ITV

Tag: RIL

  • Scale meets technology at Reliance Jio’s massive employee launch

    Scale meets technology at Reliance Jio’s massive employee launch

    MUMBAI: Reliance Jio’s launch for its employees is set to create history in corporate India, as for the first time an employee launch will see as many as 35,000 people attending the event at the venue. 

    The event will be beamed live on the Jio network across 1000+ locations – one of them being in Dallas, US – where another 80,000 – 90,000 Reliance Industries Ltd’s (RIL) employees and their immediate kin will be watching.

    The locations will be connected to the event venue at Reliance Corporate Park (RCP) via Jio’s high-speed network, which will enable two-way video interaction between employees outside Mumbai and RIL chairman Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani. 

    “The conglomerate will provide high-speed Jionet Wi-Fi free to 35,000 spectators at the venue in RCP,” the company said. The venue, with its huge futuristic stage to match the digital spirit of Jio and spaced out stands for spectators’ viewing comfort, has been built from scratch in seven days flat, with thousands of men, and heavy duty machines like earthmovers and cranes, working in shifts round the clock. Gigantic LED screenshave been set at strategic locations at the event venue.

    Digital invitations have been sent out to every RIL employee. The link on the digital invite leads employees to an exclusive portal managed by BookMyShow (BMS). Once employees registers themselves and their immediate family on the portal, the portal allocates tickets for the employees and their families.

    “Seat allocation happens automatically (no choice of option), and QMS codes are generated to facilitate electronic allocation. Seats are colour-coded and numbered. Car parking too is allotted by the same portal, with separate spaces for chauffeur-driven and self-driven cars” an executive taking care of the production informed Indiantelevision.com.

    The mega launch of Reliance Jio will no doubt be watched with bated breath by all and sundry. 

  • Reliance Industries appoints IPL ex-COO Sundar Raman As CEO – Sports

    Reliance Industries appoints IPL ex-COO Sundar Raman As CEO – Sports

    MUMBAI: Former sports administrator and sports marketing and management professional Sundar Raman is joining Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) as its CEO – Sports. He will be responsible for consolidation and integration of RIL’s sports portfolio including its Foundation activities in sports. In addition to the existing sports properties of RIL, Raman will be driving newer avenues of growth in this area and also at integration with Reliance’s digital services of Jio. 

     

    Over the course of last few years, RIL has invested in a variety of sports properties and is now positioned as one of India’s leading sports businesses.  RIL is involved in multiple sports (cricket, football, basketball, tennis, golf) either on its own or through its Joint Ventures. In addition, the Reliance Foundation has several initiatives such as Basketball and Young Champs.

     

    Raman said “I am delighted at the opportunity to join Reliance. The group’s existing sports properties coupled with its Jio digital services provides newer areas of growth. RIL has a huge aspiration in the sports area. The opportunity to be engaged in integrating the entire sports portfolio and make Sports also an integral and important element in RIL’s growth will be an exciting journey”

     

    Raman brings with him to Reliance a rich and unique experience of over two decades in understanding consumer insights and as a pioneer in the growth of sporting properties in India. Until November 3, 2015, Raman was COO of the Indian Premier League (IPL), a post from which he resigned. Raman was officially appointed as IPL COO after a decade in strategic media thinking business working for brands such as Unilever, PepsiCo, Motorola, Samsung and Amex through J. Walter Thomson and later as Managing Director of Mindshare.

  • Q2-2016: Reliance Jio to ramp beta program; organized retail on growth path

    Q2-2016: Reliance Jio to ramp beta program; organized retail on growth path

    BENGALURU: The Mukesh Ambani led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) organised retail segment – Reliance Retail, continued its growth momentum and profitability in the quarter ended 30 September, 2105 (Q2-2016, current quarter).

     

    RIL chairman and managing director Ambani said, “Reliance Retail achieved a milestone of Rs 5,000 crore quarterly turnover mark for the first time, reflecting continuing growth momentum in physical retailing. In Digital Services, we have substantially completed the network roll-out across the country and initiated the process of beta testing of our network and platforms.”

     

    “We achieved record levels of EBITDA and profits for the quarter, underscoring our ability to optimally utilise our assets across the value chain to leverage favourable market conditions. Refining business performance was notable, as it benefited from a combination of high utilisation levels, advantageous crude market opportunities and strong global fuels demand. Petrochemicals segment performance reflects strong volume growth, product mix improvement and lower energy costs,” he said.

     

    “We maintained a rapid pace of construction activity during the quarter. The company’s world-scale petroleum coke gasification facility and ethylene cracker complex remains on track for its planned 2016 start-up,” added Ambani.

     

    Revenues for Q2-2016 grew by 22 per cent Yo-Y to Rs 5,091 crore from Rs 4,167 crore and 8.4 per cent QoQ from Rs 4698 crore. RIL says that all format sectors grew through store additions as well as like for like growth ranging up to 16 per cent. The business delivered PBDIT growth of 12.9 per cent at Rs 210 crore in Q2-2016 as against Rs 186 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year, and PBIT growth of 3.4 per cent from Rs 203 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    Further, Reliance Retail expanded its reach with a net addition of 110 stores during the quarter. As on 30 September, 2015, Reliance Retail operated 2,857 stores across over 250 cities in India.

     

    The company says that Reliance Retail 2.0 initiatives encompassing fashion and lifestyle e-commerce, development of market place platform and building distribution ecosystem for Reliance Jio devices are on track and gearing up for rollout in a staged manner.

     

    Reliance Retail would soon launch its own brand of 4G LTE smartphones under the brand LYF. The brand built on the premise of unmatched user experience will offer high performance handsets that deliver a true 4G experience comparable to the best in the world. LYF range of smartphones with features like Voice over LTE (VoLTE), Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWi-FI), HD Voice and HD quality video calling will enable users to experience a new digital life.

     

    LYF phones will reach consumers across the country through one of the widest distribution and retail network for smartphones. The devices will soon be available at multi-brand outlets (MBOs) and modern trade including Reliance Retail stores across India.

     

    RIL numbers

     

    For Q2-2016, RIL achieved a turnover of Rs 75,117 crore, a decrease of 33.8 per cent, as compared to Rs 113,396 crore in Q2-2015 and 9.6 per cent lower than the Rs 83064 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    However, RIL’s net profit after tax (PAT) increased 12.5 per cent in Q2-2016 to Rs 6720 crore as compared to the Rs 5972 crore in Q2-2015 and increased 8 per cent as compared to the Rs 6222 crore in the previous quarter.

     

    Sale of Network18 shares

     

    In July 2015, RIL sold 3.25 crore shares of Network18 Media & Investments Limited, (representing 3.10 per cent of the equity capital of NW18) to bring down the aggregate shareholding of the promoter and promoter group to 75 per cent and increase the public shareholding to 25 per cent as mandated by Clause 40A of the listing agreement pursuant to Securities Contract (Regulation) Rules, 1957.

     

    Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited

     

    Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL), a subsidiary of RIL, has substantially completed its network roll-out across the country. The network is currently being tested and optimised. Most of the business platforms have been rolled out and are being tested in a limited use environment. Large number of testers have been employed by the company across the country to facilitate extensive testing of network and business platforms.

     

    The company expects to ramp up its beta program over the next few weeks to further optimise the network, prior to commercial launch of operations. Financial year 2016-17 is projected to be the first year of commercial operations for RJIL.

     

    RJIL has launched Wi-Fi hot spots across several locations in the country and has entered into agreements with some of the State and Local Authorities to provide Wi-Fi services. RJIL has also started rolling out last-mile connectivity for its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) business.

  • Sun TV slams reports about stake sell to Reliance Industries

    Sun TV slams reports about stake sell to Reliance Industries

    MUMBAI: Kalanithi Maran owned Sun TV network has slammed media reports suggesting a possible sell out to Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Limited (RIL).

     

    As was reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, media reports published on 20 March, 2015 claimed a possible takeover of Sun TV by Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) had sought clarification from both the companies, which are listed on the bourse.

     

    Responding to the clarification notice from BSE, Sun Group CFO SL Narayanan said, “There is absolutely no truth in the news report that Sun TV is considering a stake sale.”

     

    Echoing the same, RIL in its reply to the BSE has said, “We wish to state that there is no truth in what a website in question has chosen to write. Do please note that the reporter did not ask us about the facts.”

     

    In a notice to both, BSE had earlier in the day said, “The Exchange has sought clarification from Sun TV Network Ltd and RIL with respect to news article appearing on ET Now on 20 March, 2015 titled “Tehelka reports – RIL considering acquiring Sun TV, RIL officials meeting at Chennai office to work out deal & deal in works for last 3 months.”

       

  • BSE seeks clarification from Sun TV following media reports of RIL buy out

    BSE seeks clarification from Sun TV following media reports of RIL buy out

    MUMBAI: It was on 20 March 2015, that a media house published a speculative report stating possibilities of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) taking over Kalanithi Maran’s Sun TV Network.

     

    Last year, RIL had shocked the media industry by taking over one of India’s largest media companies – Network18.

     

    The report further claims senior officials of RIL holding numerous meetings in Sun TV’s Chennai office to work the deal out.

     

    Mukesh Ambani led Reliance Industries, which already has made its foray into the media sector by Network18’s acquisition, if at all takes over Sun TV, will put a huge question mark on the credibility and freedom of media.

     

    Following the developments, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has sought for a clarification from both Sun TV and RIL.

     

    In a notice to both, BSE has said, “The Exchange has sought clarification from Sun TV Network Ltd with respect to news article appearing on ET Now on 20 March, 2015 titled “Tehelka reports – RIL considering acquiring Sun TV, RIL officials meeting at Chennai office to work out deal & deal in works for last 3 months.” 

     

    The reply from both the parties is awaited.

     

  • Q2-2015: Reliance Retail juggernaut grows 20 per cent y-o-y

    Q2-2015: Reliance Retail juggernaut grows 20 per cent y-o-y

    BENGALURU:  The Mukesh Ambani led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) announced its Q2-2015 results on 13 October reporting a y-o-y  de-growth of 4.3 per cent in consolidated turnover to Rs 1,13,396 crore in Q2-2015 from Rs 1,18,439 crore in Q2-2014, and a growth of 5.1 per cent versus the immediate trailing quarter Q1-2015 turnover of Rs 1,07,905 crore. During HY-2015, the company’s revenue grew just 1 per cent to Rs 2,21,301 crore from Rs 2,19,054 crore in HY-2014.
     
    The company’s organised retail segment contribution to RIL’s turnover grew from 2.93 per cent (Rs 3470 crore) in Q2-2014 to 3.67 per cent (Rs 4167 crore) in Q2-2015, registering a 20.1 per cent growth y-o-y. In Q1-2015, RIL’s retail segment contributed 3.71 per cent (Rs 3999 crore) to the company’s turnover registering a 4.1 per cent growth q-o-q.  In FY-2014, the segment had reported revenue of Rs 14,566 crore or 2.69 per cent of RIL’s turnover of Rs 5,41,599 crore. A Reliance earnings release for Q2-2014 says reports EBDIT figures for its retail segment at Rs 186 crore, recording a y-o-y EBDIT growth of 96 per cent.

    This quarter, the company’s overall operational outlet count crossed 2000 with a presence in 155 cities of the country.  Some of the store formats under Reliance Retail Brands include Reliance Retail, Reliance Market, Reliance Fresh, Reliance Digital, Reliance Trends, Reliance Footprint and Reliance Jewels.

     

    In the overall context of RIL numbers, its retail segment figures may seem small, but how many companies can boast of annual revenues of about Rs 15,000 crore plus, that the segment must cross this fiscal? Not too many.

     

    According to an Economic Times report, in comparison, Tata group’s retail divisions, including Titan, Croma, Trent and Landmark, had revenue of about Rs 17,000 crore. Kishore Biyani’s Future Retail had revenue of Rs 11,336 crore in fiscal 2014.

     

    India’s retail industry has been pegged at a quarter of India’s gross domestic product (GDP) about $525 million or Rs 31.5 lakh crore and is expected to double over the next five years leading to 2020. There is more than enough scope for the company’s organised retail segment to grow and contribute in a big way to RIL’s numbers over the next few years.

     

     

    Click here for the financial statement

     

  • COAI gets a new core member in Reliance Jio Infocomm

    COAI gets a new core member in Reliance Jio Infocomm

    MUMBAI:  In a new addition to the core members of Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI), Mukesh Ambani owned Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL) has joined telecom industry body, reported PTI. With this, its core members have risen to seven.

     

    After being at loggerheads regarding spectrum allocation issues, COAI and RJIL have finally put their problems behind and joined hands. This move precedes RJIL’s pan-India rollout of 4G services next year. The company holds pan India broadband wireless access spectrum that can be used for 4G services.

     

    Prior to RJIL joining the association, COAI had six core members — Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India, Idea Cellular, Aircel, Unitech Wireless (now Telewings Communications) and Videocon Communications (now Videocon Telecom).

     

    Talking about the new member, COAI’s director general Rajan S Mathews said, “We are delighted that Reliance Jio Infocomm has joined us in our common endeavour to roll out innovative and affordable mobile broadband services to the citizens of India.”

     

    COAI represents mobile service providers, telecom equipment manufacturers and other communication services and product companies in India. Members of the telecom body jointly have about 68 percent of subscribers and around 71 percent of revenue share in the market.

     

    Besides its core members, it also has 12 associate members. COAI has opened the associate membership to social media companies like Facebook. Other associate members include Alcatel-Lucent India, Cisco Systems India, Ericsson India, IBM India, GTL Infrastructure, Huawei Technologies, Indus Towers, Intel Corporation, Nokia Networks, Qualcomm India and ZTE India.

     

    Corroborating the news, RJIL’s managing director, Sandip Das said, “We are pleased to join the COAI, where along with other operators, we hope to create an operating environment that will help us realise this ambition for all Indians as an industry, in the overall context of our nation’s development.”

     

    In addition to fixed and wireless broadband connectivity, RJIL also plans to provide various digital services in key domains such as education, healthcare, security, financial services, government-citizen interfaces and entertainment. In the past, the company has also entered into agreements with telecom companies including COAI member Bharti Airtel and its mobile tower arm Bharti Infratel.

  • TV18 Broadcast returns to profitability in Q3

    TV18 Broadcast returns to profitability in Q3

    MUMBAI: TV18 Broadcast turned profitable in the third quarter ended 31 December on fall in operating expenditure and a small rise in operational income from a year earlier.

     

    TV18 Broadcast, which owns news channels CNBC TV18, CNB Awaaz, CNN IBN and IBN7, reported a net profit of Rs 223 million in the third quarter against a loss of Rs 138 million a year earlier. In the second quarter of this financial year, it had reported a loss of Rs 252 million.

     

    The company’s operating revenue rose 5 per cent to Rs 1.47 billion in the third quarter from Rs 1.40 billion a year earlier.

     

    The news broadcaster was able to report a profit in the third quarter as its operating expenses fell 16 per cent to Rs 1.09 billion from Rs 1.30 billion a year earlier, on lower staff costs, marketing and distribution expenses and flat production expenses.

     

    The company’s interest cost in the third quarter was Rs 216 million, flat compared to a year earlier but down by a sharp 51 per cent from a quarter earlier (Rs 365 million).

     

    The fall in interest cost was a result of part repayment of debt from the large flow of funds into the company through a rights issue in the previous quarter.

     

    Raghav Bahl, managing director, Network18, the holding company of TV18, said, “I am delighted …. that TV18 has returned to profitability this quarter. Our recast balance sheet has helped us rationalise our interest payouts.”

     

    “We are now entering an exciting phase in our journey as we strengthen our existing operations and consolidate our regional acquisition,” Bahl added.

     

    The rights issue was largely meant for the acquisition of ETV non-Telugu news and entertainment channels from Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL).

        
    B Saikumar, Group CEO at Network18, said, “We are extremely pleased that all our broadcast operations grew their margins despite softness in the advertising environment. The News Network will further consolidate its leadership position with the addition of ETV News to the stable.”

     

    Business News operations had a strong quarter with margins expanding almost three-fold from a year earlier.

     

    In the third quarter, revenues from business news channels were up nearly 10 per cent at Rs 780 million. Operating profit from business news was Rs 307 million, nearly three times a year earlier and two times a quarter earlier.

     

    The significant improvement in margins in business news operations came on the back of expansion of net distribution income, the company said.

     

    TV18’s general news operations broke into positive territory with 10 per cent margins. In the third quarter, revenues from general news operations were Rs 723 million, nearly flat compared with a year earlier. Operating profit from general news was Rs 69 million in the third quarter against a loss of Rs 16 million a year earlier and loss of Rs 33 million a year earlier.

  • Jagdish Kumar new Hathway Cable CEO; Jayaraman made vice chairman

    Jagdish Kumar new Hathway Cable CEO; Jayaraman made vice chairman

    MUMBAI: In a major reshuffle, Hathway Cable & Datacom has appointed Jagdish Kumar as the new managing director and CEO of the company. He joins with immediate effect.

    K Jayaraman, who was occupying this chair, moves to the position of vice chairman.

    Kumar will report directly to the Hathway board, sources say.

    In his earlier stint, Kumar was the president of Reliance Industries Limited‘s (RIL) media and entertainment business.

    Before RIL, Kumar had a 16-year stint at Star India where he was involved in several key initiatives including the media company‘s direct-to-home (DTH) venture and acquisition of regional broadcasting company Asianet.

    Incidentally, Kumar was on the board of Hathway Cable & Datacom as a representative from Star. Earlier this year News Corp had exited Hathway by selling its 17.3 per cent stake in Hathway for Rs 3.58 billion.

    Kumar was also made Star India chief operating officer when Uday Shankar was made chief executive officer.

    In his last assignment at Star, Kumar was given the operational charge of Kannada general entertainment channel Suvarna. This was in addition to his earlier functions as Star India president – South.