ITV

Tag: FY 18

  • Competition, provision for doubtful receivables paint Ortel’s bottom line red

    Competition, provision for doubtful receivables paint Ortel’s bottom line red

    BENGALURU: Higher competitive intensity in the market, delay in collections and issues pertaining to debt repayment are some of the reasons that Indian regional cable and broadband player Ortel Communications Ltd (Ortel) says that it has incurred a loss of Rs 95.28 crore for the year ended 31 March 2018 (FY 2018, year, fiscal under review).

    Ortel president and CEO Bibhu Prasad Rath said, “Our FY 2018 was very challenging for the company due to delay in collections, higher competitive intensity in the marketplace as well as issues pertaining to debt repayment. We have been working on all these parameters with an objective to improve our overall performance in the future. As intimated in the previous quarter, the management reviewed the details of receivables and took a firm step by creating provision of Rs 679.4 million (Rs 67.94 crore) against doubtful receivables. This amount is primarily on account of disruption of services during the process of digitisation and acquisition of local operators. This significantly impacted our P&L in FY 2018.”

    However, Rath is confident of a brighter 2019. He added, “We want to start afresh in FY2019 and restore our business momentum. We have also taken many steps for increasing the net growth of our broadband business. This will result in lesser churn and higher sales thereby increasing our subscriber base and broadband revenue.”

    Segment numbers

    Three segments contribute to Ortel’s revenue. They are cable TV; broadband; and infrastructure leasing. Revenues from both cable TV and broadband segments declined in FY 2018 as compared to FY 2017.

    Ortel’s cable TV segment’s revenue declined 5.1 per cent in fiscal 2018 to Rs 145.41 crore from Rs 153.19 crore. The segment reported an operating loss of Rs 15.54 crore in FY 2018 as compared to an operating profit of Rs 61.48 crore in FY 2017.

    Broadband segment’s revenue declined 35.5 per cent in FY 2018 to Rs 23.16 crore from Rs 35.91 crore in FY 2017. The segment’s operating profit declined to less than a sixth (declined 83.5 per cent) in FY 2018 to Rs 3.13 crore as compared to Rs 18.96 crore in the previous fiscal.

    Ortel’s infrastructure and leasing segment had operating revenue of Rs 11.72 crore in FY 2018 which was 5.6 per cent more than the Rs 11.10 crore in FY 2017. The segment’s operating profit declined 15.5 percent in FY 2018 to Rs 8.92 crore from R 10.55 crore in FY 2017.

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by Ortel

    Ortel operating revenue for the year under review declined 9.4 per cent in FY 2018 to Rs 184.04 crore as compared to Rs 203.21 crore in the previous year. Total income including other income for fiscal 2018 reduced 10.1 per cent to Rs 186.20 crore as compared to Rs 207.07 crore in the previous fiscal. The company incurred an operating loss (negative EBITDA including other income) of Rs 34.85 crore in FY 2018 as compared to a positive EBITDA including other income of Rs 53.88 crore in the previous fiscal. As mentioned above, net loss for the period under review was Rs 95.28 crore as compared to a profit after tax of Rs 0.50 crore in FY 2017.

    Ortel’s total expenditure in FY 2018 declined two per cent to Rs 202.63 crore from Rs 206.81 crore in fiscal 2017. Programming costs increased 17.7 per cent in FY 2018 to Rs 45.26 crore from Rs 38.45 crore in FY 2017. Bandwidth costs in the year under review increased 6.1 per cent to Rs 18.03 crore from Rs 16.99 crore. Finance costs in FY 2018 increased 9.7 per cent to Rs 29.19 crore from Rs 26.62 crore in FY 2017.

    Also Read: Ortel takes on competition with new broadband plans

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  • Den Networks reports higher revenue, operating profit

    Den Networks reports higher revenue, operating profit

    BENGALURU: Indian multi system operator (MSO) Den Networks (Den) reported growth in revenue and operating profit (EBITDA) for the quarter ended 31 March 2018 (FY 2018, fiscal 2018, year under review) as compared to the previous year FY 2017. Den’s operating revenue for fiscal 2018 increased 11 per cent to Rs 1,285.10 crore from Rs 1,157.34 crore in FY 2017. Total consolidated revenue including other income grew 9.7 per cent in FY 2018 to Rs 1,314.98 crore from Rs 1,198.67 crore in FY 2017. Consolidated simple EBITDA including activation revenue during the year under revenue increased 41.7 per cent to Rs 324.52 crore (25.3 per cent of revenue from operations) from Rs 229.01 crore (19.8 per cent of revenue from operations).

    The company’s net consolidated loss for FY 2018 reduced to Rs17.11 crore, which was less than a tenth of the loss of Rs 187.76 crore in the previous year. Consolidated total comprehensive loss for the year declined to Rs 16.77 crore from Rs 187.24 crore in FY 2017.

    Segment revenue

    The company has two segments – cable distribution networks (cable); and broadband. Cable segment revenue increased 12.5 per cent in FY 2018 to Rs 1,209.75 crore from Rs 1,075.54 crore in FY 2017. Den reported that segment had an operating profit of Rs 61.63 crore as compared to an operating loss of Rs 60.98 crore in FY 2017.

    Den reported 7.9 per cent decline in operating revenue for its broadband segment in FY 2018 at Rs 73.75 crore as compared to Rs 81.80 crore in the previous year. The segment’s operating loss reduced to Rs 31.91 crore in FY 2018 from Rs 36.31 crore in FY 2017.

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by Den

    Consolidated total expenditure for the year was almost flat – it increased by 0.1 per cent in FY 2018 to Rs 1,321.43 crore (102.8 per cent of operating value) from Rs 1319.79 crore (114 per cent of operating value) in the previous year. The company has seen a rise in content cost in actual value as well as in terms of percentage of operating revenue over the past quarters and fiscal 2018. Consolidated content cost increased 14.1 per cent in FY 2018 to Rs 539.80 crore (42 per cent of operating revenue) as compared to Rs 473.28 crore (40.9 per cent of operating revenue) in the previous fiscal. Consolidated placement fees reduced 7.9 per cent in FY 2018 to Rs 46.21 crore (3.6 per cent of operating revenue) from Rs 50.20 crore (4.3 per cent of operating revenue).

    Consolidated employee benefits expense during the year under review declined 12.5 per cent to Rs 107.99 crore (8.4 per cent of operating value) from Rs 123.37 crore (10.7 per cent of operating value) in FY 2017. Consolidated other expenses in 2018 reduced 5.7 per cent to Rs 312.79 crore (24.3 per cent of operating value) in FY 2018 from Rs 331.68 crore (28.7 per cent of operating value) in the previous year.

    Also Read :

    Aim to take phase 3 ARPU to phase 1 value: Den Networks’ SN Sharma

    DEN expands broadband services; plans Rs 100 cr capex

  • Siti Networks revenue, operating profit up in fiscal 2018

    Siti Networks revenue, operating profit up in fiscal 2018

    BENGALURU: Backed by higher subscription revenue and a 95 per cent collection efficiency, Indian multi-system operator (MSO) Siti Networks Ltd (Siti) posted 16.8 per cent higher consolidated total income for the year ended 31 March 2018 (FY 2018, year under review) as compared to the previous fiscal year FY 2017. Siticable has clarified that the revenue numbers for FY 2017 reflect gross billing that included LCO share to the extent of Rs 16-17 crore. Based on a figure of Rs 16 crore, Siticable’s consolidated total income for fiscal 2018 grew 18.4 percent as compared to the previous year.

    Siticable’s operating profit (simple EBITDA including activation revenue) for FY 2018 increased 52.1 per cent as compared to FY 2017. Total comprehensive loss (TCL) for the year was lower as compared to the previous year. It must be noted that all numbers mentioned in this report are consolidated unless stated otherwise.

    Siti’s consolidated total income in FY 2018 was Rs 1,426.37 crore as compared to Rs 1220.81 crore in FY 2017. Consolidated operating revenue in fiscal 2018 increased 18 per cent to Rs 1,410.40 crore from Rs 1,194.92 crore in FY 2017. Siti’s consolidated operating EBITDA (including activation revenue) during the year under review increased 52.1 per cent to Rs 308.55 crore (21.9 per cent of operating revenue) from Rs 202.81 crore (17 per cent of operating revenue) in FY 2017. The company reports that excluding activation revenue, operating EBITDA in FY 2018 grew 2.6 times to Rs 151 crore as compared to Rs 59 crore in the previous year. EBITDA including other income and activation fee in FY 2018 grew 41.9 per cent to Rs 324.52 crore (22.8 per cent of total income) from Rs 228.70 crore (18.7 per cent of total income) TCL including non-controlling interest during the year under review was lower at Rs 169.51 crore as compared to Rs 179.01 crore in FY 2017.

    Siti claims that it added industry leading 3.1 million (0.31 crore or 31 lakh) digital cable households in FY 2018 taking its active digital subscriber base to 11.5 million (1.15 crore or 115 lakh). Siti says in its earnings release that subscription revenue in FY 2018 increased 41 per cent y-o-y to Rs 800 crore and was the main driver for revenue growth.  

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by Siti

    Siti’s consolidated total expenditure (TE) increased 15.2 per cent in FY 2018 to Rs 1,567.56 crore from Rs 1,360.74 crore in fiscal 2017. Adjusting the Rs 16 crore payout to LCOs in FY 2017, TE in FY 2018 increased 16.6 per cent as compared to FY 2017. Carriage sharing, pay channels and related costs are the highest expense head for the company. Carriage sharing, pay channels and related costs in FY 2018 increased 6.8 per cent to Rs 637.90 crore from Rs 597.13 crore in FY 2017. Employee benefit expense during the year under review increased 8.6 per cent to Rs 90.49 crore from Rs 83.29 crore in the previous year. Other expense in fiscal 2018 increased 25.3 per cent to Rs 370.13 crore from Rs 295.47 crore in FY 2017.

    Company speak

    While commenting on the results, Siti chief business transformation officer, Rajesh Sethi said, “We at Siti are proud of our performance for this past year as we enter FY 2019 with significant momentum. In FY 2018 we have achieved strong operational and financial results while also delivering superlative customer experience and must-see content to our approximately 55 million strong consumer base across the country. Our continued focus on customer experience drove exceptional EBITDA growth (2.6x) coupled with industry leading subscriber additions (3.1 million, 0.31 crore, 31 lakh).”

    “We continue to maintain our steady increase in customer additions, driving efficiencies through war on waste, balanced with solid EBITDA growth and expanding margins. We continue to transform into a process driven organisation with customer experience at its heart. As we achieve more from less, our year-over-year growth rates of revenue and EBITDA continue to accelerate, which is a testament of our transformation efforts across SITI,” added Sethi.