Tag: Shimla

  • NBSA hauls up news channels; fines them, demands apology

    NBSA hauls up news channels; fines them, demands apology

    MUMBAI: The News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) has issued a missive to New Delhi Television Ltd’s English and Hindi language news channels NDTV 24×7 and NDTV India to apologize on air for a news report they aired in October 2015.

    The report is related to the lynching of a man in Nahan, Shimla. The two channels had blamed the lynching on specific religious groups, naming them in their headlines.

    A detailed order issued by justice R.V. Raveendran, chairperson of the authority, said, “NBSA decided that the broadcaster (both channels) be directed to air its regret/apology for attributing the lynching to some named religious groups, apparently without verification of facts.”

    Both the channels have been asked to air the apology before 25 July prior to their 9 pm news.

    In another order, the NBSA asked News24 to submit an expression of regret and assure that it would adhere to the principles of self-regulation after it felt that one of its programmes on allegations against functionaries of a political party did not adhere to the norms related to objectivity.

    Of these three one agreed to indiantelevision.com that it would abide by the NBSA’s order. News24 editor in chief Anuradha Prasad said, “We will abide by NSBA’s guidelines and will have a scroll running on our channel.”

    Attempts to connect with NDTV met with no response. But one can expect it to run an apology.
    Other channels also got a rap on their knuckles and were asked to say sorry. ETV Chhattisgarh had run a programme titled Vampires which was found violative of the norms. The NSBA has imposed a Rs 1 lakh fine on ETV Bangla and asked it to display apology after it felt that its coverage of an incident in Jadavpur University flouted the norms related to impartiality and objectivity. NBSA has asked ETV UP/Uttarakhand to run an apology and air versions of some persons regarding whom news reports had been telecast.

  • NBSA hauls up news channels; fines them, demands apology

    NBSA hauls up news channels; fines them, demands apology

    MUMBAI: The News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) has issued a missive to New Delhi Television Ltd’s English and Hindi language news channels NDTV 24×7 and NDTV India to apologize on air for a news report they aired in October 2015.

    The report is related to the lynching of a man in Nahan, Shimla. The two channels had blamed the lynching on specific religious groups, naming them in their headlines.

    A detailed order issued by justice R.V. Raveendran, chairperson of the authority, said, “NBSA decided that the broadcaster (both channels) be directed to air its regret/apology for attributing the lynching to some named religious groups, apparently without verification of facts.”

    Both the channels have been asked to air the apology before 25 July prior to their 9 pm news.

    In another order, the NBSA asked News24 to submit an expression of regret and assure that it would adhere to the principles of self-regulation after it felt that one of its programmes on allegations against functionaries of a political party did not adhere to the norms related to objectivity.

    Of these three one agreed to indiantelevision.com that it would abide by the NBSA’s order. News24 editor in chief Anuradha Prasad said, “We will abide by NSBA’s guidelines and will have a scroll running on our channel.”

    Attempts to connect with NDTV met with no response. But one can expect it to run an apology.
    Other channels also got a rap on their knuckles and were asked to say sorry. ETV Chhattisgarh had run a programme titled Vampires which was found violative of the norms. The NSBA has imposed a Rs 1 lakh fine on ETV Bangla and asked it to display apology after it felt that its coverage of an incident in Jadavpur University flouted the norms related to impartiality and objectivity. NBSA has asked ETV UP/Uttarakhand to run an apology and air versions of some persons regarding whom news reports had been telecast.

  • Q3-2016: TV Today revenue up 18%; PAT up 40%

    Q3-2016: TV Today revenue up 18%; PAT up 40%

    BENGALURU: Following revenue and profit growth in the previous quarter, TV Today Network Limited (TVTN) reported 18.1 per cent YoY increase in standalone Total Income from Operations (TIO) in the quarter ended 31 December, 2015 (Q3-2016, current quarter) to Rs 149.67 crore as compared to Rs 126.88 crore and 17.8 per cent higher QoQ as compared to Rs 127.04 crore.

    Note: 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore

    All numbers in this report are standalone unless stated otherwise.

    Profit after tax (PAT) for Q3-2016 increased 40.1 per cent YoY to Rs 36.90 crore (24.7 per cent margin) as compared to Rs 26.34 crore (20.8 per cent margin) and 51.8 per cent higher QoQ as compared to Rs 24.32 crore (19.1 per cent margin). 

    The company had sold four of its radio stations at Amritsar, Patalia, Jodhpur and Shimla on 18 September, 2015 to Entertainment Network (India) Limited (ENIL) as an ongoing concern for a lump sum consideration of Rs 4 crore adjusted for net working capital as a sale agreement. The transaction resulted in a profit of Rs 2.07 crore included in ‘Other Income’. 

    The company had sought permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to grant approval of its three radio stations in New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, which was subsequently refused. Subsequently, TVTN has filed a writ petition at the High Court in New Delhi against the MIB’s refusal, which is still pending.

    EBIDTA calculated for Q3-2016 at Rs 55.82 crore (37.3 per cent margin) increased 27.7 per cent YoY as compared to Rs 43.71 crore (34.5 per cent margin) and was 27.7 per cent higher QoQ as compared to Rs 35.71 crore (28.1 per cent margin).

    Segment revenue

    TVTN’s Television Broadcasting segment (TV segment) reported a 16.6 per cent YoY increase in operating revenue in Q3-2016 at Rs 147.65 crore as compared to Rs 126.68 crore and 18.7 per cent more QoQ as compared to Rs 124.43 crore in Q2-2016. Operating profit from the segment in the current quarter increased 49.1 per cent YoY to Rs 54.48 crore as compared to Rs 39.22 crore and 49.1 per cent higher QoQ as compared to Rs 36.68 crore.

    The company’s radio segment reported 49.4 per cent YoY decline in operating revenue at Rs 2.02 crore as compared to Rs 4 crore, and 22.5 per cent lower operating revenue as compared to Rs 2.61 crore in the immediate trailing quarter. The segment’s operating loss in the current quarter was higher at Rs 2.54 crore as compared to the operating loss of Rs 1.94 crore in Q3-2015 but lower than the operating loss of Rs 5.48 crore in Q2-2016.

    Rebranding of Headlines Today to India Today

    In Q1-2016, TVTN rebranded its English news channel from Headlines Today to India Today from 23 May, 2015 in order to benefit from the brand name of India Today. TVTN says that it incurred a marketing expense of Rs 14.38 crore towards re-branding in that quarter. Consequently, the company’s advertisement, distribution and sales promotion expense (ad expense) in Q1-2016 was Rs 38.24 crore (30.1 per cent of TIO). This quarter, TVTN’s ad expense was one per cent lower YoY at Rs 24.82 crore (16.6 per cent of TIO) as compared to Rs 25.06 crore (19.8 per cent of TIO) but was 5.5 per cent more than Rs 23.53 crore (18.5 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2016.

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by TVTN

    Total Expenditure in Q3-2016 at Rs 101.24 crore (67.5 per cent of TIO) was 11.7 per cent higher YoY as compared to Rs 86.20 crore (71.4 per cent of TIO) and was two per cent higher QoQ as compared to Rs 99.03 crore (78 per cent of TIO) in the previous quarter.

    Production cost in Q3-2016 increased 14.9 per cent YoY to Rs 13.75 crore (9.2 per cent of TIO) as compared to Rs 11.96 crore (9.4 per cent of TIO) and almost flat (up 0.2 per cent) QoQ as compared to Rs 13.72 crore (10.8 per cent of TIO).

    Employee Benefit Expense in the current quarter at Rs 37.26 crore (24.9 per cent of TIO) was 19.5 per cent higher YoY as compared to Rs 31.19 crore (20.7 per cent of TIO) and was 11.6 per cent higher QoQ as compared to Rs 33.38 crore (26.3 per cent of TIO) was 16 per cent higher YoY as compared to Rs 28.78 crore.

    Other expenses in Q3-2016 at Rs 18.02 crore (12 per cent of TIO) was 22 per cent higher YoY as compared to Rs 14.77 crore (11.7 per cent of TIO), but was 12.9 per cent lower QoQ as compare to Rs 20.71 crore (16.3 per cent of TIO).

  • Q3-2016: TV Today revenue up 18%; PAT up 40%

    Q3-2016: TV Today revenue up 18%; PAT up 40%

    BENGALURU: Following revenue and profit growth in the previous quarter, TV Today Network Limited (TVTN) reported 18.1 per cent YoY increase in standalone Total Income from Operations (TIO) in the quarter ended 31 December, 2015 (Q3-2016, current quarter) to Rs 149.67 crore as compared to Rs 126.88 crore and 17.8 per cent higher QoQ as compared to Rs 127.04 crore.

    Note: 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore

    All numbers in this report are standalone unless stated otherwise.

    Profit after tax (PAT) for Q3-2016 increased 40.1 per cent YoY to Rs 36.90 crore (24.7 per cent margin) as compared to Rs 26.34 crore (20.8 per cent margin) and 51.8 per cent higher QoQ as compared to Rs 24.32 crore (19.1 per cent margin). 

    The company had sold four of its radio stations at Amritsar, Patalia, Jodhpur and Shimla on 18 September, 2015 to Entertainment Network (India) Limited (ENIL) as an ongoing concern for a lump sum consideration of Rs 4 crore adjusted for net working capital as a sale agreement. The transaction resulted in a profit of Rs 2.07 crore included in ‘Other Income’. 

    The company had sought permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to grant approval of its three radio stations in New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, which was subsequently refused. Subsequently, TVTN has filed a writ petition at the High Court in New Delhi against the MIB’s refusal, which is still pending.

    EBIDTA calculated for Q3-2016 at Rs 55.82 crore (37.3 per cent margin) increased 27.7 per cent YoY as compared to Rs 43.71 crore (34.5 per cent margin) and was 27.7 per cent higher QoQ as compared to Rs 35.71 crore (28.1 per cent margin).

    Segment revenue

    TVTN’s Television Broadcasting segment (TV segment) reported a 16.6 per cent YoY increase in operating revenue in Q3-2016 at Rs 147.65 crore as compared to Rs 126.68 crore and 18.7 per cent more QoQ as compared to Rs 124.43 crore in Q2-2016. Operating profit from the segment in the current quarter increased 49.1 per cent YoY to Rs 54.48 crore as compared to Rs 39.22 crore and 49.1 per cent higher QoQ as compared to Rs 36.68 crore.

    The company’s radio segment reported 49.4 per cent YoY decline in operating revenue at Rs 2.02 crore as compared to Rs 4 crore, and 22.5 per cent lower operating revenue as compared to Rs 2.61 crore in the immediate trailing quarter. The segment’s operating loss in the current quarter was higher at Rs 2.54 crore as compared to the operating loss of Rs 1.94 crore in Q3-2015 but lower than the operating loss of Rs 5.48 crore in Q2-2016.

    Rebranding of Headlines Today to India Today

    In Q1-2016, TVTN rebranded its English news channel from Headlines Today to India Today from 23 May, 2015 in order to benefit from the brand name of India Today. TVTN says that it incurred a marketing expense of Rs 14.38 crore towards re-branding in that quarter. Consequently, the company’s advertisement, distribution and sales promotion expense (ad expense) in Q1-2016 was Rs 38.24 crore (30.1 per cent of TIO). This quarter, TVTN’s ad expense was one per cent lower YoY at Rs 24.82 crore (16.6 per cent of TIO) as compared to Rs 25.06 crore (19.8 per cent of TIO) but was 5.5 per cent more than Rs 23.53 crore (18.5 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2016.

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by TVTN

    Total Expenditure in Q3-2016 at Rs 101.24 crore (67.5 per cent of TIO) was 11.7 per cent higher YoY as compared to Rs 86.20 crore (71.4 per cent of TIO) and was two per cent higher QoQ as compared to Rs 99.03 crore (78 per cent of TIO) in the previous quarter.

    Production cost in Q3-2016 increased 14.9 per cent YoY to Rs 13.75 crore (9.2 per cent of TIO) as compared to Rs 11.96 crore (9.4 per cent of TIO) and almost flat (up 0.2 per cent) QoQ as compared to Rs 13.72 crore (10.8 per cent of TIO).

    Employee Benefit Expense in the current quarter at Rs 37.26 crore (24.9 per cent of TIO) was 19.5 per cent higher YoY as compared to Rs 31.19 crore (20.7 per cent of TIO) and was 11.6 per cent higher QoQ as compared to Rs 33.38 crore (26.3 per cent of TIO) was 16 per cent higher YoY as compared to Rs 28.78 crore.

    Other expenses in Q3-2016 at Rs 18.02 crore (12 per cent of TIO) was 22 per cent higher YoY as compared to Rs 14.77 crore (11.7 per cent of TIO), but was 12.9 per cent lower QoQ as compare to Rs 20.71 crore (16.3 per cent of TIO).

  • WWIL to pump in Rs 3 billion over 2 years in STBs

    WWIL to pump in Rs 3 billion over 2 years in STBs

    MUMBAI: Wire & Wireless India Ltd. (WWIL), the demerged cable outfit of Zee Group, is planning to invest Rs 3.28 billion on set-top boxes (STBs) over a period of two years to spread its presence in digital cable.

    This will comprise 46 per cent of its overall funding requirement of Rs 7.14 billion. The next big expenditure will be towards hardware. The multi-system operator (MSO) has earmarked Rs 2.21 billion for investments in hardware during the two-year period.

    “We have planned such investments for two years. We are bullish about digitalisation,” says WWIL CEO Jagjit Singh Kohli.

    Another area where WWIL will be pumping in big money is customer acquisition. The company plans to put in Rs 1.14 billion towards this. “We are aggressive on customer acquisition. We have ramped up 250,000 subscribers in recent months through aggressive acquisitions,” says Kohli.

    WWIL has made MSO acquisitions in Lucknow, Shimla, Agra, Nagpur, Pune Jalgaon and Indore. It is under negotiations with 15 MSOs in places like Meerut, Allahabad, Jaipur, Noida and Kohlapur.

    The company is planning to launch a headend-in-the-sky (HITS) platform and has booked transponders on Thaicom satellite. It has already lined up a debt of Rs 2.15 billion and plans to make an initial investment of Rs 5 billion.

    WWIL recently set up a digital headend at Worli in Mumbai. “We already have nine digital headends,” says Kohli.

  • Doordarshan launches SMS based news service

    Doordarshan launches SMS based news service

    MUMBAI: Doordarshan has launched an SMS based news service, by which mobile phone users can get the top four news headlines and cricket score updates on match days of matches telecast live on Doordarshan.

    As far as All India Radio network is concerned, News on Phone Service (IVR) is already functional at Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Patna and Ahmedabad. This service is expected to be commissioned at Thiruvananthapuram and Bangalore shortly.

    Besides, this service is also expected to be launched at Raipur, Jaipur, Shimla, Lucknow, Guwahati, Imphal and Kolkata during the 10th Plan period. SMS based news service is expected to be commissioned in Delhi during the 10th Plan period.

    The information was given by minister of information and broadcasting and Parliamentary affairs, P R Dasmunsi in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.