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  • NAGRA powers Hinduja’s NXT Digital HITS platform in India

    NAGRA powers Hinduja’s NXT Digital HITS platform in India

    MUMBAI: Switzerland based Kudelski Group’s digital TV division NAGRA has powered the Hinduja Group’s new headend-in-the-sky (HITS) platform – NXT Digital in India.

     

    NAGRA’s anyCAST, OpenTV solutions and user interface are enabling NXT Digital. This makes it NAGRA’s first HITS platform in India, which is one of the fastest growing markets in pay-TV today, as the country continues the government-mandated digitisation process. According to a recent report by Media Partners Asia, the Indian pay-TV market is expected to grow by 11 per cent annually on average by 2018, with total pay-TV subscribers expected to grow from 65 million in 2013 to 165 million by 2018 and 180 million by 2023.

     

    NAGRA’s anyCAST content protection and OpenTV middleware solutions are enabling the HITS platform, which will provide backend operations to local and multi-system cable operators in India. NXT Digital offers a variety of packages and services including 500-plus MPEG 4-encrypted services featuring SD and HD channels along with value-added services like PVR and educational content.

     

    “Our new HITS platform gives regional cable operators access to an infrastructure that helps them deliver high-quality video services to a new generation of viewers. NAGRA has been a key partner in the process, providing the expertise and support expected of a pay-TV leader, as well as solutions that provide the right level of content protection, scale seamlessly and allow for flexible business models that are critical to our operators’ success as they kick off their new services,” said Hinduja Group subsidiary Grant Investrade managing director Tony D’Silva.

     

    “It is an honor to work with Grant Investrade and be a part of the digital TV transformation in India that is making access to digital TV services a reality for millions of people. This new platform makes it easy for local and regional cable operators to deploy new services without having to worry about the operational complexities that can come with installing their own system. And by leveraging NAGRA’s deployed, market-leading solutions, they are ensuring a high quality user experience that is not only highly secure but offers pay-as-you-grow models adapted to their strategy,” said NAGRA sales SVP Asia-Pacific Jean-Luc Jezouin.

     

    NAGRA’s anyCAST Security Services Platform, OpenTV middleware and user interface are ready-to-deploy solutions that enable of range of entry-level and advanced DTV services. They allow operators to leverage scalable, pay-as-you-grow business models with multiple set-top boxes and chipsets, and include an intuitive user interface adapted to India’s diverse population and languages.

  • NXT Digital ‘hits’ Indian market with total outlay of Rs 5000 crore

    NXT Digital ‘hits’ Indian market with total outlay of Rs 5000 crore

    NEW DELHI : After three and half years of struggle, Hinduja’s Headend In The Sky (HITS) platform NXT Digital finally got rolling with a total project outlay of approximately Rs 5000 crore. The mammoth investment will be utilised as the business continues to design and develop new products and services for a growing customer base as well as strive to enhance its own standards.

     

    Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley officially launched the venture in the presence of Hinduja Group chairmanAshok Hinduja and Grant Investrade MD Tony D’Silva.

     

    Launching the platform, Jaitley said, “Multiple carriage technologies will provide customers more choice as to which technology platform to choose.”

     

    While Hinduja Ventures has set an initial budget of Rs 5000 crore for the project, the chairman is open to investing more if necessary. “We are here to aggressively back this initiative and if necessary we will invest double or triple the allocated budget. Last mile operators (LMOs) are the one who started the business by laying the first cable and this venture is for them,” Hinduja said.

     

    The HITS project will not only facilitate over 100 million homes go digital in Phase III & IV digitisation markets but will also raise the standards of quality of service. 

     

    To acquire the base model of a Cable Operators Premises Equipment (COPE), one has to pay Rs 10.60 lakh while the premium one can be acquired after a payment of Rs 14 lakh. The amount appears high for the LMOs but Hinduja said that the Group also has a finance group, which would help the LMOs. “The project has a lot of securities and the investment is certain to provide returns so it is a safe investment. We have insurance schemes for the operators so their investment is safe,” he added.

     

    According to D’Silva, the consumer will have to pay a maximum of Rs 50 per month. NXT Digital is presently equipped to beam up to 500 channels and this capacity can be raised to 1000. The earth station is in Sector 62 in Noida in the National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi. NXT Digital has six transponders at present.

     

    D’Silva also noted that it was interesting that the last two phases of Digital Addressable Cable TV System (DAS) provided for only 32 per cent of the revenue though they would cover a much larger area.

     

    The DAS Phase III and IV areas, which are estimated to have more than 120 million home, are the prime focus of NXT Digital. To succeed in occupying 15 per cent of the market, the company will have to provide set top boxes (STBs) to 20 million home, which is a huge demand to supply. However, Hinduja is bullish about meeting the demand on time and optimistic that the platform will not face a situation where there will be shortage of boxes.

     

    NXT Digital is also positioning itself as a adopter of the government’s Make in India, Digital India and Skill India initiatives, which according to Hinduja was the byword for the Group. The LMOs in the DAS III and IV areas have to be skilfully equipped with modern technologies that NXT Digital will be bringing in.

     

    Asked about how his system was different from the already existing – NSTPL’s JainHits – Hinduja said that the aim of the Hinduja Group was to protect the LCOs because it was they who had built this industry in the late eighties. “Therefore, the LMO will not lose out in any way, will be fully in charge of his own company, and will have full freedom to operate in his own way,” he said.

     

    When queried as to why it had taken the Group three years to get a licence when there was no cap on HITS, Hinduja said, “Formalities take time.”

     

    He also said that wherever someone tries to bring in transparency in any system, there are objections. He was also conscious that there was competition in the field and this may even lead to some legal hassles, but his Group was prepared for everything.

     

    Hinduja said that he was conscious of the matter relating to NSTPL pending in TDSAT, which sought that broadcasters treat HITS players at par with multi system operators (MSOs). He said the NXT Digital viewpoint had been presented at the hearings.

     

    Senior Hinduja executive Aubin Das said that the NXT Digital platform also took efforts to curb the issue of piracy and if LMOs attempt to put on the channel of a broadcaster in the slots meant for local channels, it could be immediately traced and stopped.

     

    Commenting on the training and development initiatives Castlemedia director Vynsley Fernandes said, “We are travelling to every nook and corner of the country to skilfully equip and train people about our technological upliftment and it is a chain system. Around 200 people have been trained under a ‘Train the Trainer’ programme and they will train others. And we are not equipping them only about NXT Digital we are introducing them to the next generation.”

     

    D’Silva said that under NXT Digital, the LMO gets to continue their ownership, enter into broadcasting deals, do packaging and pricing according to market demands, acquire STBs at cheaper rates, run up to 16 local channels, and compete with direct-to-home (DTH) operators.

     

    He added that DTH was on Ku-Band, which got disturbed in rainy or inclement weather, but HITS being on C-Band will not be disturbed. Furthermore, the HITS headend was on ground while DTH had to depend on satellites. Furthermore, NXT Digital will be able to service both DAS and non-DAS areas.

     

    NXT Digital focused marketing and subscription drive in the Phase III & IV markets. The company has so far travelled across 400 districts in 20 states to contact and inform the cable fraternity there about its offerings. As of now it has 14 vans touring various parts of the country to give live demonstrations to LMOs and LCOs. 

      

    Welcoming the move, Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation president and task force member Arvind Prabhu said, “I would like to congratulate AP Hinduja, with this initiative he actually kickstarts the process of digitisation. Mr Hinduja thought about the last mile operators and came up with NXT Digital, which will help LCOs getting their due. The other HITS platform is providing the COPE at a cheaper price and that will be a challenge. The pricing that we got from them are really good but considering the fact that DAS III and DAS IV areas do not come under ratings I believe there can be further negotiation with the broadcaster. Overall I believe it’s a move for the LCOs.”

     

    LCO from Assam and Task Force member Md Iquebal Ahmed also welcomed the HITS venture. “Operators cannot afford headends and MSOs take total advantage of it and in that context, it’s a great initiative. But the content pricing needs to come out transparently. Affordable pricing is what we are looking forward to.”

     

  • Hinduja Ventures’ NXT Digital receives operating licence for HITS

    Hinduja Ventures’ NXT Digital receives operating licence for HITS

    MUMBAI: Grant Investrade Limited (GIL), a subsidiary of Hinduja Ventures, has crossed the final hurdle to start operations of NXT Digital – its headend in the sky (HITS) service. The company has received Wireless Operating License (WOL) from the Wireless Planning & Coordination Wing of the Ministry of Information & Communications Technology.

     

    The WOL is the final regulatory step before making HITS operational, in accordance with the terms and conditions stipulated in the Letter of Intent (LOI) issued by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to GIL last year.

     

    “We are delighted to confirm receipt of the WOL for us to commence operationalisation of the HITS service in India. The launch of NXT Digital is in line with the Government’s objective of making India ‘digital’ and we’re proud to be a part of this national initiative,” said GIL chairman AK Das.

     

    “NXT Digital has received an overwhelming response from the distribution fraternity in Phase III & IV markets in India. Our broadcast centre and our backend systems are fully operational; our broadcaster relationships have been formalised, we’ve already rolled out our COPE mini-headend systems and STBs and we’re ready to go ‘live’ shortly,” added GIL managing director Tony D’Silva.

     

    It may be recalled that the government recently ruled out the extension of the DAS phase III deadline of 31 December, 2015. In view of this, NXT Digital is being viewed as the enabler for the cable fraternity go digital as per government mandated standards and within the deadline.

     

     

  • Hinduja’s NXT Digital tots 1 million subscribers in 3 weeks

    Hinduja’s NXT Digital tots 1 million subscribers in 3 weeks

    MUMBAI: In a short span of three weeks, Hinduja Group’s headend in the sky (HITS) venture – NXT Digital has signed up as many as one million analogue TV households in phase III markets.

     

    Grant Investrade Limited managing director Tony D’silva said, “In just over three weeks since NXT Digital was announced, it has already been signed up to reach one million analogue TV households in phase III markets through LMOs and MSOs who have opted for our services.”

     

    Over the last 21 days, the HITS player has reached out to the cable fraternity across several cities. “The fraternity is extremely excited about NXT Digital,” he said. 

     

    LMOs and MSOs, according to D’silva,  see NXT Digital as a partner that will not only help them make the mandated transition from analogue to digital, but remain independent and owners of the networks they have built with sheer dint of hard work over the years.

     

    The roll-out of digital addressable systems (DAS) in phase III and IV markets across 110 million TV households is being seen as the biggest and the most significant step for the media and entertainment industry in India.

     

    A state-of-the-art broadcast facility in Noida has been designed and purpose-built to provide top quality service, which will roll out in end-August this year. While the satellite-based service will have a national footprint, in view of the deadline for DAS rollout, Grant Investrade is concentrating on the phase III and IV markets for its marketing and subscription drive to enable the cable fraternity provide digital services there.

     

    D’silva said, “NXT Digital will empower and enable the distribution fraternity including LMOs and MSOs to offer a world of exciting digital services to their end-subscribers in all the analogue households across markets. Crucially, NXT Digital will not only help the LMOs and MSOs go digital as per government mandated standards and within the set deadlines, but, throughout the process, help them be independent and retain the ownership of their network.”

  • Hinduja’s NXT Digital signs Hansen Technologies for billing solution

    Hinduja’s NXT Digital signs Hansen Technologies for billing solution

    MUMBAI: Hinduja Group’s new Headend in the Sky (HITS) platform NXT Digital will be using Hansen’s ICC billing solution.

     

    The Hinduja Group has signed a multi-year licence agreement for Hansen’s ICC Customer Care and Billing.

     

    “With a potential target market of more than 100 million subscribers, we needed the leverage of a globally recognised firm with the expertise to move us forward. The implementation of our HITS platform will allow local cable operators to provide high-quality digital TV services to customers within their specific regions,” said Grant Investrade managing director Tony D’silva.

     

    India is currently going through a government-mandated digitisation programme and it is expected that over 110 million TV homes will make the transition from analogue to digital over the next 17 months.

     

    Hansen ICC has the strength and flexibility to support HITS by giving control to the parent organisation while allowing the individual businesses to operate independently.

     

    “Businesses that run distributed models like HITS require the flexibility to balance the needs of the overall organisation with each of the independent operating units. The HITS business hierarchy requirements are highly complex; our Pay-TV solution enables NXT Digital to provide multi system operators (MSOs) and last mile owners (LMOs) a scalable solution from a single deployment,” added Hansen Technologies CEO Andrew Hansen. 

     

    The company was selected by GIL after a rigorous four-stage evaluation process conducted by Castle Media, which is also the technology programme manager for the HITS service, responsible for design to delivery of the $100 million project.

     

    “Hansen exhibited the functionality and features that are required for an extremely complex multi-tier operation. With its pedigree and experience in the global Pay-TV space, it is certainly the appropriate partner for such a high-value project,” said Castle Media executive director Vynsley Fernandes.

  • IMCL introduces prepaid payment options

    IMCL introduces prepaid payment options

    MUMBAI: It was in February 2014, when Tony D’silva took charge as the MD and group CEO of IMCL and laid the vision of adopting a prepaid model. And as the year comes to an end, the dream has been accomplished.

    The multi system operator (MSO) has brought in two important additions in its operations. One, it has introduced prepaid model for all its a-la-carte including Star channels and mini packs for consumers; and two, the MSO has introduced a prepaid system for last mile owners (LMOs) offering packages to their consumers.

     “The prepaid model is applicable for a-la-carte, Star channels and for the mini-packs. So if a consumer wants all the GECs plus sports or English entertainment channels, they can create a mini-pack and can pay for that through our website or by going to the cash counters. We have introduced all the payment modes that are available for recharge of DTH and telecom,” informs D’silva.

    The prepaid model for a-la-carte channels and mini packs was introduced after broadcaster Star India decided to enter into only Reference Interconnect Offer (RIO) deals with MSOs.  

    This apart, a prepaid mode of payment for LMOs selling packages to their consumers has also been introduced from 1 December. “The reason behind this is that the same pack is priced differently in different parts of the city by the LMOs. In this case, we, as MSOs have no control over the pricing given by the LMO and so we decided that the LMO should pay for the packs they give to their consumers upfront to us,” he informs.

     “In case the LMO does not pay for the packs that they give to their consumers, we will either downgrade them or remove all pay channels from them,” adds D’silva.

    It can be noted that MSO Siti Cable too is looking at a similar prepaid model, wherein the LMOs would deposit an advance to the MSO to take signals and then collect the same from the consumer. The LMO according to the prepaid model will get the signals from the MSO till his credit balance remains.  The MSO is testing the viability of the model in Delhi first, and has decided to replicate it in other states, at a later stage.

    According to D’silva, prepaid model of payment is the only way by which the process of monetisation of packages can begin. Talking about the response, he says that of the 2.2 million IMCL subscribers, so far 100,000 subscribers have used the prepaid model. “This shows that the market wants a payment mode like this,” he adds.

    Also from the LMO point of view, as per D’silva, the collection is going good. “This is the only way that cable industry can move,” he opines.  

    So will the prepaid model help increase ARPUs? Says D’silva, “Everything is about packaging and bundling. Nobody watches more than 20 channels, so if I can give these 20 channels at a reasonable price and after that add extra channels of the choice of consumers; it wouldn’t pinch the consumer’s pocket.”

     

  • Hinduja Venture’s HITS project to rollout by April 2015

    Hinduja Venture’s HITS project to rollout by April 2015

    MUMBAI: Hinduja Ventures’ Headend in the Sky (HITS) project will soon see the light of day. While the platform will start the field testing in January-February 2015, the actual rollout will take place between March-May 2015.

    “We are working as per the plan and are on schedule,” informs IMCL MD and group CEO Tony D’silva to indiantelevision.com.

    The platform is in talks with several independent MSOs and LMOs.  “By the time we launch, we will have close to 8-10 million consumers being serviced through our HITS platform,” he says.

    In order to gauge the interest level of the operators in the HITS project, Hinduja conducted a major research in nine states including four states from the south, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal and others. “The study was done by an outside agency and involved close to 1000 operators,” informs D’silva who is elated with the results.

    According to D’silva, the research shows that the operators are happy with the cash and carry model being offered by Hinduja’s HITS model. This apart, the study revealed that the operators are also excited about the customised packaging and bundling at a charge which is 50 per cent lower than what they would pay for this kind of setup.

    While the study also shows that the operators are excited about the launch, D’silva says that he doesn’t want to launch it in a hurry. “We want to test our services and make sure that the set top boxes (STBs) are of top quality. There have been a lot of issues with the boxes all across the country and so we want to subject the STBs to all kinds of heat, cold, dust etc test,” he adds.  

    The operators are also happy to do a small Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) for the boxes, probably at the cost of Rs 5 per subscriber per month, so that replacement of STBs becomes easier.

    As for the licence clearance from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, D’silva says that the process is moving smoothly. “We will get the final licence in hand only after we are ready for the rollout and pay Rs 40 crore as bank guarantee. Licence will not be an issue any more,” he says.

    D’silva claims that the platform has got the best products and four vendors have been roped in to provide the STBs.  “While no indigenous STB manufacturers are currently onboard, we are still looking at them. We want MPEG4 boxes at the same commercial terms as others. But, we haven’t got any positive feedback from them as yet,” informs D’silva.  

    As for the name of the platform, D’silva says that the research for the name is on. “I think, while brand name is good for us to build but at this point, HITS as a concept is more understood by the LMOs and so we do not want to confuse them at this stage,” he adds.  

    No agreements will be signed between the MSO or LMO and HITS, but a MoU could be signed before the HITS project is launched. “We cannot sign an agreement before the launch, since we will get the licence only after the rollout, but we may enter into MoUs.”

    The marketing campaign about the new launch will commence from middle or end of January. “We are providing a very competitive service to fight any competition, with value added services etc. We are also providing HD STBs to operators at the cost of SD boxes. We are entering the market looking at the future and not today,” signs off D’silva.

     

  • MSOs to put Star’s popular channels in base pack, regional in a-la-carte

    MSOs to put Star’s popular channels in base pack, regional in a-la-carte

    MUMBAI: As the deadline for signing deals with Star India for its channels on reference interconnect offer (RIO) ended on 10 November, MSOs are preparing various options to deal with the altered business plans.

     

    While the network is providing all its channels only on RIO, MSOs are finding out different ways to package the channels. India’s leading MSO Hathway is currently creating new packages that it will roll out soon. Says a source, “We will be redefining our packs and giving revised rates soon. Marketing on the same will commence as well. It will be something new for the trade.”

     

    While the base pack could include the popular channels from its bouquet, the regional channels will only be on a-la-carte. English, sports and others will be categorised in different packs. The channel had initially disconnected signals in October, but now the channels are switched on again.

     

    IMCL’s InCable on the other hand has also followed a similar pattern. The base pack will consist of Star Plus, Life OK and Star Pravah, the latter due to its large presence in the state of Maharashtra. The regional channels such as Star Jalsha, Star Vijay, Asianet, Suvarna etc will be on a-la-carte.

     

    “We have decided to put the popular channels on the base pack for three months to avoid unnecessary system overload due to people calling for it. Slowly, they will also be moved out into a-la-carte once we educate consumers. Soon we will also have proper EPRS, CAS and also net billing,” says IMCL group MD and CEO Tony D’silva. The MSO has taken Star’s incentives for channel penetration by putting three in its base pack.

     

    According to an official from Den Networks, the MSO has not yet signed the deal and is yet negotiating. Advance Multisystem Broadband Communciation (AMBC) in Kolkata will ensure all 26 channels will be given to consumers while another Kolkata based MSO said that the agreement with Star has been signed but it is evaluating the incentive schemes.

  • Hinduja Ventures’ HITS platform to launch in Jan 2015

    Hinduja Ventures’ HITS platform to launch in Jan 2015

    NEW DELHI: The Hinduja group is all set to launch its HITS platform by January 2015. The test signals will begin by November 2014. The news was confirmed by IMCL MD and group CEO Tony D’silva to indiantelevision.com.

     

    The new HITS entrant, which already runs a multi system operator (MSO) business InCable, received the licence on 6 March 2014 from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and has also paid the fee for it.

     

    Grant Investrade, a 100 per cent subsidiary of Hinduja Ventures, is the company which is rolling out the HITS service. A discussion with the company chairman is around, to ensure everything is in place before January.

     

    It is looking at capturing 15 to 20 per cent of the 120 million households in phase III and IV markets of digitisation. It has already arranged for funding of Rs 500 crore for the project.

     

    The HITS model will have a complete different vertical, which will cater to all the content and video on demand (VOD) services requirements. “The services will be made available to all the LMOs along with IMCL,” concludes D’silva.

  • IMCL pares Hinduja Ventures PAT in FY-2014

    IMCL pares Hinduja Ventures PAT in FY-2014

    BENGALURU: Hinduja Ventures Limited (HVL) has reported consolidated PAT of just Rs.0.20 crore in FY-2014 as compared to the PAT of Rs 80.22 crore in FY-2013. On a standalone basis, HVL reported PAT of Rs 82.03 crore, 6.9 per cent more than the Rs 76.75 crore in FY-2013. Its media and communication segment reported a loss of Rs 197.33 crore in FY-2014 as compared to a profit after tax of Rs 46.88 crore in the previous fiscal. HVL’s diluted EPS (of face value Rs 10) went down to just Rs 0.10 in FY-2014 from Rs 39.03 in FY-2013.

     

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

     

    (2) This report focuses more on IMCL/HVL’s media and communication numbers.

     

    (3) All figures are consolidated unless stated otherwise.

     

    HVL operations and investments span over three segments namely media, real estate and treasury. The Company’s principal business investment is in media and communications via its valuable stake in IndusInd Media & Communications Limited (IMCL).

     

    Bad debts and hence HVL’s media and communications segment results have significantly reduced the company’s PAT in FY-2014.

     

    HVL’s media and communications segment

     

    HVL’s media and communications segment reported revenue of Rs 638.84 crore in FY-2014, which was 4.6 per cent more than the Rs 610.63 crore in FY-2013. The capital employed by the segment went up 7.9 per cent in FY-2014 to Rs 1242.12 crore from Rs 1151.12 crore in the previous year.

     

    IMCL, in which HVL owns 61.71 per cent stake, reported loss of Rs 118.84 crore in FY-2014 versus a profit of Rs 36.24 crore in FY-2013, and hence was a major contributor to the loss by HVL’s media and communications segment. IMCL consolidated EBIDTA for the year stood at R 26.07 crore as against R 141.15 crore in the previous year says the company.

     

    IMCL reported revenue of Rs 572.46 crore in FY-2014, which was 4.5 per cent more than the Rs 547.56 crore in FY-2013. The subsidiary’s paid-up capital more than doubled from Rs 73.91 crore to Rs 173.91 crore because of infusion of Rs 100 crore by HVL by way of purchase of 10 per cent, redeemable cumulative preference shares of Rs 10. HVL says that IMCL needs funds for consolidation in phase I and phase II and to digitise network in phase III and phase IV, and hence the fresh investment.

     

    IMCL’s reserves dropped 43.3 per cent to Rs 155.37 crore in FY-2014 versus Rs 274.20 crore in FY-2013. IMCL’s total assets jumped 9.3 per cent in FY-2014 to Rs 1178.50 crore from Rs 1078.62 crore reported last year. IMCL’s liabilities went up 16.3 per cent in FY-2014 to Rs 849.23 crore from Rs 730.51 crore in FY-2013.

     

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by HVL for FY-2014

     

    HVL consolidated revenue went up 10.2 per cent in FY-2014 to Rs 773.49 crore from Rs 701.96 crore in the previous year. 

     

    HVL’s reported 8.7 per cent increase in revenue from cable television transmission in FY-2014 to Rs 620.07 crore from Rs 570.36 crore in FY-2013. Its income from sale of set top boxes/modem’s fell to less than a seventh (fell by 7.28 times) to Rs 2.43 crore in FY-2014 from Rs 17.67 crore in FY-2013. HVL’s advertisement income fell 20.6 per cent in FY-2014 to Rs 4.02 crore from Rs 5.07 crore in FY-2013. The discount from broadcasters fell 37 per cent in FY-2014 to Rs 5.82 crore from Rs 9.24 crore in FY-2013.

     

    Its total expenditure went up 48.4 per cent to Rs 871.52 crore in FY-2014 from Rs 587.38 crore in FY-2013. The company’s depreciation and amortisation went up 80.7 per cent in FY-2014 to Rs 121.84 crore from Rs 67.41 crore in FY-2013. HVL has more than doubled (2.74 times) its provision for bad debts in FY-2014 at Rs 173.63 crore versus Rs 63.36 crore in FY-2013. The company has also made a provision for doubtful advances in FY-2014 at Rs 15.98 crore, versus nil in the previous year. HVL’s finance cost has almost tripled (went up 2.67 times) in FY-2014 to Rs 120.30 crore from Rs 45.14 crore in FY-2013.

     

    HVL’s direct cost and operating expense (DCOE) went up 20.3 per cent to Rs 293.47 crore in FY-2014 from Rs 235.21 crore in FY-2013. A break up of DCOE is: Cable Television Operating expenses went up 20.9 per cent in FY-2014 to Rs 284.46 crore from Rs 235.21 crore; It paid 17 per cent higher bandwidth charges in FY-2014 of Rs 4.4 crore versus Rs 3.76 crore in FY-2013; It paid 8.8 per cent lower lease rental-duct at Rs 4.62 crore in FY-2014 from Rs 5.05 crore in FY-2013.

     

    The HVL board has recommended a dividend payment of R 15/- per equity share (150 per cent dividend on face value of R 10/- per Equity Share) for financial year 2013-14. The dividend will result in a payout of R 36.07 crore including Dividend Distribution Tax, representing 43.98 per cent of the current year earnings says HVL.

     

    Click here to read the annual report