ITV

Tag: Kalanithi Maran

  • Sun TV fiscal 2017 numbers grow

    BENGALURU: Sun TV Network Limited (Sun TV) reported improved numbers across all important parameters for the year ended 31 March 2017 (FY-17, current year, fiscal) as compared to the previous year (FY-16). Sun TV reported 8.1 percent higher consolidated total income in the current year at Rs 27,995.2 million as compared to Rs 25,899.7 million in FY-16. Operating revenue increased 7 percent to Rs 26,457.2 million in FY-17 from Rs 24,736.2 million in FY-16.

    On a standalone basis, the company says in its earnings release that subscription revenue at Rs 9,614.1 million was up 18 percent as against Rs 8,126.8 million in the previous year.

    The company’s profit after tax or PAT in FY-17 improved 11.7 percent to Rs 10,306.6 million (39 percent of Operating Revenue) as compared to Rs 9,223.1 million (37.3 percent of Operating Revenue) in FY-16.

    Sun TV EBIDTA in the current year was Rs 17,698.4million (66.9 percent of Operating Revenue), 2.1 percent higher as compared to Rs 17,327.4 million (70 percent of Operating revenue) in FY-16.

    Total Expenditure (TE) in the current year increased 3 percent to Rs 12,773.6 million (48.3 percent of Operating Revenue) as compared to Rs 12,397.9 million (50.1 percent of Operating Revenue) in the previous year.

    Operating expense in fiscal 2017 increased 19.3 percent to Rs 2,337.7 million (8.8 percent of Operating Revenue) from Rs 1,958.1 million in the previous year.

    Employee Benefits Expense in FY-17 increased 8.6 percent to Rs 2,562,7 million (9.7 percent of Operating Revenue) as compared to Rs 2,359.9 million (9.5 percent of TIO) in FY-16.

    Other expenses (OE) in the FY-17 was 13.8.percent more at Rs 2,381.2 million (9 percent of Operating Revenue) as compared to Rs 2,092.4 million (8.5 percent of Operating Revenue) in the previous year.

    Sun TV has paid franchisee fees for its IPL team Sun Risers Hyderabad (SRH) of Rs 85.48 million in Q1-17 as compared to Rs 85.05 million in the first quarter of FY-16.

  • Sun TV to benefit greatly from DAS III & IV: Centrum Broking

    MUMBAI: Stockbroking firm Centrum Broking’s research team is relatively bullish on the Sun TV Network. In its latest report, Centrum has stated that Sun TV has said that recent developments bode well for the Kalanithi Maran promoted southern TV network.

    “We draw comfort from the court’s recent dismissal of all charges against the promoters, its high dividend payout, the Rs 18 billion cash in its books,” its says in the report.

    Centrum is hopeful that cable TV digitisation in Phase III and Phase IV will double Sun TV’s subscription revenues over the next three years. “We expect that it would be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the digitization,” the report says.

    Evidence of that comes from the recent 30 per cent increase in subscription income YoY and the 10 per cent increase in DTH subscription income (it currently has 13.1 million paying subs) contribution in Q3 FY 2017 .

    “It has started to add income from content trading which represents revenue earned from mobile service providers,” says Centrum in the report.

    The broker points out that the Sun TV Network management has become cautious on its spends over the past year or so and has stopped handing out big wads of money to acquire expensive movies. This has helped improve its EBIDTA margins as its amortisation expenses have gone down. Centrum expects this trend to continue going forward.

    The investment banking firm points out that there is other good news coming in from Sun TV as it relooks at its content strategy for its channels in Telugu and Kannada.

    The launch of new shows in the Telugu market has helped it gain significant market share there and increase yield by 30 per cent in Q3 FY 2017. “We believe this yield increase would have a positive impact on the smaller channels in the Telugu market,” it says in the report.

    Sun TV is also looking at relaunching its Kannada language channel with commissioned content within the next two months which will gain traction over the next three quarters, Centrum points out.

    However, it says that overall Sun TV is struggling (like other media companies) – on the advertising revenues front — following the impact of demonetization — as these shrank (in its case 6.8 per cent) in the latest quarter.

    “The recovery would take another quarter as Sun TV is highly dependent on local ads and the FMCG sector’s ad spend.”

    In the latest Q3-2017 financials declared on 10 February, Sun TV reported a 2.8 per cent increase in YoY revenues to Rs 589.43 crore; PAT growth by 11 per cent to Rs 240.09 crore; and EBIDTA increase by 0.6 per cent to Rs 439.73 crore. The company also declared a 100 per cent dividend for its shareholders.

    Also Read :

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/regional/sun-tv-third-quarter-of-2017-numbers-up-170211

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/regulators/supreme-court/marans-discharged-sc-no-to-stay-hearing-on-wed-170203

  • Sun Network channels rule ratings in south India

    Sun Network channels rule ratings in south India

    BENGALURU: Despite the setback in the Kannada general entertainment television channel space where the Kalanithi Maran-run Sun TV Network’s Udaya Movies was placed at number 4 and Udaya TV at number 5 in BARC rankings, in the other southern regional space, its channel continue dominance.

    Sun’s Udaya TV which was once numero uno in the Kannada GEC space had to be satisfied with fifth rank among the top five channels with just 89,024 weekly impressions (000s) Sums in week 1 of 2017 (Saturday 31 December 2016 to Friday 6 January 2017). The Kannada GEC space is one of the smallest among the four Southern Sisters (now five with the split up of Andhra Pradesh) – Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages.

    However in the really big markets – the Tamil and the Telugu space – the Sun Network’s channels Sun TV with 1,178,344 weekly impressions (000s) Sums and Gemini TV 522,890 weekly impressions (000s) Sums were ranked number 1, and in the smaller Malayalam space it’s Surya TV with 90,293 weekly impressions (000s) Sums was placed at number 2. It must be noted that across all genres including Hindi GEC, Sun TV holds rank no 1 with 1,282,328 weekly impressions (000s) Sums.

    Another network whose channels have consistently been among the top five in the Southern regional space is Star India.

    In the Kannada TV space Star India’s Suvarna TV with 189,519 weekly impressions (000s) Sums stood third, behind Colors Kannada which was number 1 with 299,783 weekly impressions (000s) Sums and Subhash Chandra’s Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) Zee Kannada that had 214,243 weekly impressions (000s) Sums. Udaya Movies was number 4 with 148,557 weekly impressions (000s) Sums.

    In the Tamil GEC space, Star India’s Star Vijay TV with 206,384 weekly impressions (000s) was at number 4, behind Sun TV at pole position, the Sun Network’s KTV with 255, 995 weekly impressions (000s) Sums and Zee Tamil with 222,931 weekly impressions (000s) Sums. Jaya TV stood fifth in the Tamil GEC space with 83,107 weekly impressions (000s) Sums.

    In the Telugu GEC space, Star India’s Maa TV with 383,650 weekly impressions (000s) Sums was ranked fourth behind Gemini TV at number 1, ETV Telugu at no 2 with 438,475 weekly impressions (000s) Sums and Zee Telugu with 402,015 weekly impressions (000s) Sums at third place. The Sun Network’s Gemini movies with 177,922 weekly impressions (000s) Sums was fifth.

    In the Malayalam GEC space, Star India’s Asianet ruled the roost with 323,454 weekly impressions (000s) Sums, followed by Surya TV at second place as mentioned above. Mazhavil Manorama stood third with 78315 weekly impressions (000s) Sums, followed by Flowers TV with 75,451 weekly impressions (000s) Sums and Star India’s Asianet Movies with 73159 weekly impressions (000s) Sums at number 5.

  • Sun Network channels rule ratings in south India

    Sun Network channels rule ratings in south India

    BENGALURU: Despite the setback in the Kannada general entertainment television channel space where the Kalanithi Maran-run Sun TV Network’s Udaya Movies was placed at number 4 and Udaya TV at number 5 in BARC rankings, in the other southern regional space, its channel continue dominance.

    Sun’s Udaya TV which was once numero uno in the Kannada GEC space had to be satisfied with fifth rank among the top five channels with just 89,024 weekly impressions (000s) Sums in week 1 of 2017 (Saturday 31 December 2016 to Friday 6 January 2017). The Kannada GEC space is one of the smallest among the four Southern Sisters (now five with the split up of Andhra Pradesh) – Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages.

    However in the really big markets – the Tamil and the Telugu space – the Sun Network’s channels Sun TV with 1,178,344 weekly impressions (000s) Sums and Gemini TV 522,890 weekly impressions (000s) Sums were ranked number 1, and in the smaller Malayalam space it’s Surya TV with 90,293 weekly impressions (000s) Sums was placed at number 2. It must be noted that across all genres including Hindi GEC, Sun TV holds rank no 1 with 1,282,328 weekly impressions (000s) Sums.

    Another network whose channels have consistently been among the top five in the Southern regional space is Star India.

    In the Kannada TV space Star India’s Suvarna TV with 189,519 weekly impressions (000s) Sums stood third, behind Colors Kannada which was number 1 with 299,783 weekly impressions (000s) Sums and Subhash Chandra’s Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) Zee Kannada that had 214,243 weekly impressions (000s) Sums. Udaya Movies was number 4 with 148,557 weekly impressions (000s) Sums.

    In the Tamil GEC space, Star India’s Star Vijay TV with 206,384 weekly impressions (000s) was at number 4, behind Sun TV at pole position, the Sun Network’s KTV with 255, 995 weekly impressions (000s) Sums and Zee Tamil with 222,931 weekly impressions (000s) Sums. Jaya TV stood fifth in the Tamil GEC space with 83,107 weekly impressions (000s) Sums.

    In the Telugu GEC space, Star India’s Maa TV with 383,650 weekly impressions (000s) Sums was ranked fourth behind Gemini TV at number 1, ETV Telugu at no 2 with 438,475 weekly impressions (000s) Sums and Zee Telugu with 402,015 weekly impressions (000s) Sums at third place. The Sun Network’s Gemini movies with 177,922 weekly impressions (000s) Sums was fifth.

    In the Malayalam GEC space, Star India’s Asianet ruled the roost with 323,454 weekly impressions (000s) Sums, followed by Surya TV at second place as mentioned above. Mazhavil Manorama stood third with 78315 weekly impressions (000s) Sums, followed by Flowers TV with 75,451 weekly impressions (000s) Sums and Star India’s Asianet Movies with 73159 weekly impressions (000s) Sums at number 5.

  • Aircel-Maxis case: 2G court seeks to speed trial against Marans

    Aircel-Maxis case: 2G court seeks to speed trial against Marans

    MUMBAI: Is the hand of the law closing in on Sun TV promoter Kalanithi Maran and his brother, the former telecom minister, Dayanidhi Maran?

    A special 2G court has decided that the trial against the two brothers be separated from Malaysian nationals T.Ananda Krishnan and Augustus Ralph Marshall and two firms Astro All Asia Network PLC and Maxis Communication Berhad, co-accused in the Aircel-Maxis case. The reason: the latter may not appear, which could delay the trial proceedings.

    According to a PTI report, special judge O.P. Saini has ordered the issue of an open and perpetual arrest warrant against Krishnan and Marshall.

    Krishnan is the driving force behind the leading Malaysian DTH operator Astro and was once known for his proximity to former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohammed.

    Despite several efforts, summons have not been served on both, Krishnan and Marshall, as the Malaysian authorities have not been cooperating and effecting the service. This is despite the legal mutual assistance treaty between India and the south east Asian nation.

    The CBI, which has filed the charge sheet against the eight accused for offences punishable under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, had pleaded with the court to issue arrest warrants against Krishnan and Marshall in August.

    In the 27-page order, the court noted that the allegations against the accused were “serious” and the only way left was to approach Interpol for which issuance of warrant was necessary.

    Said the court:

    “It is ordered that the trial of the appearing accused, that is, Dayanidhi Maran, Kalanithi Maran, M/s Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd and M/s South Asia Entertainment Holdings Ltd be segregated from the trial of accused Ralph Marshall, T Ananda Krishnan, M/s Astro All Asia Network Plc and M/s Maxis Communications Berhad.

    “Miscellaneous file be opened relating these four accused, who are yet to be served. It is further ordered that an open and perpetual warrant of arrest be issued against Marshall and Krishnan.”

    “Malaysian authorities have categorically declined to effect the service. In such a situation, the only way left is to approach the Interpol and for that issue of warrant is necessary…

    “In such a situation when further issuance of summons would be a futile exercise, it is rightful for the prosecution to ask for warrant of arrest against the accused.”

  • Aircel-Maxis case: 2G court seeks to speed trial against Marans

    Aircel-Maxis case: 2G court seeks to speed trial against Marans

    MUMBAI: Is the hand of the law closing in on Sun TV promoter Kalanithi Maran and his brother, the former telecom minister, Dayanidhi Maran?

    A special 2G court has decided that the trial against the two brothers be separated from Malaysian nationals T.Ananda Krishnan and Augustus Ralph Marshall and two firms Astro All Asia Network PLC and Maxis Communication Berhad, co-accused in the Aircel-Maxis case. The reason: the latter may not appear, which could delay the trial proceedings.

    According to a PTI report, special judge O.P. Saini has ordered the issue of an open and perpetual arrest warrant against Krishnan and Marshall.

    Krishnan is the driving force behind the leading Malaysian DTH operator Astro and was once known for his proximity to former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohammed.

    Despite several efforts, summons have not been served on both, Krishnan and Marshall, as the Malaysian authorities have not been cooperating and effecting the service. This is despite the legal mutual assistance treaty between India and the south east Asian nation.

    The CBI, which has filed the charge sheet against the eight accused for offences punishable under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, had pleaded with the court to issue arrest warrants against Krishnan and Marshall in August.

    In the 27-page order, the court noted that the allegations against the accused were “serious” and the only way left was to approach Interpol for which issuance of warrant was necessary.

    Said the court:

    “It is ordered that the trial of the appearing accused, that is, Dayanidhi Maran, Kalanithi Maran, M/s Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd and M/s South Asia Entertainment Holdings Ltd be segregated from the trial of accused Ralph Marshall, T Ananda Krishnan, M/s Astro All Asia Network Plc and M/s Maxis Communications Berhad.

    “Miscellaneous file be opened relating these four accused, who are yet to be served. It is further ordered that an open and perpetual warrant of arrest be issued against Marshall and Krishnan.”

    “Malaysian authorities have categorically declined to effect the service. In such a situation, the only way left is to approach the Interpol and for that issue of warrant is necessary…

    “In such a situation when further issuance of summons would be a futile exercise, it is rightful for the prosecution to ask for warrant of arrest against the accused.”

  • ED charge-sheet may jeopardise expansion plans of Sun TV and FM; group considering legal options

    ED charge-sheet may jeopardise expansion plans of Sun TV and FM; group considering legal options

    NEW DELHI: The security clearances for both the proposals for expansion of Sun TV and the group’s FM channels will get further jeopardised with the filing of a charge-sheet against the Maran brothers Kalanithi and Dayanidhi, Kalanithi Maran’s wife Kavery Maran and three others including two companies.

     

    A spokesperson for the group told Indiantelevision.com from Chennai that the company was examining legal recourse to ensue that the expansion plans are not jeopardised as they are linked to freedom of the press and have nothing to do with the alleged money-laundering cases.

     

    This follows the corruption case lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the Aircel-Maxis deal. The complaint alleged that Rs 742.58 crore was paid for former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran by two Mauritius-based companies through Sun Direct TV Pvt. Ltd and South Asia FM Ltd.

     

    Special Judge O P Saini here has fixed 18 January as the date for consideration and taking cognisance of the complaint, asked the ED to place all relevant documents before it.

     

    The two companies are owned and controlled by Kalanidhi, and the money was utilised by these companies for their business, the complaint alleged.

     

    SAFL, SDTPL and SAFL managing director K Shanmugam has also been named as accused in the complaint.

     

    Dayanidhi allegedly obtained the proceeds of crime (Rs 742.58 crore) by camouflaging it as capital contribution in SDTPL and SAFL and thus committed the offence of money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the complaint said.

     

    SDTPL is owned and controlled by Kalanithi and Kaveri, being the chairman and the director respectively. It received the proceeds of crime, Rs 549.03 crore for Dayanidhi in the guise of foreign investment, which was consumed by it in its business, the complaint said.

     

    SAFL received Rs 193.55 crore for Dayanidhi by projecting it as capital contribution received by the company. This amount was also consumed by SAFL in its business.

     

    The ED had on 1 April last attached assets of Dayanidhi, Kalanidhi and Kaveri Kalanidhi and other accused equivalent to proceeds of crime of (Rs 742.58 crore).

     

    Earlier, the CBI in August 2014 had chargesheeted Maran brothers, Malaysian business tycoon T Ananda Krishnan, Malaysian national Augustus Ralph Marshall and four companies — Sun Direct TV, Maxis Communication Berhad, South Asia Entertainment Holding Ltd and Astro All Asia Network PLC — in the case.

     

    The CBI had earlier alleged in the court that Dayanidhi had “pressured” and “forced” Chennai-based telecom promoter C Sivasankaran to sell his stakes in Aircel and two subsidiary firms to Malaysian firm Maxis Group in 2006.

  • Sun TV rises again; seeks board approval for buyback

    Sun TV rises again; seeks board approval for buyback

    MUMBAI: The Sun TV Network stock hit a high of Rs 459 on 20 March, 2015, on the back of good results. But the share starting sliding thereafter and hit a low of Rs 256.05 on 22 July 2015. 

     

    This followed its promoter Kalanithi Maran’s woes with SpiceJet, the Ministry of Home Affairs’ denial of security clearance to Sun Network’s 33 channels, the income tax authorities cracking the whip on the 50 year old Maran and his wife Kaveri.

     

    Naysayers and the media said that the two had met their match and they would be forced to sell their holdings in the listed entity and exit the media business. 

     

    Then the government barred the group’s sister company Red FM from taking part in the FM radio phase III auctions.

     

    But lo and behold the husband-wife duo did not take things lying down. Red FM went to the courts, which ruled in the company’s favour and it was permitted to take part in the e-Auctions. 

     

    And the Marans have come back with a vengeance. The first rural + urban BARC ratings saw Sun TV emerging as the highest viewed channel in India. And the company declared healthy results for the second quarter of fiscal 2016. Additionally, the company is sitting on Rs  750 crore in cash.

     

    Now the Sun TV Network has informed the stock exchange that the company is holding a board meeting on 5 November to consider buying back its equity shares from the public. Buying back shares would involve paying cash and annulling them. 

     

    The Marans hold about 75 per cent of the stock and hence may have to tender their some of their holdings to comply with Sebi restrictions. 

     

    It was not clear at the time of writing if the company would go all the way and delist from the stock exchange or whether the buy back is being considered as a sign of the Maran’s confidence about the company’s future and hence boost investor sentiment. 

     

    Meanwhile, the Sun TV shares spurted five per cent on 30 October to close the day at Rs 395.70. It hit an intraday high of Rs 411. 

     

    Watch this space for more news. 

  • Sun TV promoters have no intention of divesting stake

    Sun TV promoters have no intention of divesting stake

    MUMBAI: Contrary to what has been reported in certain section of the media, Sun TV promoters Kalanithi Maran and his wife Kaveri Kalanithi have no intention of divesting their stake in the company.

     

    In response to market speculations that Marans were looking to exit the company by divesting their shares to two private equity firms, Sun TV group chief financial officer (CFO) SL Narayanan rubbished reports while addressing the media at the company’s annual general meeting (AGM) in Chennai.

     

    “The promoters have no plans to either divest or dilute their stake in the company. They will not cash out or exit Sun TV,” Narayanan firmly stated.

     

    What’s more, the network is also expecting an increase in subscriptions while the Phase III and IV of the TV digitisation continues, as per Narayanan. Sun TV’s subscription income for the year ended 31 March, 2015 was Rs 738 crore as compared to Rs 644 crore during the previous year.

     

    The company’s ad sales revenue also witnessed a growth of 6.5 per cent at to Rs 1,136.09 crore during the year ended 31 March, 2015 as compared to Rs 1,067.04 crore during the previous year.

     

    Apart from the case that Maran is fighting against charges of money laundering, the Sun TV Network was also in the news for being denied security clearance by the Ministry of Home Affairs. 

     

    Moreover, according to media reports, Sun TV’s AGM also saw a shareholder raising concerns over the huge disparity in income of Kalanithi Maran and the company’s independent directors. It was reported that Maran and his wife took home a salary of Rs 61 crore each in the year ended 31 March. Juxtaposed to that, Sun TV’s independent directors get a fee of up to Rs 26,000.

     

    Despite the trials and tribulations that the company has been facing over the last few months, Narayanan remained optimistic about the company’s future. “We have been through difficult times and will come out completely unscathed. I am confident, at the end, truth will prevail and we will come out (with) flying colours,” he said.

  • SC stays ED proceedings in Aircel-Maxis case to attach Sun TV assets

    SC stays ED proceedings in Aircel-Maxis case to attach Sun TV assets

    NEW DELHI: For the second time within a month, the Supreme Court has come to the rescue of the beleaguered Sun TV group owned by the Maran brothers.

     

    Earlier on 26 July, the apex Court had permitted the FM channels associated with the group to take part in the e-auctions that commenced on 27 July.

     

    The SC today stayed the attachment proceedings before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) Adjudicating Authority against Sun TV assets of the Maran brothers in the Aircel-Maxis case.

     

    The Court, however, said the provisional attachment order issued by the ED would stay alive even if the 180-day period for confirming the attachment order is over.

     

    ED had ordered provisional attachment of assets of Sun TV worth Rs 742 crore allegedly linked to the Aircel-Maxis deal. The attachment order was under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

     

    Sun TV had approached the Supreme Court against a Madras High Court order refusing to hear their plea against the provisional attachment on the grounds that the case was linked to the 2G spectrum scam, which is already pending before the bench headed by the Chief Justice of the apex court.