media ERP Suite and Cloud-enabled Media Services. As one of the first media and entertainment industry-focused cloud technology solutions providers to achieve this certification back in 2014, PFT has focused on continually improving its security credentials, resulting in an expanded certification globally in 2015.

     

    Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP independently conducted PFT’s SOC 2 examination for the period of 1 May, 2014 through 31 January, 2015. The ISO 27001 Certification is issued by the British Standards Institution (BSI), the national standards body of the UK and one of the premier accreditation firms in the world. 

     

    “With more than 1.2 million hours of content under management on cloud, the security and integrity of our systems is incredibly important. Compliance with the SOC 2 standards requires strict internal policies related to our software development, storing and accessing data and security across systems. Our clients know and rely on our security and compliance measures to ensure their content is secure at all times,” said Prime Focus Technologies founder and CEO Ramki Sankaranarayanan.

     

    PFT’s SOC 2 and ISO 27001 accreditations are reassurance of its capabilities in managing  the business of content for global clients spanning broadcast, studios, brands, sports and digital businesses. In addition to these certifications, PFT is also MPAA audited.