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Tag: Essel Group

  • Siti Networks’ operating profit more than doubles in first quarter

    BENGALURU:  The Subhash Chandra led Essel group’s television cable network company Siti Networks Limited (Siti) reported EBIDTA including other income or operating profit of Rs 1,071.65 million (28.9 percent of Total Income) for the quarter ended 30 June 2017 (Q1-18, current quarter). The company’s operating profit for the current quarter was more than double (up 2.26 times) the Rs 474.09 million (16.5 percent of Total Income) the company had reported for the corresponding year ago quarter (y-o-y) and 54.2 percent higher than the Rs 694.88 million (20.6 percent of Total Income) reported for the immediate trailing quarter Q4-17 (q-o-q).

    Consequently, the company reported a lower total comprehensible loss in the current quarter at Rs 151.32 million, which was a little less than one third (1/2.87 times) the total comprehensible loss of Rs 435.26 million in Q1-17 and less than a fourth (1/4.26 times) the total comprehensible loss of Rs 647.16 million in Q4-17.

    Siti’s total income for Q1-18 was 29.4 percent higher y-o-y at Rs 3,711.13 million as compared to Rs 2,868.82 and 10.1 percent higher q-o-q as compared to Rs 3,370.46 million. Revenue from operations increased 29.4 percent y-o-y to Rs 3,649.57 million from Rs 2,819.67 million and increased 12.1 percent q-o-q from Rs 3,255.18 million.

    Breakup of revenue

    Siti’s subscription revenue in the current quarter increased 34.6 percent y-o-y to Rs 1,700 million from Rs 1,263 million and increased 6.3 percent q-o-q from Rs 1,600 million. Carriage revenue in the current quarter increased 6.3 percent y-o-y to Rs 765 million from Rs 720 million, but declined 4.1 percent q-o-q from Rs 798 million. Activation revenue in Q1-18 more than doubled (increased 2.32 times) y-o-y to Rs 849 million from Rs 366 million and was 75.4 percent more q-o-q than Rs 484 million. Broadband internet revenue for Q1-18 increased 32.3 percent y-o-y to Rs 258 million from Rs 195 million, but declined 3 percent q-o-q from Rs 266 million.

    Subscription numbers

    The company says that it deployed more than 1.6 million set top boxes during the quarter in West Bengal, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Telengana, primarily in Phase 4 areas. It says that its digital video base was about 11.6 million at the exit of June 2017 and that prepaid migration is on track with 1.16 million subscribers across 134 locations brought under its ambit by August 2017. Siti says that during the year 0.05 million of its customers adopted HD services taking the total HD customer base to 0.22 million by exit Q1-18.

    Siti’s broadband internet subscriber base increased by approximately 12,000 to 0.24 million in Q1-18 from 0.228 million in the immediate trailing quarter. The company says that as a strategy it increased focus on higher ‘Lock-in’ broadband internet plans in Q1-18. About 40 percent of its acquisitions are now coming on longer duration plans. Siti says that it is targeting to take this figure to over 50 percent in Q2-18.

    Company speak

    Siti executive director Sidharth Balakrishna said, ““SITI continues to hold a strong position in the market with record customer additions.We are well positioned to monetize this base from Q2 onwards and maintain a strong growth trajectory. In Broadband, we will selectively expand our offerings and drive increased customer focus. We are also making significant efforts to strengthen processes and optimise costs going forward, while also enhancing customer offerings. This along with a focus on certain revenue streams could potentially provide upsides going forward”

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by Siti

    Consolidated Total Expenditure increased 14.1 percent y-o-y to Rs 3,696.52 million (99.6 percent of Total Income) in Q1-16 from Rs 3,238.75 million (112.9 percent of Total Income) in Q1-18 and increased 0.4 percent q-o-q from Rs 3.680.87 million (109.2 percent of Total Income).

    Consolidated Employee Benefit Expense increased 22.6 percent y-o-y to Rs 234.46 million (6.3 percent of Total Income) in the current quarter from Rs 191.22 million (6.7 percent of Total Income) million but declined 3.9 percent q-o-q from Rs 243.97 million (7.2 percent of Total Income).

    Consolidated Carriage sharing, pay channel and related costs in Q1-18 increased 5.1 percent y-o-y to Rs 1,560.55 million (42.1 percent of Total Income) from Rs 1,484.36.36 million (51.7 percent of Total Income) but declined 3 percent q-o-q from Rs 1,608/94 million (47.7 percent of Total Income).

    Consolidated Finance costs in the current quarter increased 11.6 percent y-o-y to Rs 331.03 million (8.9 percent of Total Income) from Rs 296.71 million (10.3 percent of Total Income), but declined 2.1 percent q-o-q from Rs 338..02 million (10 percent of Total Income).

    Consolidated Other expenses increased 30.7 percent y-o-y to Rs 841.78 million (22.7 percent of Total Income) in Q1-18 from Rs 643.83 million (22.4 percent of Total Income) and increased 11.2 percent q-o-q from Rs 757.12 million (22.5 percent of Total Income).

    Also Read :

    Rajesh Sethi re-designated chief  biz transformation officer of Siti Networks

    Rajesh Sethi succeeds Wadhwa as ED & CEO of SITI Networks

    SPN India-SITI Networks dispute: TDSAT directs SITI to sign SPN RIO agreement (updated)

  • Profit returns to Videocon d2h, court approves Dish TV merger scheme

    BENGALURU: After three consecutive profitable quarters in fiscal 2017 (year ended 31 March 2017, FY-17), Indian direct to home Saurabh Dhoot led major Videocon d2h Limited had reported a net loss of Rs 87 million for the last quarter of last fiscal (Q4-17). The company has returned back to the black for the quarter ended 30 June 2017 (Q1-18, current) with a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 12 million. After the Essel group’s DTH company Dish TV India Limited, Videocon d2h is one of the few television signal carriage companies in India that have started reported profits after taxes.

    The company has informed the bourses through a press release that it has received a nod from the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal ( for the scheme of arrangement among Videocon d2h (transferor company), Dish TV  India and their respective shareholders and creditors for the amalgamation with Dish TV. The appointed date for the amalgamation is 1 October 2017.

    Commenting on the company outlook, Videocon d2h executive chairman Saurabh Dhoot said, “In the past few weeks, the management has been working on an integration plan. The merged entity plans to adopt and implement the best practices of both companies. We believe this merger provides exciting opportunities through the customer service model, convergence of technologies, expanded breadth of content offerings including expansion of exclusive content, advertising income growth potential as well as synergies from a combined subscriber base of more than 28 million. The merged entity would be one of the largest pay TV platforms in the world in terms of subscriber base, according to the company estimates. I am very excited for this new journey of a business that commands strong business fundamentals and growth opportunities supported by our strong balance sheet and growing free cash flows.”

    Speaking on the business outlook, Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera said “I am pleased to share that Goods and Service Tax (GST) came into effect starting July 1, 2017. GST will simplify the taxation regime and improve the ease of doing business. GST would also drive the unorganized segment, such as local cable operators, towards taxation.

    I am happy to share that the monsoons this year have been in line with long term average. This is likely to strengthen the macro-economic sentiment and imply good consumption from rural India. This is positive for the DTH industry and the upbeat rural sentiment due to the good monsoon could lead to a strong outlook for the festive quarter.”  

    The company reported a 1.2 percent increase in revenue from operations for the current quarter at Rs 7,726 million as compared to Rs 7,633 million in Q1-17. Subscription and activation revenue increased 1.7 percent in Q1-18 to Rs 7,091 million from Rs 6,970 million in Q1-17. Adjusted EBIDTA was slightly lower in Q1-18 at Rs 2,485 million as compared to Rs 2,519 million in the corresponding year ago quarter. However, adjusted EBIDTA less capex in the current quarter increased substantially to Rs 1,246 million from Rs 887 million in Q1-17. Content costs in Q1-18 have increased to 42 percent of revenue as compared to 38.7 percent in Q1-17.

    The company added 0.13 million net subscribers in Q1-18, far lower than the 0.43 million added in Q1-17 and lower than the 0.14 million subscribers added in the immediate trailing quarter. Quarter-over-quarter average revenue per user (ARPU) was Rs 198 in Q1-18 as compared to Rs 211 in Q1-17 and Rs 196 in Q4-17. Monthly subscriber churn in Q1-8 was higher at 1.27 percent as compared to 0.49 percent and 0.87 percent in Q1-17 and Q4-17 respectively. Subscriber acquisition costs in the form of hardware subsidies were INR 1,865 per subscriber during the first quarter of Fiscal 2018.

    ALSO READ :

    Dish TV–D2H merger gets NCLT approval

    Madras HC to hear Star India’s rejoinder in TRAI challenge today

    Videocon d2h reports maiden annual net profit

  • Dangal & programmes catapult Zee TV’s week 21 ratings

    BENGALURU: Zee TV, the flagship Hindi GEC channel of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) topped the HSM (U+R) : NCCS All : 2+ Individuals market ratings for the first time in in 2017 in week 21 – Saturday, 20 May 2017 to Friday, 26 May 2017. The channel garnered 679.456 million weekly impressions according to Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) data, the ninth highest ratings by a channel in 2017 until week 21 for the HSM (U+R) market.

    Zee TV was placed second in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 channels across genre – NCCS All India (U+R) : 2+ Individuals with 735.093 million weekly impressions. This was the eight highest ratings by any Hindi GEC channel in the across genre ratings. It may be noted that no Hindi GEC channels has ever topped the viewership across genre – that is a place that Sun TV reserved for itself (except during 5 of the 8 weeks during IPL 10). Hindi GEC’s have been ranked second for only14 of the first 21 weeks of 2017 in BARC’s lists for the most watched channels across genre.

    So what catapulted Zee TV to the top of the ratings chart among its peers in the HSM (U+R) and the across genre All India (U+R) charts?

    Zee TV’s success in week 21 can be attributed in part to the viewership of the world television premiere of Dangal; the viewership of its programme – Kumkum Bhagya and the viewership of the launch episode of a new soap opera – Aisi Deewangi Dekhi Nahi Kahi.

    The Aamir Khan starrer Dangal had an average viewership of 16.254 million on the day it was aired. Please refer to the chart below for the ratings garnered by the world television premiere of Dangal:

    Pragya and Abhi’s story – Kumkum Bhagya has taken the fancy of primetime viewers. It has been among BARC’s weekly top five most watched programmes list in the HSM (U+R), sometimes behind the Balaji Telefilms production – Naagin 2, for most of the first 21 weeks of 2017. However, Kumkum Bhagya has topping BARC’s weekly list of top five programmes (HSM (U+R) : NCCS All : Prime Time (1800 – 2330 hrs) : 2+ Individuals) for the past few weeks. In week 21, the programme had raked in 11.905 million weekly impressions, far ahead of Naagin 2’s 9.459 million impressions in the HSM (U+R) market.

    The launch episode of a new Indian Hindi soap opera on Zee TV – Aisi Deewangi Dekhi Nahi Kahi, improved the channels viewership in week 21 on launch day (Monday, 23 May 2017) 19:30 to 19:59 primetime slot by 72 percent as compared to the previous week. Please refer to chart below.

    The Eseel group television broadcast companies had a few more reasons to cheer in week 21 of 2017.

    The Zee News: Interview With UP CM “Yogi on Zee” improved viewership by 63 percent during the Wednesday – 19:55 – 20:48 slot as compared to the previous four weeks average. Please refer to the chart below:

    The Essel group celebrated its Ninetieth anniversary recently. The event was aired on 47 of the group’s television channels – it reached 75.96 million and attracted 27.65 gross impressions.

  • Print business demerger: Zee Media awaits National Company Law Tribunal approval

    MUMBAI: Essel group company Zee Media Corp had got shareholder approval earlier this year to demerge its print media business which includes its newspaper DNA into Diligent Media Corp Ltd (DMCL) and merge two other firms – Mediavest India Pvt Ltd and Pri-Media Services Pvt into – DMCL. The exercise of restructuring would become effective 1 April 2017 and finally see DMCL being listed on the stock exchanges at a later date.

    The company yesterday announced – during the release of its latest Q4 2017 and financial year 2017 financial results – that the demerger is awaiting the go-ahead of the National Company Law Tribunal.

    According to its latest financial results, Zee Media notched up a healthy 27.3 per cent growth in advertising revenues over the previous corresponding year’s quarter to Rs 1403.7 million in the latest quarter and a 13.7 per cent growth in the full fiscal to Rs 4553.8 million. The spike in advertising revenues came despite the slowdown in ad spends, courtesy demonetisation, and can be attributed to the ad spends by political parties in the assembly elections which took place in the period after January 2017.

    Zee Media took a hit of 27.2 per cent on subscription revenues in Q4 to Rs 115.3 million and of 43.8 per cent in the full fiscal to Rs 575.3 million.

    Its total revenue in Q4 2017 grew 17.5 per cent to Rs 1559.6 million, while its FY2017 was dragged down by the lower subscription revenues to show a growth of just 1.3 per cent to Rs 5508.2 million.

    Higher marketing costs of Rs 208.4 million (a growth of 190.7 per cent) to promote and distribute its new channel WION in Q4 2017 saw its expenses rise 31.5 per cent in the quarter. Its full-year expenses however rose only 3.8 per cent to Rs 4819 million as its marketing expenses shaved by 15.1 per cent in FY 2017.

    Its profit after tax for Q4 2017 fell 71.2 per cent Rs 53.6 million while it registered a higher loss of Rs 160.6 million for the full fiscal (Rs 45.4 million in FY2016).

    For further detailed financial analysis, please log in a little later today.

  • Essel Group’s 90 years event simulcasts across all ZEE entertainment channels

    MUMBAI: Essel Group recently held its 90 years celebrations event in New Delhi amidst the presence of esteemed dignitaries, corporate honchos and Government authorities including the president Pranab Mukherjee and prime inister, Narendra Modi. The success of the event was the result of the entire Essel Group working together as one family.

    While the event witnessed a full house of over 3000+ guests comprising of top politicians, corporate honchos and the cream layer of the society, Essel Group has planned to take the event to the living rooms of its 1.2 Bn viewers across the world. The event will simulcast across all the ZEE Entertainment channels, through a roadblock, on 21May 2017 at 5 pm.

    The highlights of the event include president Pranab Mukherjee and PM Narendra Modi’s powerful speeches, awards, along with the keynote of ,Essel Group cahirman and Member of Parliament,Rajya Sabhah Subhash Chandra.

    The event also features a special poetry recited by Amitabh Bachchan, which beautifully captures the journey of Essel Group. Blended with powerful performances by the artists of ZEE Entertainment’s leading shows Saregamapa and Dance India Dance, this event promises an entertaining Sunday evening.

    Speaking about the simulcast, ZEE Entertainment Corporate Brand and Communications head Sunil Buch said, “Essel Group’s 90 Years Event was a grand success and we want every viewer of ZEE Entertainment to witness the glorious celebrations. After all its our viewers and customers who have brought the Group to its crest of success. We wish to celebrate this milestone with each one of them”.

  • Subhash Chandra contributes Rs 5k cr to DSC Foundation as Essel completes 90 years

    MUMBAI: India’s leading multi-billion dollar business conglomerate, the Essel Group, is celebrating 90 years of innovation, leadership, growth and transforming the world. To commemorate this momentous occasion, the Essel Group, led by its chairman, Dr. Subhash Chandra, has announced the launch of the DSC Foundation by contributing Rs 5000 crore his family wealth, the ‘Sarthi’ initiative and its English global news network, WION – World Is One News, in presence of President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in New Delhi. The Group also honored the winners of the first-edition of the Zee Media Family Business Legacy Awards – Dabur India Ltd., Wagh Bakri Tea Group and Wockhardt Ltd.

    Held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, this extravaganza was attended by eminent personalities from the world of politics, business, sports, film and entertainment, including Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Smt. Smriti Irani, Union Minister of Textiles, Ram Naik, Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Dr. Najma Akbarali Heptulla, Governor of Manipur, Lt Gen (Retd.) Nirbhay Sharma, Governor of Mizoram, Jagdish Mukhi, Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Manohar Lal Khattar, Chief Minister of Haryana, Swami Avdeshanandji and Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji, amongst others.

    Mukherjee congratulated Essel Group on completion of its 90 years and on the launch of new initiatives such as WION-World is One News, Sarthi- an initiative of becoming a bridge between the government and masses and DSC Foundation. He appreciated the spirit of the celebrations i.e. ‘Young at 90′. He said that one should always remain young and look at issues with fresh new perspectives.

    He said that, unlike 90 years ago, the situation in the world is very different today. Information Technology and communication has brought about major changes. Although technology always has a disruptive impact but if society is ready to accept challenges, it can utilize it well. He said that thanks to our ingenuity and ability we have absorbed and advanced technology.

    The President said that media has a far reaching impact and influence on people. Today indeed the world is one. He said that while facts and news remain one, views may be different. It is important to maintain objectivity and truthfulness in news. Media must take note of the positive things taking place in day to day life. Speaking about such positive things he mentioned that during the Annual National Innovation Festival at Rashtrapati Bhavan many young innovators display solutions to daily problems of life. The President said that in the next ten years the Essel Group would be organizing its centenary celebrations. He said that they should remain young even at 100, remain young forever.

    Modi described the programme as an illustration of Indian traditions. He said that India has had a tradition where successive generations take family values forward, and contribute to the family by adding their capacities and capabilities. He recalled his earlier meetings with Nandkishore Goenka and said the family has always been open to new ideas, and has taken every challenge as an opportunity, to create a presence in a range of initiatives from “soil to satellite.” Appreciating the social initiatives of the Essel Group, the Prime Minister said that the Swachh Bharat Mission provides opportunities for a large number of social entrepreneurs to emerge. He said that while “Sarthi” presented a good blend of rights and duties, the DSC Foundation would help build a large number of job creators.

    The Prime Minister urged everyone present to work towards specific goals for what they could do for the country by 2022 – the 75th anniversary of independence.

    Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament and Chairman – Essel Group, Dr. Subhash Chandra said: “This journey of 90 years has been filled with remarkable successes as well as challenges and obstacles. It has been a journey of creating history, venturing into unknown territories, only to emerge as leaders, capitalising on our pioneering vision and sheer entrepreneurial spirit. As we look to the future, I am confident that we will carry forward the legacy of the Group with complete passion, dedication and above all, the spirit of #YoungAt90! On this occasion, we are launching our new initiatives – Sarthi, DSC Foundation and WION, that will empower the lives of the people. Sarthi will provide a platform to help people with their problems by connecting them to the right persons and then taking it to the logical conclusion. With WION, we want to provide a medium which will give people news from around the world and how it affects India. This initiative is not for profit, but a medium for society and the nation to benefit.”

    “Through the DSC Foundation, we will be building capacity in the society to take on problems and tackle them. We are pledging Rs. 5000 crore out of our profits towards this Foundation.”

    On this milestone anniversary, Mukherjee launched yet another pioneering initiative of the Essel Group – ‘Sarthi’, an initiative that seeks to create a nation where citizens are well informed about their rights and duties and empowered enough to raise their voices against the problems faced by them, which are then effectively addressed and resolved. The word ‘Sarthi’ means ‘the one who drives us in the right direction’ and true to its name, this mission aims to become a guiding force that propels change in the lives of people through constructive interventions. Sarthi is a network of like-minded institutions (corporate foundations, non-government organizations, volunteers, trusts, community based organizations, concerned government departments) who are working towards the common goal of building a well – informed and empowered nation to bring about sustainable positive change.

    The Essel Group also announced the winners of the first-edition of Zee Media Family Business Legacy Awards which aim to honor and recognise India’s oldest family-run businesses which have expanded their empires over successive generations. To select the winners, entries from Business Groups which spanned atleast four generations and had a turnover of at least Rs.1000 crore, were first invited across the television, print and online platforms of the Essel Group. The entries received were then verified by Ernst & Young, the internal process partner, using rigorous criteria to arrive at the final winners.

    The winners of the first-edition of the Zee Media Family Business Legacy Awards are Dabur India Ltd., Wagh Bakri Tea Group and Wockhardt Ltd.

    Mukherjee conferred the awards on the recipients – Dr. Anand C. Burman, Chairman, Dabur India Ltd., Mr. Piyush Ochhavlal Desai, Chairman, Wagh Bakri Tea Group and Dr. Murtaza Khorakiwala, Managing Director, Wockhardt Ltd. respectively.

    To further mark this significant occasion, Modi launched Dr. Subhash Chandra (DSC) Foundation, the brainchild of Rajya Sabha MP & Essel Group Chairman, Dr. Subhash Chandra, which aims to help budding entrepreneurs and educationists, by not just providing them with funds but by creating a chain model. The proposed model of DSC Foundation will not just be a financial provider but will ensure that the recipients of the financial support from DSC Foundation will have to give back to the society by mutual consent. Unlike any other NGO, the financial assistance provided from DSC Foundation is not a loan that has to be paid back to the Foundation, but in return the recipients have to then help some other person in need.

    On this prestigious platform, Dr. Subhash Chandra also launched WION – World is One News’, the first-ever global news network. A revolutionary product from the Zee Media stable, WION, with its headquarters in India, represents a sophisticated transition from the usual ‘Breaking News’ phenomenon and brings exclusive and insightful content that often escapes popular media. Targeting upscale viewers in India as well as the Indian diaspora, WION’s endeavor is to showcase content that truly represents the spirit of South Asia with focus on India. WION meets the aspirations of 2 billion South Asians in creating a global TV network that reflects a South Asian view of global events and news. The goal of the channel is to engage and empower viewers through balanced and extraordinary storytelling on digital, mobile and television platforms.

    The event was hosted by Sudhir Chaudhary, Editor-in-Chief of Zee News, Zee Business, WION and DNA, and witnessed a beautiful performance of ‘Vande Mataram’ by the artists of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs and Dance India Dance.

  • Zee Learn PAT more than doubles for FY-17

    BENGALURU: The Essel Group’s core education company Zee Learn Limited (ZLL) reported 2.43 times consolidated profit after tax (PAT) in the year ended 31 March 2017 (FY-17, current year) as compared to the previous year. The company reported consolidated PAT of Rs 36.65 crore (20.5 percent of Total Income from Operations or TIO) in FY-17 as compared to consolidated  PAT of Rs 15.08 crore (10 percent of TIO) in FY-16. ZLL’s consolidated TIO in the current year was Rs 178.91 crore, it was Rs 151.57 crore in FY-16.

    The company’s consolidated simple EBIDTA (excluding other income) in FY-17 grew 44.1 percent to Rs 62.33 crore (34.8 percent EBIDTA margin) from Rs 43.27 crore (28.5 percent EBIDTA margin) in the previous year.

    Board declares dividend

    The ZLL board has recommended a dividend of 5 percent (Re 0.05 per equity share of Re 1 each) for FY-17 for all its equity shareholders subject to approval of its shareholders.

    Segments

    ZLL has two segments – Education; and Construction and Leasing. Education segment reported 15.7 percent growth in operating revenue in FY-17 to Rs 161.17 crore from Rs 139.25 crore in the previous year. The segment reported 69.5 percent growth in operating profit at Rs 48.99 crore in FY-17 as compared to Rs 28.91 crore in FY-16.

    Construction and Leasing segment reported operating 43.8 percent higher revenue of Rs 17.71 crore in FY-17 from Rs 12.32 crore in the previous year. The segment’s operating profit in FY-17 declined 14 percent to Rs 4.36 crore from Rs 5.07 crore in FY-16.

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by ZLL for FY-17

    Consolidated Total Expenses in FY-17 increased 6.7 percent to Rs 126.38 crore (70.6 percent of TIO) from Rs 118.49 crore (78.2 percent of TIO) in the previous year. Consolidated Purchase of Education Goods and Television Content increased 3.5 percent in FY-17 to Rs 34.82 crore (19.5 percent of TIO) from Rs 33.65 crore (22.2 percent of TIO).

    Consolidated Employee Benefits Expense in FY-17 declined 0.5 percent to Rs 24.97 crore (14 percent of TIO) from Rs 25.09 crore (16.6 percent of TIO) in FY-16. The company’s Consolidated Selling and marketing expense in the current year was 6.1 percent lower in FY-17 at Rs 19.66 crore (11 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 20.95 crore (13.8 percent of TIO) in the previous year.

    Consolidated Other expense in FY-17 was 57 percent more at Rs 36.58 crore (20.4 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 23.30 crore (15.4 percent of TIO) in FY-16. Consolidated Finance Costs in FY-17 reduced 5 percent to Rs 18.98 crore (10.6 percent of TIO) from Rs 19.98 crore (13.2 percent of TIO) in the previous year.

    Company speak

    ZLL CEO Debashankar Mukhopadhyay said, “Company witnessed consistent growth across all business segments, which strongly underlines the fact that our franchisee and parent’s confidence towards company brands is growing every year. ZLL has invested considerable resources in developing learning insights, student learning materials and e-content for pre-schools and K-12 schools. We closed FY-17 on a new high, with a positive drive and are confident of sustaining this growth. The high demand for the all-new Kidzee 2.0 was overwhelming, as it surpassed all our expectations. With new product introductions coupled with our existing offerings, we are confident that our growth momentum will continue. Qualitative improvements in our network coupled with strong focus on franchisee relationship and availability of varied tailor made children / student specific programs will be pivotal in aiding our planned growth for the future.

    ZLL CFO Umesh Pradhan said, “With rising scale and rationalizing of vendors, the company has prudently managed cost of goods while simultaneously improving quality. We perceive these initiatives as potent operating and profitability margin boosters. The consistency of our performance is the result of managing our business dynamically and executing our strategy with even greater rigour and discipline. Our sustained focus on investing behind brands, sharpening our execution capabilities and driving market development has enabled us to keep winning with consumers in a rapidly changing market.”

    Notes: (1) 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.

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

    Also Read :

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    Q2-2016: Zee Learn YoY revenue up 34.9% at Rs 30.70 crore

  • Who Am I: Subhash Chandra show comes back in a new avatar

    MUMBAI: After a successful initial run, one of the  India’s popular motivational youth shows, Dr. Subhash Chandra (DSC) Show is returning with a fresh look and format.

    Evolving from a straight-forward chat show, the new episodes will highlight inspirational stories of people from different backgrounds. While it was  Chandra who vehemently tried to motivate and change many lives in the earlier format, going ahead the DSC Show will introduce audiences to the stories of India’s unsung heroes who overcame hurdles in their lives through courage and determination.

    The first episode (on the ground) was held on 18 April at Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Management, Rohini, in New Delhi during which MP, Rajya Sabha and chairman, Essel Group and ZEE Chandra shared his insights on the topic ‘Who Am I?”. The special guests for this episode were Earth Saviours Foundation founder Ravi Kalra and popularly known as the ‘No Honking Man of India’ and Saachi Roy,India’s youngest woman to have been selected for an expedition to Mount Everest by the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and also the first from the country to reach Mount Elbrus, Europe’s highest peak.

    Sharing his views on the topic ‘Who Am I?’, Chandra said, “As we journey through life, we tend to give ourselves different identities such as son, daughter, student or teacher. But we are a son or daughter because we have parents, students because we are studying in a school or college, and teachers because we are imparting knowledge to others. Thus everything that we believe in dependent on something else and is not our true identity. The only thing which is independent of everything else is our ‘Inner Consciousness’ which is the sensation of being alive and aware.”

    Elaborating further, Chandra said, “While our thoughts, emotions and environment change, this Inner Consciousness never changes. By teaching ourselves to be aware of and immersed in this consciousness, we can calm our mind and slow our flow of thoughts, thus utilizing its power more effectively. As we harness this power, we will also experience freedom from anxiety and worry, inner strength, peace of mind and happiness.”

    Catch the curtain-raiser episode of the Dr. Subhash Chandra Show on 6 May followed by the first episode – ‘Who Am I?” on 13 May on the following channels of Zee Media:

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  • Zee Media to seek shareholder nod to demerge DNA print business

    MUMBAI: Print and TV news. For some that would make for a heady combination. But, not for the Essel group-promoted Zee Media Corp Ltd (ZMCL) which runs the Zee News channels as well as the newspaper DNA through a clutch of unlisted subsidiaries. DNA has a print edition in Mumbai and has launched in Delhi recently.

    ZMCL is seeking shareholder approval (on 27 March in Mumbai) to demerge its DNA business (which is operated under Digital Media Corp Ltd – DMCL, MediaVest India Pvt Ltd and Pri-Media Services) from itself even as it merges another company Maurya TV (which runs the current affairs channel Zee Purvaiya) with itself. The scheme got ZMCL board approval earlier.

    The carving out of the print media assets from ZMCL will result in its shareholders getting one DMCL share (face value of Re 1) for every four ZMCL shares (face value Re 1). The date for the demerger and amalgamation has been noted as 1 April 2017.

    What’s compelling ZMCL and DMCL to take this step? According to its notice filing with the BSE over the weekend, the print and media businesses are run and managed differently and can attract a different set of investors, strategic partners, lenders and other stakeholders. This apart, FDI regulations permit 26 per cent foreign investment in print and 49 per cent in news TV after government approvals.

    While ZMCL had revenues of around Rs 394 crore in the year to 31 March 2016, DMCL reported a topline of around Rs 110 crore in the same period, according to the filing with the BSE. The latter had a loss of Rs 8.72 crore for the same period while the former had a net profit of Rs 18.75 crore.

    The group is proposing to list DMCL on the stock exchanges on getting shareholder and other regulatory and listing approvals.

    AlsO Read :

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/news-broadcasting/zee-media-ad-revenue-up-in-q3-17-170206

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/regulators/ib-ministry/zee-medias-49-stake-in-927-big-fm-gets-it-59-radio-channels-161123

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/news-broadcasting/big-fm-india-today-deals-zee-media-seeks-shareholder-nod-for-loans-161223

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/people/the-key-is-to-consolidate-zeel-zmcl-zee-digital-and-dna-business-ashish-sehgal-160404

  • TRAI gets support from Subhash Chandra on inter-connect guidelines

    TRAI gets support from Subhash Chandra on inter-connect guidelines

    NEW DELHI: Urging all the stakeholders of the Indian broadcast and cable segments to sink their differences and “come together” for the overall benefit  of the industry, Zee group chairman Subhash Chandra supported regulator TRAI’s draft inter-connect guidelines that, amongst other such broadcast regulations, have been put on hold owing to them legally challenged in courts.  

    “I am a strong supporter of (TRAI’s draft) inter-connect regulations,” Chandra, a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament from Haryana state, said, adding that in order to reduce litigations amongst stakeholders in the industry it was paramount to “support” such regulations.

    However, Chandra made it clear that though broadcast and cable industry should back TRAI draft guidelines at present — “at least temporarily” — such guidelines should be relaxed over a period of time and jocularly added that rampant litigations financially enriched lawyers only. He was responding to a question from the audience on growing division between broadcasters and distribution platforms, especially the MSOs and LCOs.

    Earlier, delivering the keynote address at the SATCAB meet organized by the All-India Dish Antennae Aavishkaar Sangh, the Zee/Essel Group founder said that there was no reason why the estimated 230,000 (his estimates) local cable operators in the country should not shed allegiance to multiple industry bodies and “unite under one umbrella” to become a force to reckon with so that their voice could be heard more forcefully in the corridors of power.

    Pointing out that not only the MSOs and LCOs should unite, but “all stakeholders” like broadcasters too, Chandra sounded a word of caution, “As an industry we need to be alert to technological evolution.” He added that unless that happens, others, like telcos, “will take a lead over consumer experience”, which will be “our weakness.”

    Chandra said the cable industry had to prepare itself “to catch up with the future” as at present the industry was at “ground level with basic set top boxes”, for example, when technology (like 3D printing) could soon make it possible for viewers to get a different experience in, say, a TV cookery show.

    Referring to various concerns of the LCOs, he said he had ensured that the issue of entertainment tax got subsumed in the Goods and Services Tax (GST), but for him to take up issues relating to the sector stakeholders needed to unite.

    Going back in time to 1992, he dwelt on how the idea of Zee had been drawn up and how when he had given this information to a senior official in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), he had been strongly criticized for the whole idea and was told it would never succeed. “But in just three months of launch”, he said, “Zee had 300,000 television homes subscribing to it.”  

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