ITV

Tag: TV today

  • TV Today appoints Rahul Shaw, Vikram Das and Devleena Majumder

    TV Today appoints Rahul Shaw, Vikram Das and Devleena Majumder

    MUMBAI: As a part of the growth agenda set by the new leadership, TV Today Network has announced three key appointments to raise the bar and to chart the new growth strategy. The new inductions have happened across ad sales, international distribution and HR divisions.

    While Vikram Das has joined as general manager – International Distribution, Rahul Kumar Shaw is VP – ad sales (Headlines Today) and Devleena Majumder joins in the capacity of general manager – HR.

    TV Today Network CEO Joy Chakraborthy expects the new team to script a rapid growth and to take the company to newer heights. He said, “We are thrilled to add Rahul, Vikram and Devleena to an existing very strong team at the TV Today Network. With their strong skill sets in the three core functions, the network will be strategically placed to consolidate and grow the leadership position. The industry is competitive and only solid planning and speed of execution will win.”

    Shaw comes with rich experience in ad sales. He has earlier worked with Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel), INX News, NDTV Imagine, Star India, Set India, Turner International and Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd (BCCL). In his new role Shaw will be responsible for Headlines Today sales and will be reporting into TV Today senior VP and business head – Headlines Today Rajnish Rikhy.

    Majumder joins from Viacom 18. Prior to that, she has worked with Zoom Entertainment Network, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, IBM Daksh, Wipro Spectramind and Transworld Group of Companies. She will be responsible for the human resource function at the news network.

    Meanwhile Das joins in from Neo Sports Broadcast. Prior to Neo, he has workedwith Star (Middle East) and ABN Amro Bank, Dubai.

    Both Majumder and Das will report in to Chakraborthy.

  • TV Today Q3 operating profit from news biz skids 45%

    TV Today Q3 operating profit from news biz skids 45%

    MUMBAI: TV Today Network‘s third quarter operating profit from the television news business has dropped 44.7 per cent due to a fall in revenues, while the production and staff cost has jumped. Meanwhile, the radio segment has reported a 137.26 per cent jump in revenues.

    The company, which runs news channels like Aaj Tak and Headlines Today, has posted an operating profit of Rs 98.92 million from the TV broadcasting business, as against an operating profit of Rs 178.98 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal.

    Revenue from this segment dropped 7.5 per cent to Rs 765.32 million for the three-month period ended 31 December 2011, compared with Rs 826.94 million in the earlier year.

    Overall, TV Today Network has reported a net profit of Rs 35.5 million during the third quarter of the fiscal. In the same quarter last year, the company had earned a net profit of Rs 94.97 million.

    TV Today Network’s expenses went up marginally to Rs 742.57 million, compared to Rs 726.21 million a year ago. The spend on staff salary was Rs 246.36 million, up from Rs 239.67 million.

    TV Today’s income from operations stood at Rs 786.79 million, compared to Rs 835.99 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal.

    The radio business posted an operating loss of Rs 43.09 million on an income of Rs 21.47 million. In the earlier year, operating loss stood at Rs 61.11 million on an income of Rs 9.05 million.

  • TV Today CEO Krishnan quits

    TV Today CEO Krishnan quits

    MUMBAI: TV Today Network chief executive officer and executive director G Krishnan has quit the organisation.

    Krishnan, who served for 16 long years, ended his stint on 1 September. His direct reports will now report to TV Today Network founder-promoter Aroon Purie,

    “This is to inform you that G Krishnan has resigned from the services of the company with effect from 1 September. All his direct reports will report to me until further notice,” Purie stated in an internal communication.  
         
      TV Today owns and operates a string of news channels including Aaj Tak, Headlines Today, Delhi Aaj Tak and Tej.

    Krishnan joined the India Today Group in 1995 and was involved in the journey of Aaj Tak from a daily TV news bulletin on Doordarshan to a full-fledged Hindi news channel in 2000.

    During his earlier stint at Bennett, Coleman & Company, Krishnan was instrumental in launching India’s first private FM channel, Times FM, in 1993.

    Krishnan has been occupied in various roles – chairman of Media Research Users Council (MRUC), a member of the Board of Governors of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) and founder Director of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF).
      

  • TV Today Q1 operating profit from news biz shrinks 9.8%

    TV Today Q1 operating profit from news biz shrinks 9.8%

    MUMBAI: TV Today Network‘s first quarter operating profit from the television news business has shrunk 9.81 per cent due to a slowing growth in revenue and a surge in staff expense, while the radio segment has reported a 60 per cent jump in turnover.

    The company, which runs news channels that include Aaj Tak and Headlines Today, has posted an operating profit of Rs 44.24 million from the TV broadcasting business, down from Rs 49.05 million a year ago.

    Revenue from this segment grew 7.5 per cent to Rs 689.80 million for the first three months ended June 2011, compared with Rs 641.39 million in the earlier year.
            
      Overall, TV Today Network has reported a net loss of Rs 2.82 million during the first quarter of the fiscal, dragged down by its losses from the FM radio business. In the same quarter last year, the company had earned a net profit of Rs 203.92 million.

    For the first time, however, it is not just the losses in the radio business that has affected the bottom line of the company but also a 27.32 per cent increase in the employee cost.

    TV Today Network’s expenses surged to Rs 713.34 million, compared to Rs 454.35 million a year ago. The spend on staff salary was Rs 246.8 million, up from Rs 193.84 million. The company said that the year-ago period does not include the value of increments for the period given subsequently.

    TV Today’s income from operations stood at Rs 703.70 million, 8.25 per cent up from Rs 650.08 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal.

    The radio business posted an operating loss of Rs 47.71 million on an income of Rs 13.90 million. In the earlier year, operating loss stood at Rs 43.32 million on an income of Rs 8.69 million.

    TV Today shares fell 0.55 per cent to close Friday at Rs 63.40 on the BSE.
     
     

  • TV Today FY’11 net slips 60% on slow rev growth

    TV Today FY’11 net slips 60% on slow rev growth

    MUMBAI: TV Today Network, which runs leading Hindi news channel Aaj Tak, has managed a 2.96 per cent topline increase in a difficult fiscal where some of the television news broadcasters have struggled to scale up revenues.

    A slow revenue growth, the merger of the loss-making radio operations and a 11.63 per cent increase in expenses dragged down TV Today’s net profit by 59.75 per cent.

    TV Today posted a net profit of Rs 124.24 million for the fiscal ended 31 March 2011, down from Rs 308.67 million in the earlier year.

    Income from operations was marginally up at Rs 2.93 billion, from Rs 2.85 billion in FY’10.

    The company’s expenditure stood at Rs 2.83 billion, up from previous year’s Rs 2.54 billion.

    While almost all segments of expenditure saw a marginal increase, TV Today’s spent on advertising, marketing and distribution went up by 39.76 per cent to Rs 842.65 million (from Rs 602.9 million).

    The company’s operating profit fell to Rs 98.48 million, from Rs 309.21 million a year ago.

    The income generated by the TV Broadcast segment stood at Rs 2.89 billion, while operating segment from the segment was at Rs 367.58 million.

    Meanwhile, the radio segment revenue stood at Rs 42.15 million, while operating loss stood at Rs 219.08 million.

    The firm made an advance payment of Rs 455 million to Mail Today Newspapers to enter the daily newspaper space. The venture is currently notching up losses.

    For the fourth-quarter ended 31 March, TV Today has posted a net profit of Rs 95.03 million, as against a net loss of Rs 100.84 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal.

    The revenue during the quarter went up 6.95 per cent to Rs 843.47 (from Rs 788.71 million), while expenses came down to Rs 735.25 million (from Rs 843.61 million).

    The revenue and operating profit from the TV broadcasting segment during the quarter stood at Rs 825.91 million and Rs 180.12 million respectively.

    The radio division posted a revenue of Rs 17.56 million and an operating loss of Rs 50.47 million during the quarter.

  • TV Today’s print plans

    TV Today’s print plans

    MUMBAI: TV Today Network will hold a strategic investment of 13 per cent in Mail Today Newspapers and plans to also directly pursue print expansion in the languages segment.

    The company, which owns and operates a clutch of news channels including Aaj Tak and Headlines Today, has already paid Rs 370 million out of the deal amount of Rs 455 million.

    “The investment in Mail Today is strategic. The print expansion plan will be outside this,” a source close to the company said.

    Mail Today, a daily newspaper in compact format, is a joint venture between the India Today Group and Daily Mail of London.

      TV Today is researching into how it can expand into print. It plans to get into regional language newspapers, the source added.

    TV Today chief executive officer G Krishnan was not available for comment.

    The company had earlier acquired the radio business of Radio Today Broadcasting, a promoter group company, for a valuation of Rs 1.2 billion.

    Some media analysts feel cracking the newspaper language markets will be very difficult as there are existing players strongly entrenched in them.

    ”We are unhappy with the radio acquisition, especially due to the high valuation. It is better if TV Today launches regional news channels rather than entering print (a high gestation period business) or the radio space (a highly competitive and extremely small revenue potential media vertical). The entry into radio and print could be value destructive,” an analyst at a broking firm said.

    A media observer, however, said the revenue and valuation potential would be much higher in case of print. “They will expand into regional news channels as well. They are waiting for the right time.”

    TV Today’s consolidated second-quarter Ebitda turned negative for the first time in 24 quarters as revenue dipped 6.6 per cent while expenses climbed. Net loss for the three-month period ended September 2010 stood at Rs 76 million. The company, however, is expected to post a strong revenue growth in the third quarter and be profitable.
     
     

  • TV Today Q2 posts losses amid revenue dip

    TV Today Q2 posts losses amid revenue dip

    MUMBAI: TV Today Network has reported second-quarter losses as its revenue drops over six per cent, but advertising is expected to speed up in the next two quarters of the fiscal.

    The company has posted a net loss of Rs 75.89 million for the three months ended 30 September, as against a net profit of Rs 106.12 million.

    Income from operations stood at Rs 603.07 million, down from Rs 645.45 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal.

    “The second quarter has been bad as news channels have lost advertising to general entertainment channels. But the October month has been extremely good and we expect a strong rebound in the third quarter. The worst seems to be over,” a source said.

    The company’s expenses also surged to Rs 724.46 million, compared to Rs 561.46 million a year ago.

    However, the company said that the financials are not comparable to the year-ago period as the current quarter also includes radio broadcasting business of the erstwhile Radio Today Broadcasting.

    TV Today operates a clutch of news channels including Aaj Tak and Headlines Today. The radio business operates FM radio stations under recently renamed Oye FM brand (earlier known as Meow FM).
      
         
      For the TV broadcasting segment, TV Today posted a revenue of Rs 596.22 million and an operating loss of Rs 40.57 million. In the trailing quarter, the company had posted a revenue of Rs 641.39 million and an operating profit of Rs 49.05 million.

    The radio business posted an operating loss of Rs 64.17 million on an income of Rs 6.85 million. In the first quarter, operating loss stood at Rs Rs 43.32 million on an income of Rs 8.69 million.

  • TV Today Q1 net shrinks to Rs 10 mn on radio losses

    TV Today Q1 net shrinks to Rs 10 mn on radio losses

    MUMBAI: TV Today Network has posted a weak fiscal first-quarter net profit as it had to absorb losses from its radio business while revenue fell from the year-ago period which had gained from political advertising due to general elections.

    TV Today, which operates a clutch of news channels including Aaj Tak and Headlines Today, reported a net profit of Rs 10.08 million for the three months to 30 June compared to Rs 166.44 million a year ago. 

    TV Today clarified the Q1 results are not comparable to the year-ago period as it did not have the radio broadcasting business then.

    TV Today’s total income from operations stood at Rs 650.08 million, down from Rs 710.41 million it reported in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal. Last year, income had jumped 10.76 per cent, as political parties had advertised majorly on the Hindi news channels.

    The company’s expenses also surged to Rs 648.19, compared to Rs 561.32 million a year ago.

    For the TV broadcasting segment, TV Today posted a revenue of Rs 641.39 million and an operating profit of Rs 49.05 million. However, its radio business, under the brand name of Meow FM, posted an operating loss of Rs 43.32 million over an income of Rs 8.69 million.

    Shares of TV Today closed Friday at Rs 93.40 on the BSE, down 1.11 per cent from its previous close.

  • TV Today Q3 net up 57.9% to Rs 136.9 million

    TV Today Q3 net up 57.9% to Rs 136.9 million

    MUMBAI: News broadcasters have posted third-quarter profitability despite revenue crawling below double digit growth. TV Today Network said Monday its net profit surged 57.87 per cent per cent to Rs 136.92 million for the quarter ended 31 December 2009, as against Rs 86.73 million in the previous year.

    Income from operations saw a modest 7.80 per cent jump to Rs 703.58 million, as compared to Rs 652.66 million in the year-ago period.

    The company kept a tight control on the expenditure during the quarter under review. The expenses stood at Rs 572.13 million, marginally lower then Rs 579.71 million in the corresponding quarter of FY ’09.

    “Though revenues have not seen a big leap, the market is improving steadily. We are seeing positive signals from the financial and realty sectors. News channels should stand to benefit going forward,” a media analyst said.

  • Reliance Capital ups stake in TV Today

    Reliance Capital ups stake in TV Today

    MUMBAI: Anil Ambani’s Reliance Capital has progressively upped its stake in TV Today Network to 14.02 per cent, but is still outside the 15 per cent deadline to trigger an open offer for a fresh 20 per cent acquisition.

    Memories of an open offer go back to June 2007 when Reliance Capital took the aggressive step without being forced into it by takeover regulation. Having taken its stake then to 11.93, Reliance fixed the open offer price at Rs 130.50 per share that did not evoke any interest from shareholders to sell their shares.

    Reliance Capital’s renewed interest in TV Today, which runs a clutch of news channels including the Hindi market leader Aaj Tak, reflected in the market on 7 December when it mopped up 0.11 per cent stake, or 67,000 shares, to take its total holding to 14.02 per cent, or 8.1 million shares.

    A TV Today official declined to comment.

    A spurt in buying by Reliance Capital has prompted a sharp rise in the scrip price of TV Today that was hovering around Rs 100 in November. The scrip touched a high of Rs 151.80 on 4 December. 

    After 7 December, the shares of TV Today have started steadily falling from its high price. The scrip ended Wednesday at Rs 122 on the BSE, up 1.5 per cent from the previous day’s close.

    The promoter holding in TV Today is 55.92 per cent, according to data provided by the company till 30 September 2009.