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Tag: TV18 Broadcast

  • NTO 2.0: MSOs asks Trai to reject new RIOs published by broadcasters

    NTO 2.0: MSOs asks Trai to reject new RIOs published by broadcasters

    Mumbai: The Tamil Nadu Digital Cable TV Operators Association has  sent a legal notice to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) asking it to reject the new reference interconnection offers (RIO) published by broadcasters. The Association has also sought Trai’s intervention in asking broadcasters to reduce channel prices as it “will cause irreparable loss to the entire industry”.

    Major broadcasters including Disney Star India, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, Sony Pictures Networks India, and TV18 Broadcast Ltd, had published their new RIOs over the weekend starting from 15 October (Dussehra) with the new a-la-carte pay channel and bouquet pricing that adheres to Trai’s new tariff order (NTO) 2.0.

    The broadcasters had hiked the prices of their driver channels and pulled them from all their bouquets as Trai’s NTO 2.0 provisions mandated an MRP cap of Rs 12 for any pay channel to be included in a bouquet. The broadcasters are currently battling the Trai order in the Supreme Court stating that some of its provisions are arbitrary and outside the purview of the regulator. The final hearing is on 30 November.

    In its notice to Trai, the Association has stated that “major broadcasters have issued their RIOs where it can be calculated that majorly subscribed channels by the consumers will be inflated by 100 per cent to 200 per cent.”

    It added, “It is pertinent to mention here that during the situation when over-the-top service providers are trying to make their services more affordable to increase their subscriber base, the service providers of this industry will have to increase their rates substantially which will certainly cause loss of subscriber base of the local cable operators (LCOs) and multi-system operators (MSO).”

    These “excessive prices” will undoubtedly hurt the subscriber base of cable operators whose subscribers come from the rural areas of the country where income levels are comparatively lower. The MSO mentioned that any regulation/direction/order implemented by Trai should lead to the growth and development of service providers and consumers.

    “It is the contention of the Tamil Nadu Digital Cable TV Operators Association that the RIO published by Disney Star India has an illegal clause that requires MSOs to “continue the channels on the old LCNs and they cannot change it”. If new RIO is being asked to be implemented, then all its terms are liable to be renegotiated and the broadcaster cannot favourably keep the clauses of the old RIOs,” it said.

  • TV18 Broadcast publishes new RIO adhering to NTO 2.0

    TV18 Broadcast publishes new RIO adhering to NTO 2.0

    Mumbai: TV18 Broadcast Ltd has published its reference interconnection (RIO) offer issued under telecommunications (broadcasting and cable) services interconnection (addressable systems) regulations, 2017 for all distribution platforms. The new RIO will be effective from 1 December. 

    The tariffs for a-la-carte channels and bouquets published in the RIO adhere to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) new tariff order (NTO) 2.0.

    Viacom18 network channels including their flagship Hindi GEC Colors, Kannada GEC Colors Kannada both SD and HD will be priced greater than Rs 12. As per NTO 2.0, Trai has mandated that a channel’s MRP must not exceed Rs 12 for it to be included in any bouquet. The aforementioned channels will not be part of any of the 39 bouquets offered by the broadcaster.

    The implementation of the new tariff order 2.0 has been halted as broadcasters under the aegis of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) have challenged the Trai order in the Supreme Court. The final hearing on the matter is scheduled for 30 November.

  • TV18 Broadcast reports Rs 115 crore Q2 net profit

    TV18 Broadcast reports Rs 115 crore Q2 net profit

    NEW DELHI: TV18 Broadcast Ltd has reported a net profit of Rs 115 crores for the quarter ended 30 September 2020, up from Rs 46 crore in the same quarter in the previous year.

    The consolidated operating revenue for Q2 21 fell 10 per cent y-o-y and stood at Rs 1,013 crore against Rs 1,127 crore for the same period in Q2 20.

    However, the consolidated operating EBIDTA grew by 56 per cent y-o-y to Rs 164 crore in Q2 21 against Rs 105 crore for the same period last year. Step-jump in EBITDA margins for both news and entertainment to healthy levels and H1 operating margins highest in four years despite Covid2019 drag; continue to improve y-o-y.

    Ad-revenues have rebounded as economic activity resumed with the lifting of lockdowns. News business’ advertising has fully recovered, as viewership has settled at a higher level and entertainment recovery near-complete. However, the year-on-year revenue reduced to single-digits now.

    Subscription revenues showed resilience and domestic subscription revenue has continued to rise. TV connections in commercial establishments and some low-end connections saw a temporary dip due to the pandemic; but multi-TV home connections have picked up. Distribution tie-ups across TV and digital continued to expand but international subscription witnessed pandemic-related stress.

    Cost controls have been implemented since last financial year and were accelerated during the pandemic. Broad-based cost controls have been implemented across business lines, including renegotiation of contracts and reining-in all discretionary expenses. Working capital optimisation, a tight leash on debt, and softer interest rates has resulted in major savings in finance costs, boosting profitability.

    Media consumption has settled at a higher plane in the face of receding Covid2019 impact. TV viewership had spiked to 1.5x of its usual levels at the beginning of lockdown, but has now settled at 1.1x as the economy gets unlocked. Digital media engagement too has received a smart fillip, across both news and entertainment. News genre has reverted to contributing eight per cent of TV viewership, vs 15 per cent during lockdown. Pay-TV has clawed back its share from free-to-air channels, as entertainment programming is back in full-swing.

    TV18 chairman Adil Zainulbhai said, “TV18’s broadcasting businesses have recovered from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to a very large degree. Our proactive measures on cost-control have resulted in much-improved profitability across both news and entertainment, despite certain market segments still suffering from pressures due to the Coronavirus. We have ensured business continuity through rejigging processes, innovatively revived alternative revenue streams, and focusing on aligning content distribution strategy with market opportunity. As we head into the festive season, the underlying trends on both viewership and monetization are supportive.”

    News bouquet (20 channels) was #1 by reach and had 8.7 per cent news viewership market-share.

    Entertainment bouquet (Viacom18’s 34 channels + AETN18’s 2 infotainment channels) share of TV entertainment rose to 10.7 per cent from a low of 9.1 per cent in Q1. By and large, entertainment viewership has improved sharply, led by ramp-up of original content production and telecast which had been shuttered during lockdown. Ad monetization is fast catching-up, with increased volumes of advertising ahead of the festive season leading to improving yields as well. Hindi general entertainment has fully revived as national advertising has ramped-up, while regional entertainment is following with a lag.  

    In the digital segment, Voot witnessed a significant improvement in MAUs as fresh content resumed. It enjoys the most loyal audience amongst broadcaster-OTTs, with average daily time spent per viewer of 52 minutes. The scale-up of the advertising-led section is driving a reduction in gestation losses.

  • ARG Outlier Media writes to TRAI, accuses News18 India of flouting landing page directive

    ARG Outlier Media writes to TRAI, accuses News18 India of flouting landing page directive

    MUMBAI: ARG Outlier Media Asianet News, which owns channels like Republic TV, Republic Bharat among others, has accused TV18 Broadcast Ltd of flouting Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) 3 December 2018 directive to broadcasters and distribution platform operators (DPO).

    A letter, reviewed by Indiantelevision.com, written by ARG Outlier Media earlier this month states that ‘TV18 Broadcast started its channel News18 India as a landing page on Hathway Digital’, exhorting the regulator to take action against the violator.

    In December last year, TRAI had directed all distributors of TV channels and broadcasters to restrain, with immediate effect, from placing registered television channels, whose TV rating is released by ratings agency, on the landing page or the boot-up screen.

    The reason behind this order, according to TRAI, was to protect the interest of service providers and consumers while ensuring “orderly growth of the sector”.

    Though the TRAI diktat came into effect immediately, the sector regulator allowed some breather to stakeholders to become fully compliant by 31 March 2019 by making necessary changes in agreements that may have been already signed. However, distributors and TV channels had been asked to report to the regulator with updates within seven days.

    Last month, TV18 Broadcast had written to TRAI about Republic Bharat being placed outside the Hindi news genre to drive up viewership.

    “The action of placing ‘Republic Bharat’ of ARG Outlier Media outside its relevant genre is also a violation of authority’s broadcasting regulation as framed by the Authority (specially, sub-regulations 2 of regulation 18 of the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) Regulations, 2017) and as such, impermissible,” TV18 said, requesting TRAI to investigate the matter and take appropriate action against all those violating the regulations.

    TV18 said that the channel was being placed in other genres to allow it to “illegally garner higher BARC ratings and increase viewership”. 

    “As such, by placing Republic Bharat in non-Hindi news genres, an unfair and undue advantage is being given to ‘Republic Bharat’ when compared with its competing channels that continue to be listed in correct / Hindi news genre,” TV18 said in its complaint to the TRAI.

    It is believed that competing Hindi news channels like Aaj Tak and India TV were the other complainants.

    “In view of above, we humbly request Authority to kindly take cognisance of this complaint and investigate into the matter rather, in terms of applicable laws, take stem action against all those who may be / have been involved in listing of Republic Bharat outside its genre so as to deprecate such malpractices in future,” TV18 had stated.

  • Aditi Bhatnagar to join Network18 as EVP special projects

    Aditi Bhatnagar to join Network18 as EVP special projects

    MUMBAI:  In a restructuring mode, Reliance Industries-controlled Network18 has not only been shuffling senior executives vesting in them newer responsibilities, but also bringing in professionals from outside. The latest is Aditi Singh Bhatnagar who is joining the group as EVP of special projects.

    Bhatnagar was previously COO-cum-head of special projects and events at NDTV.

    Earlier, Network18 announced the elevation of Avinash Kaul as the chief operating officer of the group with continued and additional responsibility as managing director at A+E Network at TV18 Broadcast, a subsidiary that runs and manages the TV channels of Network18.

    According to company sources, even as more restructuring in Network18 is gradually affected after the controlling stake in Viacom18, Bhatnagar will report to the group’s president for marketing and special projects Priyanka Kaul.

    Having spent about two decades at NDTV, Bhatnagar, an alumnus of Delhi’s prestigious SRCC, has held leadership positions in her previous company driving business and strategies in areas such as content development, revenue and business development, production and sales.

    Network18 Media and Investments Ltd is a media and entertainment company with interests in television, internet, filmed entertainment, digital business, magazines, mobile content and allied businesses. The company manages various digital businesses, including portals such as moneycontrol.com, ibnlive.com, burrp.com, in.com and firstpost.com. It also operates digital commerce properties like HomeShop18 and bookmyshow.com. In addition, Network18 is a leading player in the publishing space having under its wings titles such as Forbes India, Overdrive, Better Interiors and Better Photography. Network18 has also allied investments in Colosceum, Toppers, 24X7 Learning, Yatra and Ubona.

    Through its subsidiary TV18 Broadcast Limited, the group operates news channels such as CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz, CNBC Bajar, CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, CNN-News18, IBN7, ETV channels and IBN-Lokmat (a Marathi regional news channel in partnership with the Lokmat group).

    TV18 also operates a joint venture with Viacom, called Viacom18, which houses a portfolio of popular entertainment channels like Colors, Colors HD, Colors Infinity, Rishtey, MTV India, MTV Indies, Comedy Central, Vh1, Nick, Sonic, Nick Jr, Teen Nick and Viacom18 Motion Pictures, the group’s filmed entertainment business. TV18 operates a factual entertainment channel History TV18 and FYI TV18 through a joint venture with A+E Networks.

    Also Read :

    Network18 appoints Avinash Kaul as COO

    Turner appoints IndiaCast as exclusive distribution agent

    TV18 to increase Viacom18 stake to 51%

  • AETN18 to launch FYI TV18 in India

    AETN18 to launch FYI TV18 in India

    Bali: A+E Networks announced today at APOS 2016 in Bali that it is launching its channel FYI in India in partnership with the Reliance owned TV18 Broadcast. This will be the second channel to be launched under the two companies’ joint venture A+E Network TV18.  The first HistoryTV18 has been operational for the past four plus years in India.

    FYI, according to its website, embraces an adventurous, personalized and non-prescriptive approach to peoples’ taste, space, look, story and more. FYI covers a range of stories and experiences that reflect how people actually live their lives today, not defined by just one passion or interest.

    The announcement was made by A+E Networks EVP & CFO David Granville-Smith. He stated that there will be close to 100 hours of original locally produced factual series  on FYITV18 when it launches.

    AETN18 is headed by president  Avinash Kaul.  Kaul says, “After the successful localisation strategy of HistoryTV18, we will be following it up with the launch localisation strategy of FYITV18. The biggest names in television in India will be associated with the new channel.”

  • AETN18 to launch FYI TV18 in India

    AETN18 to launch FYI TV18 in India

    Bali: A+E Networks announced today at APOS 2016 in Bali that it is launching its channel FYI in India in partnership with the Reliance owned TV18 Broadcast. This will be the second channel to be launched under the two companies’ joint venture A+E Network TV18.  The first HistoryTV18 has been operational for the past four plus years in India.

    FYI, according to its website, embraces an adventurous, personalized and non-prescriptive approach to peoples’ taste, space, look, story and more. FYI covers a range of stories and experiences that reflect how people actually live their lives today, not defined by just one passion or interest.

    The announcement was made by A+E Networks EVP & CFO David Granville-Smith. He stated that there will be close to 100 hours of original locally produced factual series  on FYITV18 when it launches.

    AETN18 is headed by president  Avinash Kaul.  Kaul says, “After the successful localisation strategy of HistoryTV18, we will be following it up with the launch localisation strategy of FYITV18. The biggest names in television in India will be associated with the new channel.”

  • TV18 Broadcast names Dhruv Subodgh Kaji & Rajiv Krishan Luthra as additional directors

    TV18 Broadcast names Dhruv Subodgh Kaji & Rajiv Krishan Luthra as additional directors

    MUMBAI: TV18 Broadcast has appointed Dhruv Subodgh Kaji and Rajiv Krishan Luthra as additional directors designated as independent directors of the company.

     

    The company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on 12 October that the Board of Directors of the company has confirmed the appointment of Kaji and Luthra.

     

    Chartered accountant by profession, Kaji served as a finance director of Raymond and has an experience of more than 25 years. His expertise lies in strategic planning. He also served as director of Balaji Telefilms from 2004 to 2010. 

     

    On the other hand, Luthra is the founder and managing partner of Luthra & Luthra Law Offices. He has been rendering advice for over three decades, on a vast range of commercial transactions involving corporate, tax and civil law issues.

  • Q1-2016: Network18, TV18 report y-o-y revenue growth

    Q1-2016: Network18, TV18 report y-o-y revenue growth

    BENGALURU: Network18 Media & Investments Limited (Network18) reported 12 per cent growth in consolidated income from operations (TIO) to Rs 793.65 crore in the quarter ended 30 June, 2015 (Q1-2016) as compared to the Rs 708.39 crore in Q1-2015. TIO in Q1-2016 was however 5.7 per cent lower than the Rs 841.43 crore in Q4-2015. 

     

    The company reported a consolidated loss of Rs 5.96 crore in the current quarter as compared to the massive onetime adjustment loss of Rs 1156.50 crore after the Mukesh Ambani led Reliance Industries Limited took over the company. Network18 had reported a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 45.33 crore in Q4-2015.

     

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

     

    The company’s Media Operations segment, TV18 Broadcast Ltd, in which Network18 has holdings, reported a 3.5 per cent growth in revenue to Rs 718.79 crore in Q1-2016 from Rs 694.08 crore in Q1-2015, but reported a decline of 13.7 per cent from the Rs 832.63 crore in the immediate trailing quarter. The segment reported a lower operating loss of Rs 15.80 crore in the current quarter as compared to an operating loss of Rs 83.72 crore in Q1-2015 and an operating profit of Rs 58.64 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    Network18’s Film Production and Distribution (Film) segment reported more than threefold increase (3.67 times) in revenue to Rs 52.61 crore in Q1-2016 as compared to the Rs 14.32 crore in Q1-2015 and an almost eleven fold increase from the Rs 4.8 crore in Q4-2015. The film segment reported an operating profit of Rs 1.34 crore in Q1-2016 as compared to a loss of Rs 0.95 crore in Q1-2015 and a loss of Rs 2.44 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    The company’s Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBIDTA, includes other income) in Q1-2016 at Rs 49.1 crore (6.2 per cent margin) was almost double (1.99 times) the Rs 24.7 crore (3.5 per cent margin) in Q1-2015, but was less than half again as much (49.3 per cent) of the Rs 99.6 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    Network18 reported 10.7 per cent increase in total expenditure to Rs 811.9 crore (102.3 per cent of income from operations) in Q1-2016 as compared to the Rs 733.5 crore (103.5 per cent of income from operations) in Q1-2015 and 2.9 per cent more than the Rs 789 crore (93.8 per cent of income from operations) in Q4-2015.

     

    Network18 employee benefit expense in Q1-2016 at Rs 159.8 crore (20.1 per cent of income from operations) was 8.9 per cent more than the Rs 146.8 crore (20.7 per cent of income from operations) in Q1-2015 and was 11.3 per cent more than the Rs 143.6 crore (17.1 per cent of income from operations) in Q4-2015.

     

    Network18 programming cost in Q1-2016 at Rs 206.3 crore (26 per cent of income from operations) was 21.7 per cent more than the Rs 169.5 crore (23.9 per cent of income from operations) in Q1-2015 and was almost flat (0.8 per cent lower) than the Rs 208 crore (24.7 per cent of income from operations) in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    TV18 Broadcast Limited

     

    TV18 reported a 13.1 per cent growth in consolidated income from operations to Rs 596.7 crore in Q1-2015 as compared to the Rs 527.7 crore in Q1-2015, but a 5.2 per cent decline as compared to the Rs 629.7 crore in Q4-2015. TV18 reported a loss of Rs 4.2 crore in the current quarter as compared to the onetime adjustment loss of Rs 214.2 crore in Q1-2015 and a profit of Rs 86.3 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    TV18’s EBIDTA (including other income) in Q1-2016 at Rs 20 crore (3.4 per cent margin) was a little more than one third (37.4 per cent) of the Rs 53.5 crore (10.1 per cent margin) and less than one-fifth (15.6 times) the Rs 111.3 crore (17.7 per cent margin) in Q4-2015.

     

    TV18’s total expenditure in Q1-2016 increased 17 per cent to Rs 595.9 crore (99.9 per cent of income from operations) from Rs 509.5 crore (96.6 per cent of income from operations) and increased 7.4 per cent from Rs 555.1 crore (88.2 per cent of income from operations) in Q4-2015. 

     

    A major expenditure increase was TV18’s marketing, distribution and promotional expense in Q1-2016 by 33 per cent to Rs 135.9 crore (22.8 per cent of income from operations) from Rs 102.2 crore (19.4 per cent of income from operations) in Q1-2015 and an increase of 19.7 per cent as compared to the Rs 113.5 crore (18 per cent of income from operations) in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    Click here to read unaudited financial of Network 18

     

    Click here to read investor presentation of TV18

  • ETV News to be re-branded as News 18

    ETV News to be re-branded as News 18

    KOLKATA: Re-branding is not new to the world of media; brands across sectors undergo the change on various accounts – to catch the target group’s attention, due to mergers or just to give a facelift.

     

    The latest to join the bandwagon is TV18 Broadcast. Part of Network18 Group, the network has various regional news channels under its umbrella.

     

    Come April, next year, and ETV news channels will be known as News18, as per the agreement between the TV18 Group and the erstwhile owner, Eenadu Group, an ETV insider revealed.

     

    Also, TV18, which has acquired 100 per cent interest in the regional Hindi news channels namely ETV Uttar Pradesh, ETV Madhya Pradesh, ETV Rajasthan and ETV Bihar will be known as News 18 UP, News 18 MP, News 18 Rajasthan and News 18 Bihar, respectively as per the agreement.

     

    ETV Network’s head when contacted on the same, confirmed the development. “Till March 2015, TV18 group would use the old name and logo. But from April 2015, the logo and name of the channels will change,” he says.

     

    However, Viacom18 executive vice-president Ravish Kumar refused to comment on the same.

     

    Incubators Group CMD Kaushlendra Singh Sengar highlights that one of the key strengths of ETV channels’ is their ability to attract and retain loyal viewers. And TV18 is confident of taking these regional channels to even greater heights with its strategic inputs, improved content/programming strategies and operational synergies. “If the ETV channels are re-branded as News18, it will be a good move since TV18 has a bouquet of leading television channels under its umbrella.”

     

    Recently TV18 completed its acquisition of ETV Bangla.

     

    Sengar adds, “As part of the deal for acquisition of ETV channels, Network18 and TV18 have also entered in to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Infotel Broadband Services (Infotel), a subsidiary of Reliance Industries. Under the MoU the companies and their associates will have the right to distribute the content of all the media and web properties of Network18.” he says.

     

    The tie-up with Infotel will enable Network18 and TV18 to build on their first-mover advantage for the distribution of their content through the latest broadband technology.

     

    “The key advantage for millions of viewers will be the ability to enjoy an uninterrupted, high quality, 24-hour viewership, even while they are on the move,” concludes Sengar.