ITV

Tag: Ebitda

  • Election ads, growth in subscriber revenue propel TV18 growth in Q1 FY20

    Election ads, growth in subscriber revenue propel TV18 growth in Q1 FY20

    MUMBAI: Election advertising and a strong growth in subscription revenue post the implementation of the new tariff order (NTO) has propelled the revenue growth of TV18 in Q1 FY20. The company has witnessed around 10 per cent Y-o-Y revenue growth in the first quarter of FY20.

    TV18 Chairman Adil Zainulbhai said, “Our channel brands have witnessed a strong uptake in the new tariff regime which places the consumer even more at the center of the broadcasting business model. Class-leading value, genre-defining content and a pipe-agnostic approach are the tenets which we believe will continue to propel our portfolio forward.”

    TV18’s Q1 viewership share in news was 10.1 per cent, up from 9.3 per cent post NTO implementation. The company’s subscription income has received a boost with NTO implementation as well. It is still facing some flux in distribution and viewership, which the company expects to taper away in the near term. General news revenues were buoyed by election-related advertising, especially in Hindi but business news revenue growth has continued to face genre pressures due to weak markets.

    The ad-environment has been tepid, led by advertisers paring spends amidst weak markets/macro/regulatory flux, and concentration of advertising around sports. However, news broadcasting benefitted from election-related advertising during the quarter. TV18 expects the environment to pivot as it heads into the festive season.

    The company has seen a sharp turnaround in EBITDA. From an EBITDA loss last year, Q1FY20 has seen a major leap in profitability. This has been driven by election-advertising as well as continued reduction in regional news gestation losses, on operating leverage as well as cost controls.

    TV18’s entertainment Q1 viewership share declined due to major events driving sports viewership but the entertainment revenue rose 5 per cent amidst weakness in overall ad-spends and a sharp reduction in ad-revenue of channels shifted from FTA to Pay.

    In the same quarter, the company launched Colors Gujarati Cinema. It also informed that its regional entertainment channels in Marathi, Gujarati and Kannada movies gained strength in Q1 FY20.

  • Cable TV subscription drives Hathway revenue growth in Q1 FY 2020

    Cable TV subscription drives Hathway revenue growth in Q1 FY 2020

    BENAGLURU: Hathway Cable and Datacom Ltd (Hathway) reported 38 percent growth in subscription revenue from its cable TV business (CATV) for the quarter ended 30 June 2019 (Q1 2020, quarter or period under review) as compared to the corresponding year ago quarter (y-o-y) Q1 2019. CATV subscription revenue for Q1 2020 grew 28 percent as compared to the immediate trailing quarter Q4 2019 (q-o-q). CATV subscription revenues for the period under review, the corresponding year ago quarter and the immediate trailing quarter were Rs 216.7 crore, Rs 157.4 crore and Rs 169.9 crore respectively.

    Placement revenue in Q1 2020 grew 5 percent y-o-y to Rs 78.7 crore from 75.2 crore and grew 35 percent q-o-q from Rs 58.2 crore. Activation revenue declined 13 percent y-o-y to Rs 15.3 crore from Rs 17.6 crore and declined 3 percent q-o-q from Rs 15.7 crore. The split of placement and activation revenues for iCATV and Broadband business has not  been mentioned.

    Overall, CATV business revenue in Q1 2020 grew 24 percent y-o-y to Rs 315.97 crore from Rs 254.91 crore and grew 27.1 percent q-o-q from Rs 248.51 crore. The company reported an operating profit (segment result) of Rs 2.82 crore from CATV business for Q1 2020 as compared to an operating loss of Rs 31.16 crore in Q1 2019 and an operating loss of Rs 333.89 crore for Q4 2019. The high losses for Q4 2019 were due to exceptional items to the extent of Rs 410.74 that included impairment of trade receivables, advances and exposure to certain entities including joint ventures, write down to property plants and equipment and expenses relating to equity infusion. The exceptional items for Q4 2019 were a one time expense and had non-routine material impact on financial statements says the company. Q1 2020 is the first full quarter after the implementation of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) New Tariff Order.

    Comparatively, the broadband business revenue of the country’s now fourth largest wired broadband internet services provider grew 3.1 percent y-o-y and 1 percent q-o-q. Hathway reported Rs 133.81 crore, Rs 129.8 crore and Rs 132.43 crore as broadband revenue for Q1 2020, Q1 2019 and Q4 2019 respectively. Hathway reported less than half the operating profit (segment result) from its Broadband business at Rs 9.14 crore for Q1 2020 as compared to an operating profit of Rs 19.89 crore for Q1 2019. The company had reported an operating loss of Rs 18.11 crore for the immediate trailing quarter from its broadband business.

    The company says that it has deployed 60 lakh (6 million, 0.06 crore) set top boxes and claims 8.4 lakh (0.84 million, 0.084 crore) broadband internet subscriber base at the end of the quarter under review in an investor presentation. Comparative broadband subscribers for Q1 2019 and Q4 2019 were 7.7 lakh (0.77 million, 0.077 crore) and 8.1 lakh (0.81 million, 0.081 crore) respectively. While data consumption per user has gone up, broadband ARPU has declined in Q1 2020 to Rs 650 in Q1 2020 from Rs 690 in Q1 2019 and from Rs 662 in Q4 2019. It says further that FTTH markets will be leading growth in customer acquisition and that its focus will be on doubling net additions momentum Q2 2020 onward.

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by the company

    All numbers in this report are consolidated unless stated otherwise.

    Hathway’s total operating revenue for Q1 2020 grew 16.9 percent y-o-y to Rs 449.78 crore from Rs 384.71 crore and grew 18 percent q-o-q from Rs 381.04 crore. Total income or revenue for Q1 2020 grew 29.2 percent y-o-y to Rs 506.68 crore from Rs 392.18 crore and grew 20 percent q-o-q from Rs 422.10 crore. The company reported a loss of Rs 9.38 crore for Q1 2020 as compared to a loss of Rs 51.72 crore for Q1 2019 and profit after taxes (PAT) of Rs 6.61 crore in Q4 2019.

    The company reported EBITDA growth of 15 percent y-o-y in its investor presentation for Q1 2020 to Rs 104.38 crore (23.2 percent margin) from Rs 90.5 crore (23.5 percent margin) and growth of 37 percent q-o-q from Rs 76.1 crore (20 percent margin). Simple EBITDA calculated from the company’s numbers reported to the bourses was Rs 93.14 crore (20.7 percent margin) for Q1 2020 which was 30.6 percent higher y-o-y than Rs 71.32 crore (18.5 percent margin) reported for Q1 2019 and was 11.2 percent more than the Rs 83.73 crore (22 percent margin) for Q4 2019.

    Total expenditure in Q1 2020 grew 16.1 percent y-o-y  to Rs 519.61 crore from Rs 447.52 crore and grew 19.2 percent from Rs 435.97 crore.

    Pay channel cost during the period under review declined 15.5 percent y-o-y to Rs 130.06 crore from Rs 153.88 crore and declined 1 percent q-o-q from Rs 131.41 crore. Employee cost in Q1 2020 grew 15.6 percent y-o-y to Rs 23.63 crore from Rs 20.45 crore and grew 6.3 percent q-o-q from Rs 22.22 crore. Operational cost in Q1 2020 grew 29.6 percent y-o-y to Rs 77.13 crore from Rs 59.51 crore and grew 16.5 percent q-o-q from Rs 66.23 crore. Finance cost grew 58.7 percent y-o-y to Rs 81.79 crore from Rs 51.53 crore and grew 47.7 percent q-o-q from Rs 83.28 crore. Other expenses in Q1 2020 grew 58.2 percent y-o-y to Rs 125.82 crore from Rs 79.55 crore and grew 62.5 percent q-o-q from Rs 77.45 crore.

  • Q3 2019: BAG Films Television and Radio Dhaamal profits up

    Q3 2019: BAG Films Television and Radio Dhaamal profits up

    BENGALURU: The Anurradha Prasad-led BAG Films and Media Ltd (BAG Films) reported 38.1 per cent higher year-on-year (y-o-y) consolidated revenue for the quarter ended 31 December 2018 (Q3- 019, period or quarter, under review) at Rs 48.67 crore as compared to Rs 33.94 crore in the corresponding prior year quarter.

    BAG Films radio segment, Radio Dhamaal, which operates 10 FM radio stations in the country, reported 17.2 per cent y-o-y increase in operating revenue at Rs 3.06 crore for Q3 2019 as compared to Rs 2.61 crore for Q3 2018.

    The radio segment’s operating profit in Q3 2019 was more than double (up 131.7 per cent) y-o-y at Rs 1.64 crore as compared to Rs 0.71 crore in Q3 2018.

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

    (2) All numbers are consolidated numbers unless stated otherwise.

    BAG Films reported more than eightfold increase (up 743.9 percent) in consolidated Profit after Tax (PAT) and Total Comprehensive Income (TCI) for the quarter under review at Rs 9.3 crore as compared to a loss of Rs 1.11 crore in Q3-2018.

    EBITDA in the period under review at Rs 15.75 crore (33.6 per cent margin of operating revenue) increased 85.4 percent y-o-y as compared to Rs 8.49 crore (25 per cent margin of operating revenue) in the corresponding prior year quarter.

    Segment Numbers

    The company has mentioned 4 segments in its financial results. They are Audio-Visual Production (AVP); Leasing; FM Radio; and Television Broadcasting. FM Radio numbers have already been mentioned above.

    Television Broadcasting segment (TV segment)

    BAG Films major segment, Television Broadcasting (TV segment) reported almost flat revenues (0.6 percent y-o-y growth) for Q3 2019 at Rs 29.48 crore as compared to Rs 29.30 crore in Q3 2018.

    The TV segment reported 22.4 per cent y-o-y growth in operating profit at Rs 16.62 crore as compared to Rs 13.58 crore in Q3 2018.

    Audio Visual Production segment (AVP segment)

    AVP segment reported more than double (2.39 times) revenue in Q3-2019 at Rs 4.16 crore as compared to Rs 1.74 crore in Q3-2018. The segment reported an operating profit in Q3-2019 of Rs 2.35 crore as compared to a loss of Rs 0.20 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

    Leasing segment (The numbers for this segment are mentioned in lakh – 100 lakh = 1 crore)

    BAG Films leasing segment reported revenue of just Rs 16.30 lakh in the quarter as compared to Rs 29.01 lakh in Q3-2019.The segment reported an operating loss of Rs 74.70 lakh as compared to an operating loss of Rs 102.84 lakh in Q3-2018.

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by B. A. G.  Films

    BAG Films total expenditure in the current quarter at Rs 38.26 crore (81.6 per cent of operating revenue) was 14.9 per cent higher y-o-y than Rs 33.29 crore (98.1 percent of operating revenue) in Q3 2018.

    Employee Cost in Q3-2019 at Rs 6 crore (12.8 per cent of operating revenue) was 10 per cent lower  y-o-y than Rs 6.67 crore (19.7 percent of operating revenue) in the corresponding year ago quarter.

    Other expenses in Q3 2019 increased 25.4 percent y-o-y to Rs 24.49 crore from Rs 19.53 crore in Q3 2018. Finance costs in Q3 2019 increased 5.4 percent y-o-y to Rs 3.97 crore from Rs 3.76 crore in the corresponding prior year quarter.

  • Balaji Telefilms TV, film biz report stellar growth; ALTBalaji subscriber base at 13.1 mn

    Balaji Telefilms TV, film biz report stellar growth; ALTBalaji subscriber base at 13.1 mn

    BENGALURU: India’s premier television and digital content creation house Balaji Telefilms Ltd reported stellar performance from its television and film making business (TV business, or standalone) for the quarter ended 31 December 2018 (Q3 2019, quarter, period, under review).

    The company has three segments – commissioned programs, films and digital.

    Balaji’s TV business commissioned programmes – (number of hours of content creation) grew 11 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) during the quarter under review to 199 hours as compared to 179 hours in the corresponding year ago quarter. Net realisation per hour of commissioned programmes went up to Rs 0.4 crore or by about 21 percent y-o-y in Q3 2019 as compared to Rs 0.33 per hour in Q3 2018.  However gross margin and gross margin percentage have both gone down in Q3 2019 to Rs 0.11 crore and 27.3 percent respectively as compared to Rs 0.13 crore and 37.9 percent respectively in the year ago quarter.

    Overall, Balaji Telefilms TV business (or standalone) operating revenue increased 87.4 percent in the period under review to Rs 111.3 crore as compared to Rs 59.4 crore in Q3 2018. TV business profit after tax grew 29 percent y-o-y to Rs 12 crore from Rs 9.3 crore.

    Balaji reported Rs 7.93 crore for Q3 2019 for its film segment as compared to Rs 1.85 crore for Q3 2018. The segment had an operating profit of Rs 1.42 crore during the period under review as compared to operating profit of Rs 0.73 crore in Q3 2018.

    However, on a consolidated basis, it is Balaji Telefilms digital segment, its OTT platform ALTBalaji that more than wiped off the profits generated by the other segments. ALTBalaji incurred a loss of Rs 36.4 crore on operating revenue of Rs 8 crore during the quarter under review. Comparatively, in the third quarter of the previous fiscal, Balaji Telefilms had reported revenue of Rs 1.1 crore and a loss of Rs 17.8 crore for ALTBalaji. The good news is that ALTBalaji’s sold subscription base has gone up by more than twenty times – from 0.052 crore in Q3 2018 to 1.05 crore at close of December 2018.

    Balaji Telefilms managing director Shobha Kapoor said, “We are pleased to announce another strong performance this quarter, highlighted improving margins that has cemented our place as a leader in the Indian media industry. Our in-house content gives us the ability to create strong franchises, nurture new talent and ultimately give consumers the best possible entertainment choices, hence making it a value proposition for our investors and stakeholders.”

    Let us look at the other consolidated numbers reported by Balaji Telefilms

    Balaji Telefilms consolidated revenue from operations increased 48.8 percent y-o-y in Q3 2019 to Rs 96.33 crore from Rs 64.73 crore. Consolidated total income for the period under review grew 50.8 percent y-o-y to Rs 105.3 crore from Rs 69.85 crore. The company reported a consolidated loss of Rs 27.31 crore in Q3 2019 as compared to profit after tax of Rs 25.82 crore in Q3 2018. Calculated consolidated simple EBITDA for Q3 2019 was an operating loss of Rs 26.18 crore as compared to a consolidated operating loss of Rs 7.5 crore in Q3 2018.

    Total expenditure for the quarter under review was 66.1 percent higher y-o-y at Rs 126.92 crore as compared to Rs 76.4 crore in Q3 2018. Cost of production/ acquisition and telecast fees in the quarter at Rs 95.95 crore was 26.6 percent higher y-o-y as compared to Rs 75.77 crore in Q3 2018. Marketing expenses increased 53.5 percent y-o-y in Q3 2019 to Rs 10.74 crore from Rs 7 crore. Employee benefits expense in Q3 2019 increased to more than double – (increased by 107.2 percent) to Rs 14.25 crore from Rs 6.87 crore. Other expenses in Q3 2019 declined 18.7 percent y-o-y to Rs 9.83 crore from Rs 12.08 crore.

  • TV Today numbers flat, radio segment shows improvement

    TV Today numbers flat, radio segment shows improvement

    BENGALURU: The owners of the most watched news channel in the country, TV Today Network Limited (TVTN), reported 11.6 percent increase in operating revenue and a reduction in loss from its Radio Broadcasting segment for the quarter ended 31 December 2018 (Q3 2019, quarter or period under review) as compared to the corresponding year ago quarter (Q3 2018).

    Overall, TVTN reported 6.3 percent higher year on year (y-o-y) operating revenue for Q3 2019 at Rs 199.43 crore as compared to Rs 187.54 crore. Total Income in the quarter at Rs 205.99 crore was 6.9 percent higher y-o-y as compared to Rs 192.76 crore. The company reported standalone profit after tax or PAT of Rs 39.19 crore for Q3 2019, almost flat (1.2 percent higher) as compared to Rs 39.73 crore in Q3 2018. Standalone total comprehensive income for the period under review was also 1.2 percent higher y-o-y at Rs 39.19 crore as compared to Rs 38.74 crore in Q3 2018.

    Simple operating EBITDA was 2.1 percent higher y-o-y in the quarter under review at Rs 61.61 crore (30.9 percent of operating revenue) as compared to Rs 60.32 crore (32.2 percent of operating revenue.

    TVTN has three segments – Television Broadcasting (TV); Radio Broadcasting (Radio); and ‘Others.’ The company’s TV segment is the largest contributor to its numbers. Among the news channels TVTN has is the Hindi News channel Aaj Tak, which is the most watched news channel in the country going by Broadcast Audience Research Council of India weekly data.

    TVTN reported 3.9 percent y-o-y increase in revenue for its TV segment at Rs 170.52 crore in Q3 2019 as compared to Rs 164.14 crore. The company reported 4.3 percent y-o-y fall in the segment’s operating profit at Rs 51.91 crore in Q3 2019 as compared to Rs 54.26 crore.

    As mentioned above, TVTN reported 11.6 percent y-o-y increase in operating revenue for its radio segment for Q3 2019 at Rs 7.01 crore as compared to Rs 6.28 crore. The radio segment’s operating loss fell to Rs 2.15 crore during the period under review from an operating loss of Rs 6.10 crore in Q3 2018.

    TVTN reported 29.1 percent y-o-y increase in operating revenue for its ‘Others’ segment at Rs 22.24 crore as compared to Rs 17.24 crore. Operating result of the ‘Others’ segment for the quarter increased 17.5 percent y-o-y to Rs 5.74 crore from Rs 4.88 crore.

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by TVTN

    Standalone total expense in Q3 2019 increased 7.7 percent y-o-y to Rs 145.59 crore from Rs 135.16 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Standalone production cost increased 7.2 percent y-o-y in Q3 2019 to Rs 19.81 crore from Rs 18.48 crore in Q3 2018. Standalone employee benefit expense during the quarter under review increased 10.2 percent y-o-y to Rs 55.37 crore from Rs 50.2 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year. Standalone other expenses in Q3 2019 increased 7.1 percent y-o-y to Rs 62.65 crore from Rs 58.52 crore in Q3 2018.

  • Dish TV repeats profits in Q3 2018 post merger

    Dish TV repeats profits in Q3 2018 post merger

    BENGALURU: Indian direct to home (DTH) behemoth Dish TV India Ltd (Dish TV) reported profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 152.69 crore for the quarter ended 31 December 2018 (Q3 2019, quarter under review) as compared to loss of Rs 168.29 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter and a profit of Rs 19.73 crore in the immediate trailing quarter Q2 2109. These PAT numbers were boosted by certain income tax adjustments of prior years. Dish TV and Videocon d2h were merged on March 22 2018 and hence Q1 2019 was the first full reporting quarter for the merged entity.

    Dish TV’s operating profit or EBITDA in Q3 2019 was Rs 517.59 crore, 4.3 percent lower than Rs 540.62 crore in Q2 2019. The company reported a 4.8 percent q-o-q decline in operating revenue for the quarter under review at Rs 1,517.45 crore as compared to Rs 1,594.3 crore in Q2 2019.

    Dish TV’s subscriber additions picked up speed during the first quarter of fiscal 2019. The net number of 3,01,000 additions took Dish TV’s subscriber base to 2.33 crore in Q1 2019. The company picked up another net 2,00,000 subscribers in Q2 2019 to ramp up its subs base to 2.35 crore. For Q3 2019, the company reported net subscriber additions of 1,42,000 and the company closed the quarter under review with a subscriber base of 2.36 crore.

    Revenue breakup

    Subscription revenue declined 2.1 percent q-o-q in Q3 2018 to Rs 141.26 crore as compared to Rs 1,453.6 crore in Q3 2018. Advertisement revenue for the quarter under review increased 26.2 percent y-o-y to Rs 30 crore from Rs 23.8 crore. Bandwidth charges (revenue) reduced 24.4 percent y-o-y to Rs 32.4 crore in Q3 2019 from Rs 42.8 crore. Other income declined 59.4 percent y-o-y in Q3 2019 to Rs 4.25 crore from Rs 10.47 crore.

    Company speak

    Dish TV CMD Jawahar Goel said, “I am glad that all opposition to the tariff order has now finally been put to rest. We continue to strongly believe that the Regulation should minimise discriminatory pricing by ensuring a level playing field between cable and DTH platforms and should be beneficial for the entire industry thus leading to higher earnings going forward.”

    Goel, said further, “The Interim Budget 2019 gave an approximate Rs 230 billion spending stimulus to the consumption class comprising of small business owners, salaried employees and the middle class by way of tax exemptions. In addition, increased disposable income in the hands of farmers by way of PM Kissan Samman Nidhi scheme introduced in the budget should be a great boon for consumer sector companies like Dish TV. Further, the 150 thousand homes built under the PM Affordable Housing Scheme and every new house proposed to be built thereunder should be a potential pay-TV customer in the near future.”

    Talking about the current technological buzz, Dish TV group CEO Anil Dua said, “The Interconnection Regulations and Tariff Order, as notified by TRAI, will lay down new norms for the television industry ushering in an era of growth, transparency and non-discrimination."

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by Dish TV

    The merged Dish TV’s consolidated total expenditure reduced 8 percent y-o-y in Q3 2019 to Rs 1,483.13 crore from Rs 1,612.36 crore. Operating Expense in Q3 2019 reduced 4.2 percent y-o-y to Rs 812.05 crore from Rs 847.74 crore. Employee benefit expense during the quarter under review reduced 10.3 percent y-o-y to Rs 60.37 crore from Rs 67.3 crore in Q3 2018. Other expenses in Q3 2019 reduced 37.2 percent y-o-y to Rs 124.99 crore from Rs 198.92 crore .

  • Airtel Digital TV numbers up in Q3 2018

    Airtel Digital TV numbers up in Q3 2018

    BENGALURU: Bharti Airtel Ltd (Airtel) Digital TV services segment reported 7.1 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) increase, 3.2 per cent y-o-y increase and 4.5 per cent y-o-y increase in operating revenues, EBITDA and EBIT respectively for the quarter ended 31 December 2018 (Q3 2019, quarter, period, under review) as compared to the corresponding year ago quarter. The company’s subscriber base increased 7.6 per cent y-o-y to reach 1.5 crore subscribers as on 31 December 2019.

    In the meantime, hit by Mukesh Dhirbhai Amabani’s relentless Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd juggernaut, Airtel’s own numbers have been falling mainly due to the fall in numbers of its mobile services in India. 

    Airtel Digital TV services revenue for the period was Rs 1,033 crore as compared to Rs 964.3 crore for the corresponding year ago period. EBITDA for Q3 2019 was Rs 382.6 crore (37 per cent of operating revenue) as compared to Rs 370.8 crore (38.5 per cent of operating margin in Q3 2018. EBIT was Rs 156.8 crore for the quarter under review as compared to Rs 150 crore for the year ago quarter. Please refer to the figure below for the segment’s financial trends

    Airtel has reported increase in its Digital TV subscribers. As mentioned above Airtel Digital TV services subscriber base at the end of Q3 2019 stood at 1.5 crore, up 7.6 per cent y-o-y from 1.3937 crore in Q3 2018, and up 1.5 per cent quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q) from 1.4779 crore in Q2 2019. Subscriber churn per month in the quarter was same as the previous quarter at 1.3 per cent. In the year ago quarter Q3 2018, subscriber churn was 1.2 per cent. Please refer to the figure below for Airtel Digital TV subscriber trends.

    Average revenue per user for the quarter under review was down by Rs 2 in Q3 2019 at Rs 231 as compared to Rs 233 in Q3 2018 and down by Re 1 as compared to the Rs 232 for the immediate trailing quarter. Please refer to the figure below for Airtel Digital TV ARPU trends.

    Bharti Airtel numbers

    Airtel’s consolidated revenues for Q3 2019 at Rs 20,519 crore grew 1.9 per cent y-o-y (reported increase of 1.0 per cent) on an underlying basis- adjusted for international termination rate reduction.

    India revenues for Q3 2019 at Rs 14,768 crore have declined by 2.3 per cent y-o-y (declined 3.5 per cent on reported) on an underlying basis. Mobile revenues have witnessed a y-o-y de-growth of 4.0 per cent on an underlying basis primarily on account of the sustained pricing pressure in India Mobile segment.

    In a statement, Airtel MD and CEO of India and South Asia Gopal Vittal, MD said, “Our simplified product portfolio and premium content partnerships have played out well during the quarter, translating into one of our highest ever 4G customers additions of 11 million plus. Our mobile data volume continues to expand, with a y-o-y growth of 190 per cent. We have deployed 24K broadband sites during the quarter and remain committed to invest in capacities ahead of the demand curve and provide a superior customer experience. Effective this quarter, we have modified our customer base measurement to represent only transacting and revenue generating customers. “

    In a statement, Airtel’s MD and CEO for Africa’s Raghunath Mandavasaid,
    “Airtel Africa’s Gross Revenue grew by 11.2 per cent on a y-o-y basis. Data traffic grew by 61 per cent, voice minutes increased by 25 per cent and Airtel Money throughput grew by 29 per cent on a y-o-y basis. Consequently, EBITDA margin has expanded by 1.7 per cent y-o-y and stood at 37.2 per cent for the quarter. We continue to further invest in strong LTE network to enhance customer experience and build a competitive advantage.”
     

  • Shemaroo reports improved numbers for Q3 2019

    Shemaroo reports improved numbers for Q3 2019

    BENGALURU: Indian media and entertainment content house Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd (Shemaroo) reported 12.3 per cent y-o-y increase in consolidated revenue from operations and 9 per cent y-o-y increase in consolidated profit after tax (PAT) for the quarter ended 31 December 2018 (Q3 2019, quarter or period under review) as compared to the corresponding year ago quarter. Consolidated Total Comprehensive Income (TCI) for the quarter also increased 10 per cent y-o-y as compared to the previous year ago quarter.

    Operating revenue for Q3 2019 was Rs 148.95 crore as compared to Rs 132.63 crore in Q3 2018. Total revenue for the period at Rs 149.64 crore was 12.6 per cent higher y-o-y than Rs 132.85 crore. PAT and TCI for Q3-2019 were Rs 19.56 crore and Rs 19.57 crore respectively as compared to Rs 17.95 crore and Rs 17.79 crore respectively for the corresponding year ago quarter. Operating profit (EBITDA) for the quarter at Rs 35.29 crore was almost flat (declined 1.5 per cent) y-o-y as compared to Rs 35.81 crore in Q3 2018.

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by Shemaroo

    Total Expenditure in Q3 2019 increased 15.6 per cent y-o-y to Rs 121.82 crore as compared to Rs 105.22 crore. Cost of raw materials consumed in the period under review increased 11.5 per cent y-o-y to Rs 90.14 crore from Rs 80.33 crore.

    Employee benefit expense for Q3 2019 increased 47.2 per cent y-o-y to Rs 15.09 crore from Rs 10.25 crore. Finance costs for Q3 2019 reduced 8.2 per cent y-o-y to Rs 6.52 crore from Rs 7.1 crore. Other expenses for the quarter under review increased 46.9 per cent y-o-y to Rs 8.43 crore from Rs 5.74 crore.

  • Den reports lower numbers for third quarter

    Den reports lower numbers for third quarter

    BENGALURU: Indian cable distribution network and broadband internet services (broadband) provider Den Networks Ltd reported 6 per cent drop in consolidated operating revenue numbers for the quarter ended 31 December 2018 (Q3 2019, quarter or period under review) as compared to the corresponding year ago quarter (y-o-y, Q3 2018).

    Den Network’s operating profit (EBITDA) declined 39 per cent y-o-y during the period under review to Rs 48.10 crore (15.6 percent of operating revenue) from Rs 78.83 crore (24 per cent of operating revenue) in Q3 2018.

    Den reported a net loss of Rs 31.21 crore in Q3 2019 as compared to a profit after tax of Rs 1.73 crore in Q3 2018.The company reported total comprehensive loss (TCL) of Rs 31.06 crore as compared to total comprehensive income of Rs 1.31 crore in Q3 2018.

    Segment numbers

    Den has two segments – cable distribution networks (Cable) and broadband. Both segments reported lower y-o-y revenues and operating loss for the quarter under review.

    Cable segment revenue reduced 6.1 per cent y-o-y in Q3 2019 to Rs 291.59 crore from Rs 310.50 crore in Q3 2018. Den reported that the segment had an operating loss of Rs 8.95 crore as compared to an operating profit of Rs 25.20 crore in Q3 2018.

    Den Networks reported 5.1 per cent y-o-y decline in operating revenue for its broadband segment in Q3 2019 at Rs 16.82 crore as compared to Rs 17.72 crore in Q2 2018. The segment’s operating loss reduced to Rs 6.60 crore in Q3 2019 from an operating loss of Rs 7.29 crore.

    Let us look at the numbers reported by Den Networks for Q1 2019

    Den Networks consolidated revenue from operations in Q3 2019 was Rs 308.41 crore, 6 per cent lower than the Rs 328.22 crore in Q3 2018. Consolidated total revenue including consolidated other income declined 6.4 per cent y-o-y in Q3 2019 to Rs 313.32 crore from Rs 334.92 crore in Q3 2018.

    Consolidated total expenditure for the quarter under review increased 3.9 per cent y-o-y in Q3 2019 to Rs 337.84 crore (109.5 percent of operating revenue) from Rs 325.20 crore (99.1 per cent of operating revenue) in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

    Consolidated content cost increased 10.5 per cent y-o-y in Q3 2019 to Rs 148.65 crore (48.2 per cent of operating revenue) as compared to Rs 134.56 crore (41 per cent of operating revenue) in Q3 2018. Consolidated placement fees reduced 9.3 per cent y-o-y in Q3 2019 to Rs 9.99 crore (3.2 per cent of operating revenue) from Rs 12.48 crore (3.4 per cent of operating revenue) in Q3 2018.

    Den Networks consolidated employee benefits expense during the period under review declined 7.5 per cent y-o-y to Rs 23.80 crore (7.7 per cent of operating revenue) from Rs 25.73 crore (7.8 per cent of operating revenue) in Q3 2018. Consolidated other expenses in Q3 2019 increased 1.6 per cent y-o-y to Rs 77.87 crore (25.2 per cent of operating revenue) in Q3 2019 from Rs 76.62 crore (23.3 per cent of operating revenue) in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

    Company speak

    Den CEO SN Sharma said, “Cable subscription ARPU is consistent with respect to the previous quarter which stood at Rs 96 per box (including tax).

    "TRAI tariff order implementation, a potential gamechanger in the cable industry, is underway wherein we have taken host of initiatives and strengthened our internal processes including IT systems. In order to migrate to the new tariff order, consumer has various options to exercise his choice of channels through our consumer / LCO mobile applications and web portal.

    "Extensive LCO/distributor awareness programme are under progress wherein the partners are explained in clear terms the benefits they would get in the overall value chain. Prepaid system for cable subscription partners, the most preferred billingoption under the new tariff order, has been successfully rolled out during the quarter in select markets.”  

    Strategic investments in Den by Reliance Industries

    On 17 October 2018, the Mukesh Ambani led Reliance Industries Ltd reported to the bourses that it has decided to make strategic investments thought a primary investment of Rs 2,045 crore through a preferential issue under SEBI regulations and secondary purchase of Rs 245 crore from the existing promoters for a 66 percent stake in Den. Reliance also said that it would make a primary investment of Rs 2,940 crore through a preferential issue under SEBI regulations for a 51.3 per cent stake in Hathway Cable and Datacom Ltd (Hathway) of the Rajan Raheja group.

  • TV Today revenue up in Q2

    TV Today revenue up in Q2

    BENGALURU: TV Today Network Ltd (TVTN) reported 3.5 percent year on year (y-o-y) increase in standalone operating revenue at Rs 163.29 crore for the quarter ended 30 September 2018 (Q2 2019, quarter or period under review) as compared to the Rs 157.80 crore for the corresponding year ago quarter (Q2 2018). Total income increased 5.3 percent y-o-y to Rs 171.59 crore in Q2 2019 from Rs 162.89 crore.

    Simple operating EBITDA was 10.5 percent lower y-o-y in the quarter under review at Rs 44.62 crore (27.1 percent of operating revenue) as compared to Rs 49.87 crore (30.3 percent of operating revenue). The company reported 5.7 percent lower standalone PAT of Rs 29.50 crore for Q2 2019 as compared to Rs 31.29 crore in Q2 2018. Standalone total comprehensive income for the quarter under review was 4.6 percent lower y-o-y at Rs 29.85 crore as compared to Rs 31.29 crore in Q2 2018.

    Segment numbers

    TVTN has three segments – Television Broadcasting (TV); Radio Broadcasting (Radio); and ‘Others.’ The company’s TV segment is the largest contributor to its numbers. TVTN reported 0.2 percent y-o-y increase in revenue for its TV segment at Rs 140.21 crore in Q2 2019 as compared to Rs 139.86 crore. The company reported 1.5 percent y-o-y decline in the segment’s operating profit at Rs 42.52 crore in Q2 2019 as compared to Rs 43.16 crore.

    TVTN reported 43 percent y-o-y increase in operating revenue for its radio segment for Q2 2019 at Rs 5.84 crore as compared to Rs 4.09 crore. However, the radio segment’s operating loss increased to Rs 4.49 crore during the period under review from an operating loss of Rs 2.92 crore.

    TVTN reported 24.3 percent y-o-y increase in operating revenue for its ‘Others’ segment at Rs 13.87 crore as compared to Rs 13.78 crore. Operating result of the ‘Others’ segment for the quarter declined 58.3 percent y-o-y to Rs 0.84 crore from Rs 2.01 crore.

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by TVTN

    Standalone total expense in Q2 2019 increased nine percent y-o-y to Rs 126.64 crore from Rs 116.15 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Standalone production cost reduced 7.8 percent y-o-y in Q2 2019 to Rs 14.23 crore from Rs 15.44 crore in Q2 2018. Standalone employee benefit expense during the quarter under review increased 9.5 percent y-o-y in Q2 2019 to Rs 52.05 crore from Rs 45.53 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year. Standalone other expenses in Q2 2019 increased 16.5 percent y-o-y to Rs 52.38 crore from Rs 44.96 crore in Q2 2018.