Tag: EBIDTA

Q2-17: Zee Media operating profit up

BENGALURU: The Essel Group’s news network Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL) reported more than double (2.47 times) year-over-year (y-o-y) operating profit (Simple EBIDTA) for the quarter ended 30 September 2016 (Q2-17, current quarter) . The company reported EBIDTA of Rs 18 crore (14.3 per cent of Total Income from Operations or TIO) in Q2-17 as compared to Rs 7.28 crore (5.7 per cent of TIO) in the corresponding year ago quarter. The company’s EBIDTA grew 1.6 per cent quarter-over-quarter (q-o-q) from Rs 17.71 crore (13.8 per cent of TIO) in the immediate trailing quarter.

Revenue breakup

ZMCL’s TIO in the current quarter was almost flat y-o-y as well as q-o-q. The company reported 0.7 per cent y-o-y decline in Q2-17 at Rs 126.15 crore as compared to Rs 127.05 crore and a 1.6 per cent q-o-q decline from Rs 128.24 crore.

ZMCL reported an 8.3 per cent y-o-y growth in advertising revenue in Q2-17 at Rs 98.24 crore (77.9 per cent of TIO) as compared to Rs 90.69 crore, but a 4 per cent q-o-q decline from Rs 102.35 crore. Advertising revenue from ZMCL’s existing channels increased 17.7 per cent y-o-y in Q2-17 to Rs 77.63 crore from Rs 65.93 crore but declined 3 per cent q-o-q from Rs 80.01 crore. Advertising revenue from new channels increased 6.3 per cent y-o-y in Q2-17 to Rs 7.08 crore from Rs 6.66 crore, but declined 2.9 per cent q-o-q from Rs 7.29 crore

Since 1 June, 2016, the company’s flagship channel Zee News became free-to-air (FTA). Subscription revenue in the current quarter declined 39.9 per cent y-o-y to Rs 16.37 crore (13 per cent of TIO) from Rs 27.24 crore (21.4 per cent of TIO) and declined 8.4 per cent q-o-q from Rs 17.89 crore (14 per cent of TIO).

Subscription revenues from Existing channels declined 42.3 per cent y-o-y to Rs 14.09 crore from Rs 24.44 crore and declined 9 per cent q-o-q from Rs 15.48 crore.

Other sales and services revenue increased 26.8 per cent q-o-q to Rs 11.55 crore (9.2 per cent of TIO) from Rs 9.11 crore (7.2 per cent of TIO) and increased 44.4 per cent from Rs 8 crore in the immediate trailing quarter. Other revenues for existing channels declined 45.9 per cent y-o-y to Rs 1.77 crore from Rs 3.27 crore, but increased 14.2 per cent from Rs 1.55 crore.

Business Revenue breakup

Revenue from ZMCL’s Television Broadcasting Busin ess (TV Business) was flat y-o-y (increased by 0.3 per cent) at Rs 100.57 crore as compared to Rs 100.30 crore, but declined 3.6 per cent q-o-q from Rs 104.34 crore. The TV Business reported more than sevenfold (7.41 times) y-o-y increase in operating profit at Rs 13.89 crore as compared to Rs1.88 crore, but a 6.1 per cent q-o-q decline from Rs 104.34 crore.

Revenue from ZMCL’s print business was almost flat (increased 0.7 per cent) y-o-y at Rs 30.26 crore vis-à-vis Rs 30.03 crore and increased 4.3 per cent q-o-q from Rs 29 crore. The business reported lower y-o-y operating loss of Rs 5.88 crore as compared to Rs 6.86 crore. ZMCL’s print business had reported a lower operating loss of Rs 3.79 crore in Q1-17.

A look at the other numbers reported by ZMCL

ZMCL reported a lower y-o-y loss of Rs 18.04 crore in the current quarter as compared to a loss of Rs 19.86 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter. The company had reported a profit after tax of Rs 0.09 crore for the immediate trailing quarter. In may be noted that ZMCL has incurred an exceptional loss of Rs 18.88 crore due to sale of land and buildings of a subsidiary in the current quarter.

The company has controlled its total expenditure in Q2-17, which declined 11 per cent y-o-y to Rs 118.22 crore (93.7 per cent of TIO) as compared to Rs 132.79 crore (104.5 per cent of TIO) and was 2.2 per cent lower q-o-q as compared to Rs 120.83 crore.

Cost of Raw materials consumed in the current quarter declined 18 per cent y-o-y to Rs 10.32 crore (8.2 per cent of TIO) as compared to Rs 12.59 crore (9.9 per cent of TIO) but was 2.1 per cent more q-o-q than Rs 10.11 crore (7.9 per cent of TIO).

Employee Benefits Expenses in the current quarter declined 19.8 per cent y-o-y to Rs 30.45 crore (24.1 per cent ofTIO) from Rs 31.92 crore (29.9 per cent of TIO) and was 4.6 per cent lower q-o-q than the Rs 38.60 crore (24.9 per cent of TIO) in the immediate trailing quarter.

ZMCL’s Marketing, Distribution and Business Promotion Expenses (Marketing expenses) in the current quarter declined 45.9 per cent y-o-y to Rs 13.52 crore (10.7 per cent of TIO) from Rs 24.97 crore (19.6 per cent of TIO) and declined 15.8 per cent q-o-q from Rs 16.05 crore (12.5 per cent of TIO).

Operational costs in Q2-17 increased 11.4 per cent y-o-y to Rs 23.55 crore (18.7 per cent of TIO) from Rs 21.14 crore (16.6 per cent of TIO) and increased 26.1 per cent q-o-q from Rs 18.67 crore (14.6 per cent of TIO).

Other expense in Q2-17 increased 31.3 per cent y-o-y to Rs 30.31 crore (24 per cent of TIO) from Rs 23.08 crore (18.2 per cent of TIO) but declined 21.3 per cent q-o-q from Rs 38.51 crore (30 per cent of TIO).

October 28, 2016
Q2-17: Videocon d2h top and bottom lines up

BENGALURU: Last quarter, Videocon d2h was the second listed Indian DTH player to report a profit after tax (PAT), after the Essel group’s Dish TV that turned the numbers black last year. Taking that trend further, Videocon d2h reported PAT of Rs 6.32 crore (0.8 percent margin) for the quarter ended 30 September 2016 (Q2-17, current quarter). For the corresponding year ago quarter (Q2-17), the company had reported a loss of Rs 24.59 crore while for the immediate trailing quarter (Q1-17) the company had reported profit of Rs 2.66 crore (0.3 percent margin).

Videocon d2h reported 12.5 percent y-o-y growth in total revenue from operations for Q2-17 at Rs 776.16 crore as compared to Rs 690.08 crore and a 1.7 percent q-o-q growth from Rs 763.25 crore.

The DTH major also reported 15.5 percent year-over-year (y-o-y) growth in net subscriber numbers at 125.2 lakh for Q2-17 as compared to 108.4 lakh and a 1.9 percent quarter-over-quarter (q-o-q) growth from122.9 lakh. Monthly Average revenue per user (ARPU) in the current quarter increased to Rs 209 from Rs 201 in Q1-16 but declined by Rs 2 from Rs 211 in the immediate trailing quarter.

Subscriber matrices

Subscriber acquisition cost (SAC) in Q2-17 was higher at Rs 1,869 as compared to Rs 1,775 in Q2-16 but was lower than Rs 1,872 in Q1-17.

Subscriber monthly churn in the current quarter was 0.95 percent; in Q1-16 it was slightly higher at 1.19 percent, while in the immediate trailing quarter it was much lower at 0.49 percent.

DAS III and IV are sunshine periods for the television carriage industry. Activation revenues have been adding to the top lines and bottom lines of most of the players. Videocon d2h computed subscription and activation revenue in the current quarter increased 21.9 percent y-o-y to Rs 710.70 crore and increased 2 percent q-o-q from Rs 697 crore.

A look at some of the other metrics reported by Videocon d2h

Adjusted EBIDTA grew 38.3 percent y-o-y to Rs 260.41 crore (33.6 percent margin) from Rs 188.26 crore (27.3 percent margin) and grew 4.3 percent q-o-q from Rs 249.78 crore (32.7 percent margin). Videocon d2h reports that EBIDTA per subscriber has increased to Rs 71 in Q2-17 from Rs 59 in Q2-16 and from Rs 70 in Q1-17.

Content costs margin in Q2-17 has reduced to 38.7 percent as compared to 40.7 percent in the corresponding year ago quarter and was flat as compared to the immediate trailing quarter.

Total expense in Q2-17 increased 5.2 percent y-o-y to Rs 684.29 crore from Rs 650.70 crore and was flat q-o-q as compared to Rs 684.53 crore.

Selling and distribution expense in the current quarter increased 22.4 percent y-o-y to Rs 60.7 crore from Rs 49.6 crore, but declined 5.2 percent q-o-q from Rs 64 crore.

Employee benefit expense in Q2-17 were 4 percent higher at Rs 31.5 crore as compared to Rs 30.3 crore in Q2-16 but were 2.2 percent lower than the Rs 32.2 crore in Q1-17.

Net finance cost in Q2-17 was Rs 71.7 crore; in Q2-16 net finance cost was Rs 80.2 crore and in Q1-17 it was Rs 75.9 crore.

Company speak

Commenting on the results and company outlook, Videocon d2h executive chairman Saurabh Dhoot, said, “I’m pleased to report a terrific quarter with over 37% increase in EBITDA year on year, in spite of the previously announced increase in taxes which impacted ARPU. Our quarterly results performance is consistent with our five point strategy to 1) grow subscriber base, 2) enhance subscriber monetization, 3) focus on localization and premium services, 4) lead the market in technological innovation and 5) enhance operational efficiencies and improve margins. These imperatives are drivingour success at creating sustainable shareholder value.

“We are excited and fully prepared to seize the significant subscriber growth opportunity ahead of us through our leading distribution, customer service and differentiated content offering, supported by a strong balance sheet,’ added Dhoot.

“We achieved positive profit after tax and turned free cash flow positive during the current fiscal year, which we believe is a great achievement,” concluded Dhoot.

Speaking on the results, Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera said, “We are extremely excited with the business growth opportunities ahead of the company. We welcome the regulators’ initiative to review and draft a tariff order that aims to create complete transparency in carriage and content deals and bring in commercial parity amongst distribution platforms.”

Note: The unit of currency in this report is the Indian rupee – Rs (also conventionally represented by INR). The Indian numbering system or the Vedic numbering system has been used to denote money values. The basic conversion to the international norm would be:

(a) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10,000,000 = 10 million = 1 crore.

(b) 10,000 lakh = 100 crore = 1 arab = 1 billion.

October 27, 2016
Q2-17: Videocon d2h top and bottom lines up

BENGALURU: Last quarter, Videocon d2h was the second listed Indian DTH player to report a profit after tax (PAT), after the Essel group’s Dish TV that turned the numbers black last year. Taking that trend further, Videocon d2h reported PAT of Rs 6.32 crore (0.8 percent margin) for the quarter ended 30 September 2016 (Q2-17, current quarter). For the corresponding year ago quarter (Q2-17), the company had reported a loss of Rs 24.59 crore while for the immediate trailing quarter (Q1-17) the company had reported profit of Rs 2.66 crore (0.3 percent margin).

Videocon d2h reported 12.5 percent y-o-y growth in total revenue from operations for Q2-17 at Rs 776.16 crore as compared to Rs 690.08 crore and a 1.7 percent q-o-q growth from Rs 763.25 crore.

The DTH major also reported 15.5 percent year-over-year (y-o-y) growth in net subscriber numbers at 125.2 lakh for Q2-17 as compared to 108.4 lakh and a 1.9 percent quarter-over-quarter (q-o-q) growth from122.9 lakh. Monthly Average revenue per user (ARPU) in the current quarter increased to Rs 209 from Rs 201 in Q1-16 but declined by Rs 2 from Rs 211 in the immediate trailing quarter.

Subscriber matrices

Subscriber acquisition cost (SAC) in Q2-17 was higher at Rs 1,869 as compared to Rs 1,775 in Q2-16 but was lower than Rs 1,872 in Q1-17.

Subscriber monthly churn in the current quarter was 0.95 percent; in Q1-16 it was slightly higher at 1.19 percent, while in the immediate trailing quarter it was much lower at 0.49 percent.

DAS III and IV are sunshine periods for the television carriage industry. Activation revenues have been adding to the top lines and bottom lines of most of the players. Videocon d2h computed subscription and activation revenue in the current quarter increased 21.9 percent y-o-y to Rs 710.70 crore and increased 2 percent q-o-q from Rs 697 crore.

A look at some of the other metrics reported by Videocon d2h

Adjusted EBIDTA grew 38.3 percent y-o-y to Rs 260.41 crore (33.6 percent margin) from Rs 188.26 crore (27.3 percent margin) and grew 4.3 percent q-o-q from Rs 249.78 crore (32.7 percent margin). Videocon d2h reports that EBIDTA per subscriber has increased to Rs 71 in Q2-17 from Rs 59 in Q2-16 and from Rs 70 in Q1-17.

Content costs margin in Q2-17 has reduced to 38.7 percent as compared to 40.7 percent in the corresponding year ago quarter and was flat as compared to the immediate trailing quarter.

Total expense in Q2-17 increased 5.2 percent y-o-y to Rs 684.29 crore from Rs 650.70 crore and was flat q-o-q as compared to Rs 684.53 crore.

Selling and distribution expense in the current quarter increased 22.4 percent y-o-y to Rs 60.7 crore from Rs 49.6 crore, but declined 5.2 percent q-o-q from Rs 64 crore.

Employee benefit expense in Q2-17 were 4 percent higher at Rs 31.5 crore as compared to Rs 30.3 crore in Q2-16 but were 2.2 percent lower than the Rs 32.2 crore in Q1-17.

Net finance cost in Q2-17 was Rs 71.7 crore; in Q2-16 net finance cost was Rs 80.2 crore and in Q1-17 it was Rs 75.9 crore.

Company speak

Commenting on the results and company outlook, Videocon d2h executive chairman Saurabh Dhoot, said, “I’m pleased to report a terrific quarter with over 37% increase in EBITDA year on year, in spite of the previously announced increase in taxes which impacted ARPU. Our quarterly results performance is consistent with our five point strategy to 1) grow subscriber base, 2) enhance subscriber monetization, 3) focus on localization and premium services, 4) lead the market in technological innovation and 5) enhance operational efficiencies and improve margins. These imperatives are drivingour success at creating sustainable shareholder value.

“We are excited and fully prepared to seize the significant subscriber growth opportunity ahead of us through our leading distribution, customer service and differentiated content offering, supported by a strong balance sheet,’ added Dhoot.

“We achieved positive profit after tax and turned free cash flow positive during the current fiscal year, which we believe is a great achievement,” concluded Dhoot.

Speaking on the results, Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera said, “We are extremely excited with the business growth opportunities ahead of the company. We welcome the regulators’ initiative to review and draft a tariff order that aims to create complete transparency in carriage and content deals and bring in commercial parity amongst distribution platforms.”

Note: The unit of currency in this report is the Indian rupee – Rs (also conventionally represented by INR). The Indian numbering system or the Vedic numbering system has been used to denote money values. The basic conversion to the international norm would be:

(a) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10,000,000 = 10 million = 1 crore.

(b) 10,000 lakh = 100 crore = 1 arab = 1 billion.

October 27, 2016
Q2-17: Zee Learn declares maiden interim dividend

BENGALURU: The board of directors of the Essel group’s education company Zee Learn Limited (ZLL) have declared a first time ever dividend of 5 percent per equity share of Re 1 each for the quarter ended 30 September 2016 (Q2-17, current quarter). The dividend of just 5 paise (Rs 0.05) albeit small, could be precursor of better returns, given the fact that the company’s profit after tax (PAT) for the current quarter is more than seven-fold (7.05 times) year-over-year (y-o-y), with operating EBIDTA margins almost doubling y-o-y from 18.2 percent in Q2-16 to 34.9 percent in Q2-17.

ZLL CEO Debshankar Mukhopadyay said, “We are pleased to announce an interim dividend for the first time at Zee Learn Limited. This shows our commitment to the shareholders who beleived in us and continued to invest in the comoany. Q2 and H1-17 are remarkable for us and our strategy to focus on our strenghts has resulted in delivering profits which are multiple times more than profits delivered during the last financial year.”

ZLL reported PAT of Rs 7.59 crore (22.6 percent margin) for the current quarter versus PAT of Rs 1.08 crore (3.5 percent margin) in Q2-16. PAT in the immediate training quarter (Q1-17) was Rs 8.02 crore (19.1 percent margin). Operating EBIDTA in Q2-17 more than doubled (up 2.1 times) y-o-y to Rs 11.70 crore from Rs 5.57 crore, but was 9.8 percent lower q-o-q than Rs 12.97 crore (30.8 percent margin).

Other numbers

ZLL’s Total Income from Operations (TIO) in the current quarter increased 9.7 percent y-o-y to Rs 33.56 crore from Rs 30.60 crore in the correspondin year ago quarter, but declined 20.2 percent q-o-q from Rs 42.06 crore in Q1-17.

The company spent 14.5 percent less y-o-y towards purchase of Education goods and Television content in Q2-17 at Rs 4.91 crore (14.6 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 5.74 crore (18.8 percent of TIO) and 45.1 percent lower q-o-q than the Rs 8.93 crore (21.2 percent of TIO).

Employees Benefit Expense in the current quarter declined 18.2 percent y-o-y to Rs 5.94 crore (17.7 percent of TIO) from Rs 7.25 crore (23.7 percent of TIO) and declined 14.5 percent q-o-q from Rs 6.94 crore (16.5 percent of TIO).

Selling and marketing expense in Q2-17 increased 18.2 percent y-o-y to Rs 3.98 crore (11.9 percent of TIO) from Rs 3.37 crore (11 percent of TIO), but declined 33 percent q-o-q from Rs 5.95 crore (14.1 percent of TIO).

Mukhopadyay added, “ZLL through its varied forays including Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), K-12 Education, Youth and Vocational Education is playing a strong and transformational role in India’s education system. I am confident that ZLL will continue to grow its business and is commited to create long-term value for its franchisees, parents and students, shareholders, employees and all stakeholders.”

Note:The unit of currency in this report is the Indian rupee – Rs (also conventionally represented by INR).The Indian numbering system or the Vedic numbering system has been used to denote money values. The basic conversion to the international norm would be:

(a) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10,000,000 = 10 million = 1 crore.

(b) 10,000 lakh = 100 crore = 1 arab = 1 billion.

October 21, 2016
Q2-17: Zee Learn declares maiden interim dividend

BENGALURU: The board of directors of the Essel group’s education company Zee Learn Limited (ZLL) have declared a first time ever dividend of 5 percent per equity share of Re 1 each for the quarter ended 30 September 2016 (Q2-17, current quarter). The dividend of just 5 paise (Rs 0.05) albeit small, could be precursor of better returns, given the fact that the company’s profit after tax (PAT) for the current quarter is more than seven-fold (7.05 times) year-over-year (y-o-y), with operating EBIDTA margins almost doubling y-o-y from 18.2 percent in Q2-16 to 34.9 percent in Q2-17.

ZLL CEO Debshankar Mukhopadyay said, “We are pleased to announce an interim dividend for the first time at Zee Learn Limited. This shows our commitment to the shareholders who beleived in us and continued to invest in the comoany. Q2 and H1-17 are remarkable for us and our strategy to focus on our strenghts has resulted in delivering profits which are multiple times more than profits delivered during the last financial year.”

ZLL reported PAT of Rs 7.59 crore (22.6 percent margin) for the current quarter versus PAT of Rs 1.08 crore (3.5 percent margin) in Q2-16. PAT in the immediate training quarter (Q1-17) was Rs 8.02 crore (19.1 percent margin). Operating EBIDTA in Q2-17 more than doubled (up 2.1 times) y-o-y to Rs 11.70 crore from Rs 5.57 crore, but was 9.8 percent lower q-o-q than Rs 12.97 crore (30.8 percent margin).

Other numbers

ZLL’s Total Income from Operations (TIO) in the current quarter increased 9.7 percent y-o-y to Rs 33.56 crore from Rs 30.60 crore in the correspondin year ago quarter, but declined 20.2 percent q-o-q from Rs 42.06 crore in Q1-17.

The company spent 14.5 percent less y-o-y towards purchase of Education goods and Television content in Q2-17 at Rs 4.91 crore (14.6 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 5.74 crore (18.8 percent of TIO) and 45.1 percent lower q-o-q than the Rs 8.93 crore (21.2 percent of TIO).

Employees Benefit Expense in the current quarter declined 18.2 percent y-o-y to Rs 5.94 crore (17.7 percent of TIO) from Rs 7.25 crore (23.7 percent of TIO) and declined 14.5 percent q-o-q from Rs 6.94 crore (16.5 percent of TIO).

Selling and marketing expense in Q2-17 increased 18.2 percent y-o-y to Rs 3.98 crore (11.9 percent of TIO) from Rs 3.37 crore (11 percent of TIO), but declined 33 percent q-o-q from Rs 5.95 crore (14.1 percent of TIO).

Mukhopadyay added, “ZLL through its varied forays including Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), K-12 Education, Youth and Vocational Education is playing a strong and transformational role in India’s education system. I am confident that ZLL will continue to grow its business and is commited to create long-term value for its franchisees, parents and students, shareholders, employees and all stakeholders.”

Note:The unit of currency in this report is the Indian rupee – Rs (also conventionally represented by INR).The Indian numbering system or the Vedic numbering system has been used to denote money values. The basic conversion to the international norm would be:

(a) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10,000,000 = 10 million = 1 crore.

(b) 10,000 lakh = 100 crore = 1 arab = 1 billion.

October 21, 2016
Q2-17: DB Corp revenue up, radio operating profit doubles

BENGALURU: DB Corp Limited (DB Corp), home to flagship newspapers Dainik Bhaskar, Divya Bhaskar, Dainik Divya Marathi and Saurashtra Samachar reported 10.5 percent higher consolidated revenue for the quarter ended 30 September 2016 (Q2-17, current quarter) as compared to the corresponding year ago quarter. The media house’s total income from operations (TIO or revenue) in Q2-17 was Rs 528.74 crore as compared to Rs 478.36 crore.

DB Corp’s consolidated profit after tax (PAT) increased 55.9 percent year-over-year (y-o-y) to Rs 88.52 crore as compared to Rs 56.77 crore. However, quarter-over-quarter (q-o-q) it’s PAT declined 14.9 percent from Rs 103.96 crore in Q1-17.

EBIDTA (excluding other income) for the current quarter increased 38.6 percent y-o-y to Rs150.55 crore as compared to Rs 108.66 crore, but declined 16.9 percent q-o-q from Rs 181.06 crore.

Four segments contribute to DB Corp’s numbers – Printing and publishing of newspaper and periodicals (Printing) segment; Radio segment; Event segment, Internet segment; and Power segment. Its Printing and Radio segments are major contributors to the company’s top and bottomlines and have been considered here.

Radio Segment

DB Corp’s radio segment has an FM radio network under the brand My FM for which the company reported more than double y-o-y (2.15 times) operating profit for Q2-17 at Rs 12.97 crore as compared to Rs 6.04 percent. Q-o-q also, DB Corp’s radio segment’s operating profit was 69.1 percent higher (Rs 7.67 crore in Q1-17). My FM operating revenue for Q2-17 was 24.6 percent higher y-o-y at Rs 29.86 crore as compared to Rs 23.96 crore and 6.4 percent higher q-o-q as compared to Rs 28.06 crore.

Printing and publishing of newspaper and periodicals (Printing) segment

DB Corp’s Printing segment reported revenue of Rs 483.4 crore in the current quarter as compared to the Rs 443.24 crore in Q2-16. However, q-o-q, the Printing segment’s revenue declined 8.2 percent from Rs 526.55 crore. The segment’s operating profit in the current quarter increased 37.8 percent y-o-y to Rs 129 crore as compared to Rs 93.64 crore but declined 19.7 percent q-o-q from Rs 160.73 crore.

Other numbers

DB Corp’s consolidated Total Expenditure for Q2-17 increased 2.4 percent y-o-y to Rs 399.75 crore as compared to Rs 390.56 crore but declined 2.4 percent q-o-q from Rs 410.33 crore. Consolidated Cost of raw materials consumed in Q2-17 increased 9.1 percent y-o-y to Rs 163.34 crore from Rs 149.69 crore and increased 1.8 percent q-o-q from Rs 160.46 crore. Consolidated Employee Benefits Expense in the current quarter increased 11.5 percent y-o-y to Rs 107.41 crore as compared to Rs 96.3 crore in Q2-16 and increased 0.6 percent q-o-q from Rs 106.77 crore. Consolidated Total comprehensive income in Q2-17 increased 53.5 percent y-o-y to Rs 85.21 crore from Rs 55,51 crore, but declined 17.9 percent q-o-q from Rs 103.8 crore.

Note: The unit of currency in this report is the Indian rupee – Rs (also conventionally represented by INR). The Indian numbering system or the Vedic numbering system has been used to denote money values. The basic conversion to the international norm would be:
(a) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10,000,000 = 10 million = 1 crore.
(b) 10,000 lakh = 100 crore = 1 arab = 1 billion.

October 20, 2016
Q2-17: DB Corp revenue up, radio operating profit doubles

BENGALURU: DB Corp Limited (DB Corp), home to flagship newspapers Dainik Bhaskar, Divya Bhaskar, Dainik Divya Marathi and Saurashtra Samachar reported 10.5 percent higher consolidated revenue for the quarter ended 30 September 2016 (Q2-17, current quarter) as compared to the corresponding year ago quarter. The media house’s total income from operations (TIO or revenue) in Q2-17 was Rs 528.74 crore as compared to Rs 478.36 crore.

DB Corp’s consolidated profit after tax (PAT) increased 55.9 percent year-over-year (y-o-y) to Rs 88.52 crore as compared to Rs 56.77 crore. However, quarter-over-quarter (q-o-q) it’s PAT declined 14.9 percent from Rs 103.96 crore in Q1-17.

EBIDTA (excluding other income) for the current quarter increased 38.6 percent y-o-y to Rs150.55 crore as compared to Rs 108.66 crore, but declined 16.9 percent q-o-q from Rs 181.06 crore.

Four segments contribute to DB Corp’s numbers – Printing and publishing of newspaper and periodicals (Printing) segment; Radio segment; Event segment, Internet segment; and Power segment. Its Printing and Radio segments are major contributors to the company’s top and bottomlines and have been considered here.

Radio Segment

DB Corp’s radio segment has an FM radio network under the brand My FM for which the company reported more than double y-o-y (2.15 times) operating profit for Q2-17 at Rs 12.97 crore as compared to Rs 6.04 percent. Q-o-q also, DB Corp’s radio segment’s operating profit was 69.1 percent higher (Rs 7.67 crore in Q1-17). My FM operating revenue for Q2-17 was 24.6 percent higher y-o-y at Rs 29.86 crore as compared to Rs 23.96 crore and 6.4 percent higher q-o-q as compared to Rs 28.06 crore.

Printing and publishing of newspaper and periodicals (Printing) segment

DB Corp’s Printing segment reported revenue of Rs 483.4 crore in the current quarter as compared to the Rs 443.24 crore in Q2-16. However, q-o-q, the Printing segment’s revenue declined 8.2 percent from Rs 526.55 crore. The segment’s operating profit in the current quarter increased 37.8 percent y-o-y to Rs 129 crore as compared to Rs 93.64 crore but declined 19.7 percent q-o-q from Rs 160.73 crore.

Other numbers

DB Corp’s consolidated Total Expenditure for Q2-17 increased 2.4 percent y-o-y to Rs 399.75 crore as compared to Rs 390.56 crore but declined 2.4 percent q-o-q from Rs 410.33 crore. Consolidated Cost of raw materials consumed in Q2-17 increased 9.1 percent y-o-y to Rs 163.34 crore from Rs 149.69 crore and increased 1.8 percent q-o-q from Rs 160.46 crore. Consolidated Employee Benefits Expense in the current quarter increased 11.5 percent y-o-y to Rs 107.41 crore as compared to Rs 96.3 crore in Q2-16 and increased 0.6 percent q-o-q from Rs 106.77 crore. Consolidated Total comprehensive income in Q2-17 increased 53.5 percent y-o-y to Rs 85.21 crore from Rs 55,51 crore, but declined 17.9 percent q-o-q from Rs 103.8 crore.

Note: The unit of currency in this report is the Indian rupee – Rs (also conventionally represented by INR). The Indian numbering system or the Vedic numbering system has been used to denote money values. The basic conversion to the international norm would be:
(a) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10,000,000 = 10 million = 1 crore.
(b) 10,000 lakh = 100 crore = 1 arab = 1 billion.

October 20, 2016
Den Networks consolidated cable, broadband numbers up in Q1-17

BENGALURU: Indian multi system operator (MSO) Den Networks Ltd (Den) Cable business segment consolidated total revenue post activation increased 9 percent in in the quarter ended 30 June 2016 (Q1-17, current quarter) to Rs 251 crore from Rs 230 crore in Q1-16. Pre-activation revenue in the current quarter increased 3 percent to Rs 215 crore from Rs 209 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter.

Two segments contribute to Den’s revenue: Cable distribution network segment (Cable, Cable business) and Broadband segment (Boomband).

Den’s Broadband segment revenue more than tripled (3.55 times) in Q1-17 to Rs 18 crore from Rs 5 crore in Q1-16.

Cable segment

Cable subscription revenue increased 13.3 percent y-o-y to Rs 111 crore in Q1-17 from Rs 98 crore in Q1-16. Cable activation revenue increased 69 percent y-o-y to Rs 36 crore from Rs 21 crore. Placement revenue declined 15 percent y-o-y to Rs 87 crore from Rs 102 crore.

Cable segment reported EBIDTA of Rs 53 crore in Q1-17 as against and EBIDTA of Rs 14 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Please refer to the figure below for Den’s revenue break-up for Q1-7 and Q1-16.

The company reported 98 lakh DAS subscribers for Q1-17, as compared to 72 lakh in the corresponding year ago quarter and 94 lakh in the immediate trailing quarter (Q4-16). Den has a cable subscriber base of 1.3 crore.

Broadband segment

Den reported 329 percent growth in broadband customers in Q1-17 as compared to the corresponding year ago quarter Q1-16. Den reported 1,15,000 broadband customers in the current quarter as compared to 35,000 in Q1-16.

In Q4-16 Den had a broadband subscriber base of about 95,000, hence quarter-over-quarter (q-o-q) broadband subscriber base growth in Q1-17 was 21 percent. Q-o-q broadband revenue increased 20 percent in the current quarter from Rs 15 crore in Q4-16.

Broadband segment’s operating loss (EBIDTA) in Q1-17 was lower at Rs 9 crore as compared to an operating loss of Rs 18 crore in Q1-16.

Consolidated numbers

Den’s consolidated revenue increased 14 percent year-over-year (y-o-y) in the current quarter to Rs 269 crore from Rs 236 crore in Q1-16.

Consolidated loss before tax in Q1-17 was lower at Rs 35 crore as compared to a loss of Rs 48 crore in Q1-16. Net loss in Q1-17 was slightly higher at Rs 52 crore as compared to a net loss of Rs 50 crore in Q1-16.

The company reported positive post activation consolidated EBIDTA of Rs 44 crore for the current quarter as against a negative (operating loss) of Rs 4 crore in Q1-16.

Den’s consolidated total expenditure in the current quarter declined 6.3 percent to Rs 225 crore from Rs 240 crore in Q1-16.

Content costs are a major component of Den’s expenditure – Content costs in the current quarter declined 7.4 percent in the current quarter to Rs 112 crore from Rs 121 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter.

Employee (Personnel) costs declined 19.4 percent in the current quarter to Rs 25 crore from Rs 31 crore in Q1-16. Other operating expenses in Q1-17 increased 2.5 percent to Rs 81 crore from Rs 79 crore.

Goldman Sachs to pick up 1.58 crore Den equity shares

As reported, the company’s existing shareholder Goldman Sachs is picking up 1.58 crore equity shares at a price of Rs 90 per share via a preferential allotment. This will take Goldman Sachs’ equity stake in DEN up from 17.79 per cent to 24.49 per cent and involve an injection of much needed capital to the tune of Rs 142.43 crore.

Note: (1) All numbers mentioned are consolidated unless stated otherwise.

(1.1) The figures mentioned above have been rounded off and based on the numbers presented by Den in the public domain.

(2) The numbers in this paper are as per Indian Accounting System. (Ind AS)

(3) The unit of currency in this report is the Indian rupee – Rs (also conventionally

represented by INR). The Indian numbering system or the Vedic numbering system has been used to denote money values. The basic conversion to the international norm would be:

(a) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10,000,000 = 10 million = 1 crore.

(b) 10,000 lakh = 100 crore = 1 arab = 1 billion.

September 21, 2016
Den Networks consolidated cable, broadband numbers up in Q1-17

BENGALURU: Indian multi system operator (MSO) Den Networks Ltd (Den) Cable business segment consolidated total revenue post activation increased 9 percent in in the quarter ended 30 June 2016 (Q1-17, current quarter) to Rs 251 crore from Rs 230 crore in Q1-16. Pre-activation revenue in the current quarter increased 3 percent to Rs 215 crore from Rs 209 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter.

Two segments contribute to Den’s revenue: Cable distribution network segment (Cable, Cable business) and Broadband segment (Boomband).

Den’s Broadband segment revenue more than tripled (3.55 times) in Q1-17 to Rs 18 crore from Rs 5 crore in Q1-16.

Cable segment

Cable subscription revenue increased 13.3 percent y-o-y to Rs 111 crore in Q1-17 from Rs 98 crore in Q1-16. Cable activation revenue increased 69 percent y-o-y to Rs 36 crore from Rs 21 crore. Placement revenue declined 15 percent y-o-y to Rs 87 crore from Rs 102 crore.

Cable segment reported EBIDTA of Rs 53 crore in Q1-17 as against and EBIDTA of Rs 14 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Please refer to the figure below for Den’s revenue break-up for Q1-7 and Q1-16.

The company reported 98 lakh DAS subscribers for Q1-17, as compared to 72 lakh in the corresponding year ago quarter and 94 lakh in the immediate trailing quarter (Q4-16). Den has a cable subscriber base of 1.3 crore.

Broadband segment

Den reported 329 percent growth in broadband customers in Q1-17 as compared to the corresponding year ago quarter Q1-16. Den reported 1,15,000 broadband customers in the current quarter as compared to 35,000 in Q1-16.

In Q4-16 Den had a broadband subscriber base of about 95,000, hence quarter-over-quarter (q-o-q) broadband subscriber base growth in Q1-17 was 21 percent. Q-o-q broadband revenue increased 20 percent in the current quarter from Rs 15 crore in Q4-16.

Broadband segment’s operating loss (EBIDTA) in Q1-17 was lower at Rs 9 crore as compared to an operating loss of Rs 18 crore in Q1-16.

Consolidated numbers

Den’s consolidated revenue increased 14 percent year-over-year (y-o-y) in the current quarter to Rs 269 crore from Rs 236 crore in Q1-16.

Consolidated loss before tax in Q1-17 was lower at Rs 35 crore as compared to a loss of Rs 48 crore in Q1-16. Net loss in Q1-17 was slightly higher at Rs 52 crore as compared to a net loss of Rs 50 crore in Q1-16.

The company reported positive post activation consolidated EBIDTA of Rs 44 crore for the current quarter as against a negative (operating loss) of Rs 4 crore in Q1-16.

Den’s consolidated total expenditure in the current quarter declined 6.3 percent to Rs 225 crore from Rs 240 crore in Q1-16.

Content costs are a major component of Den’s expenditure – Content costs in the current quarter declined 7.4 percent in the current quarter to Rs 112 crore from Rs 121 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter.

Employee (Personnel) costs declined 19.4 percent in the current quarter to Rs 25 crore from Rs 31 crore in Q1-16. Other operating expenses in Q1-17 increased 2.5 percent to Rs 81 crore from Rs 79 crore.

Goldman Sachs to pick up 1.58 crore Den equity shares

As reported, the company’s existing shareholder Goldman Sachs is picking up 1.58 crore equity shares at a price of Rs 90 per share via a preferential allotment. This will take Goldman Sachs’ equity stake in DEN up from 17.79 per cent to 24.49 per cent and involve an injection of much needed capital to the tune of Rs 142.43 crore.

Note: (1) All numbers mentioned are consolidated unless stated otherwise.

(1.1) The figures mentioned above have been rounded off and based on the numbers presented by Den in the public domain.

(2) The numbers in this paper are as per Indian Accounting System. (Ind AS)

(3) The unit of currency in this report is the Indian rupee – Rs (also conventionally

represented by INR). The Indian numbering system or the Vedic numbering system has been used to denote money values. The basic conversion to the international norm would be:

(a) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10,000,000 = 10 million = 1 crore.

(b) 10,000 lakh = 100 crore = 1 arab = 1 billion.

September 21, 2016
Reliance ADA group to hive off DTH operations

MUMBAI: The Anil Ambani-owned DTH service Reliance Digital TV which claims to have a five million net subscriber base and an estimated two million active connections is likely to be hived off in to a separate company. For the past three or four years, Reliance Communications, the parent company has been seeking a buyer for the venture. It had spoken to Sun TV in the past but the valuations and expectations did not match what the former was willing to pay for Reliance Digital TV. Unconfirmed reports say that the company had inconclusive conversations with other potential partners too. Hence, it has decided to go for a spin off of its DTH service business which has been relatively stagnant.

Reliance Communications, the parent company of Reliance Digital, is being driven to do this to pare its debt-EBIDTA ratio. Speaking to investors yesterday RCOM CEO (consumer business) Gurdeep Singh said that the idea was to bring that number from 4.64 currently to about three in 18-24 months. Other assets that could be seeking buyers include equity stakes in its international operations at Reliance Globalcom, and in its tower unit Reliance Infratel.

“We are looking to bring down our debt-to-EBIDTA ratio to around 3 within 18-24 months and are looking at monetizing our non-core assets to deleverage the balance sheet,” Reliance Communications (RCom) CEO (Consumer Business) Gurdeep Singh informed PTI. He added: “For this, we are looking at hiving off the DTH business, stake sale in our international operations at Reliance Globalcom, monetization of our real estate assets, as well as a possible divestment in Reliance Infratel, which handles our towers portfolio.”

The group earlier this week announced the merger of its wireless business with another telco Aircel. It is also looking to raise $1 billion (approximately Rs 6,686.5 crore) in equity to expand the venture and make possible payments to the government for mobile spectrum use.

September 17, 2016