ITV

Tag: IBN7

  • TV18 reports loss from news biz for 2nd successive quarter

    TV18 reports loss from news biz for 2nd successive quarter

    MUMBAI: TV18 Broadcast Ltd’s news business reported net loss for the second straight quarter in the year ended 30 September on a sharp rise in interest cost.

    The Network18 subsidiary’s net loss from news business was Rs 252 million in the second quarter and Rs 78 million in the first quarter of this year. In the second quarter of previous year, TV18 had a net profit of Rs 78 million and in the whole of 2011-12, its net profit was Rs 92 million.

    Its interest cost more than doubled to Rs 365 million in the second quarter from Rs 178 million a year earlier.

    The news segment’s operating revenue and operating expenses were both down by 14 per cent in the second quarter compared with a year earlier. Its operating revenue was down to Rs 1.09 billion from Rs 1.27 billion a year earlier, while operating expenses fell to Rs 952 million from Rs 1.10 billion a year earlier.

    TV18 standalone’s operating profit fell 13.50 per cent to Rs 147 million in the second quarter from Rs 170 million a year earlier.

    Revenues from business news as well as general news businesses were down in the second quarter. Revenues from business news were down 16 per cent to Rs 519 million in the second quarter from Rs 619 million a year earlier and from general news down 11.71 per cent to Rs 603 million from Rs 683 million a year earlier.

    TV18 business news’ operating profit in the second quarter was flat at Rs 169 million against Rs 163 million a year earlier. Its general news division’s operating loss widened in the second quarter to Rs 33 million from Rs 7 million a year earlier. In the first quarter of this year, general news segment had reported an operating profit of Rs 22 million.

    TV18 Broadcast results include financials of news channels CNBC TV18, CNBC Awaaz, CNN IBN and IBN7.

  • Promoters’ stake in Network18 rises to 73% after rights issue

    Promoters’ stake in Network18 rises to 73% after rights issue

    MUMBAI: Raghav Bahl’s stake in Network18 has soared to 73 per cent after a muted response from the other shareholders to the rights issue but it is still not clear how much control Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) will have indirectly over the sprawling media company which has interests in television, internet, films, digital commerce, magazines, mobile content and allied businesses.

    RIL’s Independent Media Trust (IMT) was to provide the money the promoters of Network18 would require to subscribe to shares in the rights issues of both Network18 and TV18. The details of funds lent by IMT through investments in zero coupon optionally convertible debentures (ZOCDs) issued by the promoter companies are not yet available.

    A minimum amount of Rs 9.96 billion borrowed from IMT would result in a 51 per cent stake in the promoter companies of Network18 on conversion of the ZOCDs.

    Following the closure of the rights issue on 4 October, the promoter holding in Network18 Media & Investments Ltd has jumped by 51 per cent from its earlier stake of 48.30 per cent.

    This follows the increase in stakes of the six promoter companies which subscribed to the promoters’ entitlement in the rights issue and also to the rights entitlement unsubscribed by non-promoter shareholders.

    After the rights issue, the shareholding of the six promoter companies in Network18 has increased to 66.16 per cent from 36.90 per cent. After including the shareholding of other promoter group holdings, the total promoter stake in Network18 after the rights issue is 73 per cent.

    The six promoter companies are RRB Mediasoft, RB Mediasoft, RB Media Holdings, Watermark Infratech, Colorful Media and Adventure Marketing. These promoter companies are owned and controlled by Bahl, founder of Network18 group, and wife Ritu Kapur.

    Network18’s subsidiary TV18 Broadcast Ltd operates news channels CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz, CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, CNN-IBN, IBN7 and IBN-Lokmat (a Marathi regional news channel in partnership with the Lokmat group of newspapers).

    TV18 also operates a joint venture with Viacom, called Viacom18, which houses a portfolio of popular entertainment channels – Colors, Colors HD, MTV, Sonic, Comedy Central, VH1 and Nick – and Viacom18 Motion Pictures, the group’s filmed entertainment business.

    Network18 offered 307 shares for every 50 shares held by its shareholders at a price of Rs 30 per share. Its subsidiary TV18’s rights issue of 41 shares for every 11 shares held by its shareholders at a price of Rs 20 per share closed on 15 October, but the details of the issue are still not available.

  • TV18’s national news biz achieves break even in FY’12

    TV18’s national news biz achieves break even in FY’12

    MUMBAI: The national news business of TV18 Broadcast continues to be operationally profitable, even if the bottom line is in red. The company said that the national news business of TV18 Broadcast has attained break-even status while losses continue to kick in from regional news operations.

    General News (CNN-IBN, IBN7 & 50% of Lokmat)

    TV18’s general news operations on a combined level posted an operating loss of Rs 17 million for the fourth quarter, narrowing it from Rs 22 million in the earlier year. However, this is marginally higher than the fiscal-third quarter when the operating loss was Rs 16 million.

    Revenue rose to Rs 916 million, from Rs 705 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal.

    For the full-fiscal, revenue stood at Rs 3.03 billion, up from Rs 2.52 billion a year ago. The operating loss stood at Rs 44 million, narrowing from Rs 122 million in FY’11.

    “Our general news operations performed particularly well in a highly competitive market and our revenues for the full year grew by 20 per cent. Our national news operations are now break-even,” the company said.

    Business News (CNBC TV18 and CNBC Awaaz)

    Operating profit from the business news segment for the final quarter of the fiscal has narrowed to Rs 157 million, from Rs 289 million a year ago.

    Revenue stood at Rs 1.03 billion, up from Rs 950 million.

    For the full-fiscal, revenue tood at Rs 3.32 billion, up from Rs 3.06 billion a year ago. Operating profit was down to Rs 604 million, from Rs 880 million.

    “Business news operations delivered a strong quarter driven by the Union Budget quarter. Our flagship coverage of key events such as the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos in January and programming around the Union Budget in February and March as well as coverage on the Budget Day itself was very well received by our audiences,” the company said.

    TV News biz as a whole (CNBC TV18, CNBC Awaaz, CNN IBN and IBN7)

    On a standalone basis, TV18 posted a net loss of Rs 83 million for the quarter compared to Rs 114 million a year ago.

    Income from operations jumped to Rs 1.92 billion, from Rs 688 million. Advertising revenue stood at Rs 1.48 billion (from Rs 641 million), while subscription revenue was Rs 321 million, up from Rs 38 million.

    Operating expenses jumped to Rs 1.77 billion, from Rs 687 million as its spend on marketing, distribution and promotional expenses and production expenses surged almost three times.

    The company has not provided the financial results of Lokmat18, where it holds 50 per cent stake and Lokmat the remaining half, separately this time.

    Infotaiment (History18)

    The operating loss from intotainment channel History18 (AETN18 is a 50:50 JV between A&E TV Network and TV18 which runs History18) stood at Rs 154 million.

    Revenue from infotainment channel History18, which was launched in the third quarter of the fiscal, stood at Rs 63 million.

    TV18’s combined operating loss from news operations and infotainment was Rs 14 million, reversing from a profit of Rs 259 million in the earlier-year quarter. Revenue grew to Rs 2.01 billion compared to Rs 1.65 billion a year ago.

    Consolidated results

    On a consolidated basis, TV18 Broadcast (the name of the listed company) posted a net loss of Rs 334 million for the fiscal fourth quarter, mainly due to new channel launches (Sonic, Comedy Central and Colors HD). The company’s consolidated net loss in the same quarter of the earlier year stood at Rs 132 million.

    Revenue jumped to Rs 5.12 billion, from Rs 2.06 billion a year ago. Advertising revenue (including TIFC and motion pictures) was at Rs 3.12 billion (from Rs 1.64 billion), while subscription revenue stood at Rs 646 million, from Rs 241 million in the year ago period.

    Expenses during the quarter jumped to Rs 5.58 billion, from Rs 1.98 billion.

    For the full fiscal, consolidated net loss widened to Rs 738 million, from Rs 174 million. Revenue stood at Rs 14.23 billion (from Rs 8.04 billion). For the full fiscal, advertising revenue stood at Rs 10.50 billion, while subscription revenue was at Rs 1.90 billion.

    Expenses during the fiscal doubled to Rs 14.72 billion, compared to Rs 7.57 billion in the previous fiscal.

    TV18’s consolidated numbers include 100 per cent standalone and AETN18, 50 per cent share of Viacom18 and 50 per cent share of IBN Lokmat. 

    The company’s shares closed Wednesday at Rs 25.4 on the BSE, up 0.99 per cent.

  • TV18 posts Q2 net profit of Rs 78 mn from news biz

    TV18 posts Q2 net profit of Rs 78 mn from news biz

    MUMBAI: The news business of TV18 is continuing to show positive momentum. The company has posted a net profit of Rs 78 million for the quarter ended 30 September compared to a net loss (performa basis) of Rs 170 million in the year-ago period.

    TV18 said that the numbers for the previous year and quarters are for IBN18 standalone before implementation of the ‘Scheme of Arrangement’ and hence not comparable.

    The net profit from the news business stood at Rs 230 million for the trailing quarter.

    Operating revenue in Q2 jumped to Rs 1.44 billion from Rs 520 million.Expenditure, however, also doubled to Rs 1.27 billion, as against Rs 590 million that the company incurred in the earlier year.

    TV18’s news business consists of CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz and two IBN18 news channels – CNN IBN and IBN7.

    Operating profit of the company stood at Rs 170 million, compared to an operating loss of Rs 70 million a year ago. This, however, included pre-operative losses of Rs 57 million on account of AETN18.

    TV18 also reported the business news (CNBC TV18 and CNBC Awaaz) and general news (CNN IBN and IBN7) numbers separately.

    In general news, revenue for the fiscal second-quarter stood at Rs 722 million (up from Rs 530 million). However, the company incurred operating loss of Rs 7 million from the segment. TV18 also said that national news operations have achieved break-even and loss is coming from regional news operations.

    In the business news segment, revenue stood at Rs 737 million (from Rs 680 million), while operating profit fell to Rs 163 million, from Rs 210 million a year ago.

    TV18 has a net debt of Rs 6.84 billion as of 30 September.

  • Blackberrys launches new TVC with the theme of ‘Go Sharp’

    Blackberrys launches new TVC with the theme of ‘Go Sharp’

    MUMBAI: The apparel brand Blackberrys has launched a new TV commercial that aims to bring to life the “Go Sharp” philosophy of the refurbished brand.


    The TVC is created by McCann Worldgroup TAG Ideation. It reiterates Blackberrys‘ position as a fashion brand.
     
    “Set in a surreal world, our protagonist is seen playfully dodging the paparazzi as soon as he adorns his Blackberrys. The geometric figures and the device of them getting slashed, even through an accidental touch by him, reiterate how everything is ‘cut to size‘ before our protagonist,” Blackberrys spokesperson said.


    The TVC also establishes a “near perfect consistency” with the still campaign. The international fashion looks and the Indian twist perfectly blends in to reflect the brand as well as audience.


    The company has also made a 3- minute Blackberrys music track.
     
    The company has identified that its TG is as much in metros, tier 1 as they are in tier 2 cities. “We also recognize the growing potential of the tier 2 market segment. Therefore, our choice of genres and channels have been basis this understanding of our audiences,” the company said.


    It is using various genres for TV promotions including movies, general entertainment, English and Hindi news, Hindi entertainment etc.


    “We will be present on the leading channels in each of these genres, some of which are NDTV India, AXN, Zee Business, NDTV Good Times, Max, Zoom, Discovery Network, CNBC TV 18, Awaaz, CNN IBN, IBN7, Star Movies, Zee Studio, Zee Café, NDTV 24 X 7, Times Now, and Star News,” the spokesperson said.

  • Blackberrys launches new TVC with the theme of ‘Go Sharp’

    Blackberrys launches new TVC with the theme of ‘Go Sharp’

    MUMBAI: The apparel brand Blackberrys has launched a new TV commercial that aims to bring to life the “Go Sharp” philosophy of the refurbished brand.


    The TVC is created by McCann Worldgroup TAG Ideation. It reiterates Blackberrys‘ position as a fashion brand.
     
    “Set in a surreal world, our protagonist is seen playfully dodging the paparazzi as soon as he adorns his Blackberrys. The geometric figures and the device of them getting slashed, even through an accidental touch by him, reiterate how everything is ‘cut to size‘ before our protagonist,” Blackberrys spokesperson said.


    The TVC also establishes a “near perfect consistency” with the still campaign. The international fashion looks and the Indian twist perfectly blends in to reflect the brand as well as audience.


    The company has also made a 3- minute Blackberrys music track.
     
    The company has identified that its TG is as much in metros, tier 1 as they are in tier 2 cities. “We also recognize the growing potential of the tier 2 market segment. Therefore, our choice of genres and channels have been basis this understanding of our audiences,” the company said.


    It is using various genres for TV promotions including movies, general entertainment, English and Hindi news, Hindi entertainment etc.


    “We will be present on the leading channels in each of these genres, some of which are NDTV India, AXN, Zee Business, NDTV Good Times, Max, Zoom, Discovery Network, CNBC TV 18, Awaaz, CNN IBN, IBN7, Star Movies, Zee Studio, Zee Café, NDTV 24 X 7, Times Now, and Star News,” the spokesperson said.

  • IBN18 Q4 standalone net loss at Rs 110 mn, rev up 25%

    IBN18 Q4 standalone net loss at Rs 110 mn, rev up 25%

    MUMBAI: IBN18 Broadcast has reported a standalone net loss of Rs 110 million for the quarter ended 31 March, from a net loss of Rs 220 million it had posted in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal.

    The standalone results constitute the financials of English and Hindi news channels CNN-IBN and IBN7.

    Total income of the company during the quarter under review surged to Rs 690 million, up 25.45 per cent from the earlier year.

    Expenses rose to Rs 690 million, as against Rs 620 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal and Rs 640 million in the trailing quarter.

    IBN18 managed to be Ebitda positive, as compared to an operating loss of Rs 60 million in the year-ago period. In the trailing quarter, the Ebitda profit was at Rs 80 million.

    For the full fiscal ended 31 March, the company’s net loss has come down to Rs 490 million, from Rs 820 million in FY’10.

    Total income from news operations increased 16.19 per cent to Rs 2.44 billion, from Rs 2.10 billion a year ago, while expenses also surged to Rs 2.50 billion (from Rs 2.22 billion).

    Ebitda loss for the fiscal narrowed to Rs 50 million, from Rs 120 million a year ago.

    On a consolidated basis, IBN18’s net loss for the fourth-quarter stood at Rs 130 million, down from Rs 220 in year ago quarter. Total income was at Rs 2.06 billion, while expenditure stood at Rs 1.98 billion for the quarter. Operating profit was at Rs 80 million.

    For the full fiscal, the company posted a consolidated net loss of Rs 170 million, significantly lower than a net loss of Rs 1.10 billion in previous fiscal. Total revenue jumped to Rs 8.04 billion, while expenses were at Rs 7.57 billion. Operating profit was at Rs 480 million, as against loss of Rs 290 million.

    The consolidated results include financials of Viacom18 and IBN Lokmat. The company consolidated the financials of The Indian Film Company into Viacom18 from the third quarter of the fiscal.

    IBN18 shares closed Monday at Rs 88.45 on the BSE, down 0.39 per cent down the previous close.

  • IBN7 correspondent released after media protests in UP

    IBN7 correspondent released after media protests in UP

    NEW DELHI: The media fraternity has strongly protested the arrest of Shalabh Mani Tripathi, the Lucknow bureau chief of IBN7 news channel, as an attempt to gag the media for the recent coverage of rising crime graph in the state.

    As the news of Tripathi‘s detention spread, a large number of media fraternity gathered outside the police station in Lucknow. He was released later after fellow scribes hit the streets.
            
    Protesting the incident, journalists from across media organisations staged a demonstration near chief minister’s residence, after which the secretary to the chief minister told the reporters that the process of suspension of the police officers has been initiated.

    Two senior journalists of IBN7 were also targeted and roughed up by senior police officers from the Lucknow administration on Sunday night when IBN7 refused to compromise and succumb under government pressure and bow down to their unreasonable demands in relation to this story.

    Shalabh has been tracking deputy chief medical officer Dr Y.S. Sachan‘s death. In fact, Shalabh is the person who first broke Dr Sachan’s death story in Lucknow Jail and exposed the UP Government as to how they were trying to hush up the case by showing it to be a suicide and not murder, thus highlighting the loopholes in the probe and the versions given by the government.

    The government was eventually forced to retract their earlier version and has now registered his death as a case of murder under pressure not just from the family but even from the medico legal fraternity within the Uttar Pradesh government and beyond.

    IBN7 was also switched off/blacked out in entire UP on several occasions during last few weeks when the channel refused to compromise and succumb to the State administration’s pressures.

    IBN Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai said, “IBN7 is committed to uncover the truth and we will continue to highlight the facts despite these pressure tactics. We will not get fazed by these attempts to curb the freedom of press, in fact this makes our resolve stronger to stand for the truth”.

    Speaking about the unfortunate development, IBN7 managing editor Ashutosh said, “This is the second time that an attempt to curtail the freedom of press is made by unruly elements who want to prevent us from bringing the facts; nothing can stop our committed journalists from unveiling the truth.”

  • IBN18 narrows Q3 standalone net loss to Rs 10 mn

    IBN18 narrows Q3 standalone net loss to Rs 10 mn

    MUMBAI: IBN18 Broadcast has curtailed its standalone net loss to Rs 10 million for the quarter ended 31 December, from a net loss of Rs 109.63 million in the year-ago period.

    The standalone results constitute the financials of English and Hindi news channels CNN IBN and IBN7.

    Total income surged to Rs 720 million, up 24.14 per cent from the earlier year, on ad gains due to the festive season during the quarter.

    Meanwhile, expenses were under check at Rs 640 million as compared to Rs 525.98 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal.  
         
    IBN18 has reported operating profit of Rs 80 million for the quarter under review compared to an operating profit of Rs 60 million in the prior-year period.

    IBN18‘s consolidated net profit stood at Rs 200 million. Total income was at Rs 2.36 billion, while expenditure stood at Rs 2.04 billion for the quarter. Operating profit was at Rs 320 million.

    The consolidated results include financials of Viacom18, The Indian Film Company (50 per cent each) and IBN Lokmat.

  • Dilip Venkatraman is CNN-IBN CEO

    Dilip Venkatraman is CNN-IBN CEO

    MUMBAI: Network18 has promoted N Dilip Venkatraman to a newly created post of CEO, CNN-IBN. He will lead Network18‘s English news channel with immediate effect.

    In his new role, Venkatraman will be responsible for the strategic, financial and operational management of the channel.

    Network18 is going through a restructuring phase as it is preparing for its next phase of growth. The company had recently elevated Anil Uniyal to the newly created post of CEO – CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz. It had also moved Ajay Chacko, who was playing a critical role in looking after CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz and Forbes India, to its new joint venture company, AETN18, as its president.  
         
      Earlier in his role as chief marketing officer of CNN-IBN, IBN7 and IBN-Lokmat, Venkatraman was leading marketing operations for all existing and upcoming IBN channels and managing IBN Focus, the alternative media solutions unit for the channels, as COO.

    Network18 Group COO B Saikumar said, “We believe that the English news market is poised for tremendous growth and CNN-IBN would be best placed to lead this emerging trend. In Dilip, we entrust the responsibility of managing this growth, ensuring sustained profitability and leading the drive to further enhance the brand’s equity and audience franchise.”

    Venkatraman is known for conceptualising properties at Network18 including CNN-IBN Indian of the Year, Real Heroes, IBN7 Diamond States Awards, Citizen Journalist Awards and IBN7 Super Idols.

    CNN-IBN, IBN7, IBN-Lokmat Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai said, “Dilip has been a core member of the team instrumental in building the IBN news network into a leadership position, beginning with the launch of CNN-IBN in 2005. His remarkable success in communicating our values of inclusive journalism has helped us grow CNN-IBN into a clear leader in English news and ensured that CNN-IBN, IBN 7 and IBN Lokmat evolve into the stellar editorial brands that they are today and we’re confident that he’ll continue to contribute immensely in the next level of growth for CNN-IBN.”

    Venkatraman has over 19 years of corporate experience and prior to joining Network18, he held leadership positions at the India Today Group and Zee Network. He is a graduate in public administration and holds management qualifications from IIM Bangalore and Harvard Business School.

    Venkatraman added, “I believe that, right from the outset, CNN-IBN has set the agenda for news in the country with its unique brand of inclusive and passionate journalism which has inturn powered its growth. I hope to work closely with team CNN-IBN to further strengthen our editorial and market leadership.”