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Tag: Zee Media Corporation Limited

  • Harini Calamur, intellect behind LeEco’s content strategy in India

    Harini Calamur, intellect behind LeEco’s content strategy in India

    MUMBAI: After a successful run with Zee Media Corporation Limited as the head digital content for news, Harini Calamur is enthralled on joining LeEco as the head for original content.

    LeEco has shown signs of aggression and has announced a slew of content initiatives and acquisitions in Asia over the past few months. 

    “It’s a fun place to be in. Content consumption patterns are moving to mobile phones now. It’s exciting to see the increasing demand for intriguing content from Indian viewers. Delivering gripping content to the viewers is pleasing”, says Calamur.

    She is responsible for developing original content for LeEco’s OTT platforms in India across languages and genres. During her tenure with Zee, Calamur conceptualized, designed, and implement a digital news content strategy for all the news brands of the group –dna and Zee News and regional variants. She moved the entities from companion websites to digital products, with loyal audiences and advertisers and also launched the hyperlocal platform for the group, iamin.in, present in 36 locations across India.

    The global internet and technology conglomerate LeEco is also called the Netflix of China for its content eco-system. The soon to launch platform plans to produce as well as commission content for its viewers in India. It has Atul Jain as the COO Smart Electronics Business in conjunction with Debashish Ghosh COO looking after the entire Indian content business and Divya Dixit as director of content marketing for India.

    The company recently launched its flagship superphones, Le Max and Le1s, in the Indian market. As a partner, ErosNow will be integrated within the Le ecosystem of internet enabled smartphones and smart televisions, showcasing ErosNow’s Bollywood films, music and originals. Devices will include a one-year premium subscription to ErosNow service pre-bundled with the purchase of the phones. The launch of Le 2 Superphone by LeEco has stirred the pricing landscape in India and has given a new lease of vibrancy to the smartphone market in India.

    LeEco has once again renewed its exclusive partnership with Flipkart. An agreement cementing this alliance was signed off between Atul Jain and Flipkart chief marketing officer Samardeep Subandh.

  • FY-16: Zee Media board proposes 15 percent dividend

    FY-16: Zee Media board proposes 15 percent dividend

    BENGALURU: The board of Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL), the erstwhile Zee News Limited has recommended payment of equity dividend of Re. 0.15/- per equity share of Re. 1/- each (equivalent to 15 percent on the paid up equity capital), to the equity shareholders for the year ended 31 March 2016 (FY-16, current year). Despite almost flat standalone (up by 0.9 percent) revenue in FY-16 as compared to FY-15, the company has reported more than triple the stand alone profit at Rs 18.75 crore (4.9 percent PAT margin) as compared to Rs 6.17 crore (1.6 percent margin). The company has reported a drop in expenses for the current year as compared to the previous year.

    ZMCL reported standalone total income from operations (revenue, TIO) of Rs 383.61 crore in FY-16 as compared to Rs 380.33 crore in FY-15.

    Note: The unit of currency in this report is the Indian rupee – Rs (also conventionally represented by INR). The Indian numbering system or the Vedic numbering system has been used to denote money values. The basic conversion to the international norm would be:

    (a) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10,000,000 = 10 million = 1 crore
    (b) 10,000 lakh = 100 crore = 1 arab = 1 billion.

    The ZMCL board also took on record the resignation of Subhash Chandra as director and non-executive chairman of the company with effect from May 24, 2016; and

    The ZMCL boards has, based on recommendations of nomination and remuneration committee, approved appointment of R K Arora, CEO as an additional director and upon such appointment, his appointment as an executive director & CEO of the Company for a period of 3 years with effect from May 24, 2016.

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by ZMCL

    On a consolidated basis, TIO declined marginally by 0.3 percent to Rs 542.91 crore in the current fiscal from Rs 544.33 crore in FY-15. The company reported consolidated profit before tax (PBT) of Rs 2.87 crore in the current year as compared to a consolidated loss before tax of Rs 55.51 crore in FY-15.

    Revenue from ZMCL’s Television segment in FY-16 increased 3 percent to Rs 434.59 crore from Rs 422.12 crore in FY-15. ZMCL’s Television segment reported EBIDTA of Rs 79.99 crore in the current year as compared to Rs 59.57 crore in the previous year.

    Revenue from the print segment declined 24.4 percent to Rs 108.53 crore in FY-16 from Rs 143.62 crore in FY-15. Print segment reported an operating loss of Rs 0.2 crore as compared to an operating loss of Rs 21.41 crore in FY-15.

    ZMCL’s advertising revenue in FY-16 increased 1.8 percent to 401.15 crore from Rs 393.88 crore in FY-15. Advertising revenue from existing television channels in FY-16 increased 1.3 percent to Rs 302.12 crore as compared to Rs 296.74 crore in FY-15. Advertising revenue from new channels in FY-16 more than doubled (2.02 times) to Rs 29.71 crore from Rs 13.81 crore in FY-15.

    Subscription revenue in the current year declined 9.8 percent to Rs 102.39 crore from Rs 113.54 crore in the previous year. Other sales and services revenue in FY-16 increased 6.7 percent to Rs 39.37 crore as compared to Rs 36.91 crore in FY-15.

    Total consolidated expense in FY-16 declined 8.1 percent to Rs 465.12 crore from Rs 506.17 crore.

    Cost of goods and operations in FY-16 declined 15.8 percent to Rs 132.87 crore from Rs 157.90 crore. Employee cost in the current year declined 8.3 percent to Rs 147.35 crore from Rs 160.66 crore in FY-15. Other expenses declined 1.4 percent to Rs 184.90 crore in FY-15 from Rs 187.61 crore in the previous year.

    Company speak

    ZMCL executive director and CEO RK Arora said: “The Indian economy continues to outperform other major economies of the world. Forecast for a good monsoon season is expected to further fuel the growth. With the macroeconomic environment promising a bright future, the media and entertainment industry is expected to use the emerging opportunities – increased ad spends – to chart a robust growth path. We at ZMCL have adopted a three pronged approach for innovation and growth. For our advertisers, we are constantly bringing out new innovations to maximize their return on investment. For our audience, our endeavor is to provide differentiated, innovative, and positive news content which cuts through the morass of the market. For our shareholders, we are constantly striving to use technology and enhance processes to establish industry benchmarks. Our significantly improved profit margins point towards the success we have achieved in our endeavours.”

     

  • FY-16: Zee Media board proposes 15 percent dividend

    FY-16: Zee Media board proposes 15 percent dividend

    BENGALURU: The board of Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL), the erstwhile Zee News Limited has recommended payment of equity dividend of Re. 0.15/- per equity share of Re. 1/- each (equivalent to 15 percent on the paid up equity capital), to the equity shareholders for the year ended 31 March 2016 (FY-16, current year). Despite almost flat standalone (up by 0.9 percent) revenue in FY-16 as compared to FY-15, the company has reported more than triple the stand alone profit at Rs 18.75 crore (4.9 percent PAT margin) as compared to Rs 6.17 crore (1.6 percent margin). The company has reported a drop in expenses for the current year as compared to the previous year.

    ZMCL reported standalone total income from operations (revenue, TIO) of Rs 383.61 crore in FY-16 as compared to Rs 380.33 crore in FY-15.

    Note: The unit of currency in this report is the Indian rupee – Rs (also conventionally represented by INR). The Indian numbering system or the Vedic numbering system has been used to denote money values. The basic conversion to the international norm would be:

    (a) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10,000,000 = 10 million = 1 crore
    (b) 10,000 lakh = 100 crore = 1 arab = 1 billion.

    The ZMCL board also took on record the resignation of Subhash Chandra as director and non-executive chairman of the company with effect from May 24, 2016; and

    The ZMCL boards has, based on recommendations of nomination and remuneration committee, approved appointment of R K Arora, CEO as an additional director and upon such appointment, his appointment as an executive director & CEO of the Company for a period of 3 years with effect from May 24, 2016.

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by ZMCL

    On a consolidated basis, TIO declined marginally by 0.3 percent to Rs 542.91 crore in the current fiscal from Rs 544.33 crore in FY-15. The company reported consolidated profit before tax (PBT) of Rs 2.87 crore in the current year as compared to a consolidated loss before tax of Rs 55.51 crore in FY-15.

    Revenue from ZMCL’s Television segment in FY-16 increased 3 percent to Rs 434.59 crore from Rs 422.12 crore in FY-15. ZMCL’s Television segment reported EBIDTA of Rs 79.99 crore in the current year as compared to Rs 59.57 crore in the previous year.

    Revenue from the print segment declined 24.4 percent to Rs 108.53 crore in FY-16 from Rs 143.62 crore in FY-15. Print segment reported an operating loss of Rs 0.2 crore as compared to an operating loss of Rs 21.41 crore in FY-15.

    ZMCL’s advertising revenue in FY-16 increased 1.8 percent to 401.15 crore from Rs 393.88 crore in FY-15. Advertising revenue from existing television channels in FY-16 increased 1.3 percent to Rs 302.12 crore as compared to Rs 296.74 crore in FY-15. Advertising revenue from new channels in FY-16 more than doubled (2.02 times) to Rs 29.71 crore from Rs 13.81 crore in FY-15.

    Subscription revenue in the current year declined 9.8 percent to Rs 102.39 crore from Rs 113.54 crore in the previous year. Other sales and services revenue in FY-16 increased 6.7 percent to Rs 39.37 crore as compared to Rs 36.91 crore in FY-15.

    Total consolidated expense in FY-16 declined 8.1 percent to Rs 465.12 crore from Rs 506.17 crore.

    Cost of goods and operations in FY-16 declined 15.8 percent to Rs 132.87 crore from Rs 157.90 crore. Employee cost in the current year declined 8.3 percent to Rs 147.35 crore from Rs 160.66 crore in FY-15. Other expenses declined 1.4 percent to Rs 184.90 crore in FY-15 from Rs 187.61 crore in the previous year.

    Company speak

    ZMCL executive director and CEO RK Arora said: “The Indian economy continues to outperform other major economies of the world. Forecast for a good monsoon season is expected to further fuel the growth. With the macroeconomic environment promising a bright future, the media and entertainment industry is expected to use the emerging opportunities – increased ad spends – to chart a robust growth path. We at ZMCL have adopted a three pronged approach for innovation and growth. For our advertisers, we are constantly bringing out new innovations to maximize their return on investment. For our audience, our endeavor is to provide differentiated, innovative, and positive news content which cuts through the morass of the market. For our shareholders, we are constantly striving to use technology and enhance processes to establish industry benchmarks. Our significantly improved profit margins point towards the success we have achieved in our endeavours.”

     

  • ZMCL appoints WION’s Rohit Gandhi as editor-in-chief for its English daily

    ZMCL appoints WION’s Rohit Gandhi as editor-in-chief for its English daily

    MUMBAI: : Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL) announced that its English news channel WION head Rohit Gandhi will take on additional responsibility as editor-in-chief of its English daily DNA. The new appointments will come into effect today,7 April. All editorial functions will henceforth report to Rohit Gandhi.

    Additionally, Shreyasi Goenka, who has been mentoring the content at DNA for a while, will now take the responsibility of content advisor and will guide all functions of DNA. Uday Nirgudkar who has been heading DNA along with Zee 24 Taas, will now continue to lead Zee 24 Taas as its business head.

    Commenting on the new leadership, Essel Group & Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL) chairman Subhash Chandra said, “One of our Vision 2020 goals is to become a leading global media conglomerate which is hugely dependent on our ability to create an organization that has the capacity to achieve its desired aspirations. We believe that the convergence of our media businesses i.e. television news and print platforms is an opportunity that will help us to achieve this organizational aspiration. With Zee Media’s ambition to get into English News broadcasting, both the brands put together give the organization an opportunity to serve our audiences better.”

    Shreyasi Goenka said, “Since its launch in 2005, DNA has become the preferred choice for India’s young and dynamic readers. We have been continuously innovating with offerings like ‘I Am IN – dna of India’, a technology enabled initiative, that promises to enlighten, engage and empower citizens of India in getting involved in the cause for better governance.We are confident that this new seamless organizational structure will bring in fresh insights and views, thus helping us to leverage resources more effectively and in maximizing our market potential.”

    Speaking on his new appointment, Rohit Gandhi said, “We are moving to expand our coverage and the editions of DNA. It is a great opportunity for us to bring more textured content from all parts of India to give our readers a far deeper understanding of India and the world. I look forward to working with Shreyasi in building an insightful newspaper.”

     

  • ZMCL appoints WION’s Rohit Gandhi as editor-in-chief for its English daily

    ZMCL appoints WION’s Rohit Gandhi as editor-in-chief for its English daily

    MUMBAI: : Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL) announced that its English news channel WION head Rohit Gandhi will take on additional responsibility as editor-in-chief of its English daily DNA. The new appointments will come into effect today,7 April. All editorial functions will henceforth report to Rohit Gandhi.

    Additionally, Shreyasi Goenka, who has been mentoring the content at DNA for a while, will now take the responsibility of content advisor and will guide all functions of DNA. Uday Nirgudkar who has been heading DNA along with Zee 24 Taas, will now continue to lead Zee 24 Taas as its business head.

    Commenting on the new leadership, Essel Group & Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL) chairman Subhash Chandra said, “One of our Vision 2020 goals is to become a leading global media conglomerate which is hugely dependent on our ability to create an organization that has the capacity to achieve its desired aspirations. We believe that the convergence of our media businesses i.e. television news and print platforms is an opportunity that will help us to achieve this organizational aspiration. With Zee Media’s ambition to get into English News broadcasting, both the brands put together give the organization an opportunity to serve our audiences better.”

    Shreyasi Goenka said, “Since its launch in 2005, DNA has become the preferred choice for India’s young and dynamic readers. We have been continuously innovating with offerings like ‘I Am IN – dna of India’, a technology enabled initiative, that promises to enlighten, engage and empower citizens of India in getting involved in the cause for better governance.We are confident that this new seamless organizational structure will bring in fresh insights and views, thus helping us to leverage resources more effectively and in maximizing our market potential.”

    Speaking on his new appointment, Rohit Gandhi said, “We are moving to expand our coverage and the editions of DNA. It is a great opportunity for us to bring more textured content from all parts of India to give our readers a far deeper understanding of India and the world. I look forward to working with Shreyasi in building an insightful newspaper.”

     

  • Q3-2016: Zee Media reports 3.3% revenue growth; print reports operating profit

    Q3-2016: Zee Media reports 3.3% revenue growth; print reports operating profit

    BENGALURU: Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL) reported 3.3 per cent YoY growth in Total Income from Operations (TIO) to Rs 144.46 crore in the quarter ended 31 December, 2015 (Q3-2016, current quarter) as compared to the Rs 131.12 crore in Q3-2015. TIO in the current quarter was 6.1 per cent lower than the Rs 139.84 crore in Q3-2015. The company’s print segment reported an operating profit of Rs 0.98 crore as compared to an operating loss of Rs 3.29 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter.

     

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

    (2) The figures in this report are consolidated figures unless stated otherwise

     

    Consequently, ZMCL’s EBIDTA in the current quarter increased 24.9 per cent to Rs 20.97 crore as compared to Rs 16.79 crore in Q3-2015. ZMCL’s Television segment EBIDTA for the current quarter however was flat at Rs 19.99 crore as compared to the Rs 20.08 crore in Q3-2015. ZMCL’s EBIDTA in the immediate trailing quarter was much lower at Rs 6.71 crore.

     

    The company reported a lower loss of Rs 1.11 crore as compared to a loss of Rs 10.41 crore in Q3-2015 and a loss of Rs 16.98 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    The company’s advertising revenue in the current quarter also increased 3.3 per cent YoY to Rs 103.46 crore as compared to Rs 100.13 crore and increased 14.1 per cent QoQ from Rs 90.69 crore. Subscription revenue in Q3-2016 increased one per cent YoY to Rs 30.64 crore from Rs 30.33 and increased 12.5 per cent QoQ from Rs 27.24 crore.

     

    ZMCL’s Television segment reported 6.5 per cent YoY growth in revenue in Q3-2016 to Rs 116.42 crore from Rs 109.32 crore and 16.1 per cent QoQ growth from Rs 100.30 crore. Print segment declined 8.2 per cent YoY in the current quarter to Rs 28.04 crore from Rs 30.55 crore and increased 4.8 per cent QoQ from Rs 26.75 crore.

     

    The company has controlled its total expenditure in Q3-2015, which was almost flat (up by 0.3 per cent) YoY at Rs 123.49 crore as compared to Rs 123.08 crore and was 2.6 per cent more QoQ as compared to Rs 120.33 crore.

     

    Cost of goods and operations in the current quarter declined 7.9 per cent YoY to Rs 32.50 crore as compared to Rs 35.29 crore  and was 3.4 per cent lower QoQ than 33.64 crore. Employee Cost in the current quarter declined 4.1 per cent to Rs 38.15 crore from Rs 39.76 crore and was 1.1 per cent lower QoQ than the Rs 38.60 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    ZMCL group CEO – news cluster Bhaskar Das said, “With the country emerging as a star performer, media and entertainment industry is also hopeful of riding the growth wave. A double-digit upward swing in ad spends, as per early estimates this year, bodes well for ZMCL, especially when the corporation is charting a clutter bursting path to set itself apart from the commoditised content ecosystem. Our path breaking content propositions, which are finding expression in our evolved programming across channels, are bound to create an unmatched viewer vibrancy that will surely interest the ad vibrant sectors. At ZMCL, we have been quick to adapt to current global trends and tap newer and disruptive opportunities of growth anytime anywhere. A step in this direction is our focus on native communication that has helped us defy industry gravity and diversify our revenue risk. I am hopeful that we will continue to find new avenues of growth and sustain the competitive advantage that we have built over years.”

     

    ZMCL COO Rajendra Kumar Arora added, “ZMCL is an industry pioneer having perfected the art of driving operational efficiencies. It has been our constant endeavour to define and follow processes. As the industry slowly realises the relevance of technology in driving down costs, we at ZMCL have been at the forefront of using cutting-edge technology as an enabler in optimising expenditure. While we are innovatively experimenting with content and investing in it to generate impact, we are confident of maintaining a robust bottomline as we go ahead. The fact that we have been able to garner more

    eyeballs will, in near future, also provide an impetus to topline. Our improved EBITDA margins point to synergy in operations.”

  • Q3-2016: Zee Media reports 3.3% revenue growth; print reports operating profit

    Q3-2016: Zee Media reports 3.3% revenue growth; print reports operating profit

    BENGALURU: Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL) reported 3.3 per cent YoY growth in Total Income from Operations (TIO) to Rs 144.46 crore in the quarter ended 31 December, 2015 (Q3-2016, current quarter) as compared to the Rs 131.12 crore in Q3-2015. TIO in the current quarter was 6.1 per cent lower than the Rs 139.84 crore in Q3-2015. The company’s print segment reported an operating profit of Rs 0.98 crore as compared to an operating loss of Rs 3.29 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter.

     

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

    (2) The figures in this report are consolidated figures unless stated otherwise

     

    Consequently, ZMCL’s EBIDTA in the current quarter increased 24.9 per cent to Rs 20.97 crore as compared to Rs 16.79 crore in Q3-2015. ZMCL’s Television segment EBIDTA for the current quarter however was flat at Rs 19.99 crore as compared to the Rs 20.08 crore in Q3-2015. ZMCL’s EBIDTA in the immediate trailing quarter was much lower at Rs 6.71 crore.

     

    The company reported a lower loss of Rs 1.11 crore as compared to a loss of Rs 10.41 crore in Q3-2015 and a loss of Rs 16.98 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    The company’s advertising revenue in the current quarter also increased 3.3 per cent YoY to Rs 103.46 crore as compared to Rs 100.13 crore and increased 14.1 per cent QoQ from Rs 90.69 crore. Subscription revenue in Q3-2016 increased one per cent YoY to Rs 30.64 crore from Rs 30.33 and increased 12.5 per cent QoQ from Rs 27.24 crore.

     

    ZMCL’s Television segment reported 6.5 per cent YoY growth in revenue in Q3-2016 to Rs 116.42 crore from Rs 109.32 crore and 16.1 per cent QoQ growth from Rs 100.30 crore. Print segment declined 8.2 per cent YoY in the current quarter to Rs 28.04 crore from Rs 30.55 crore and increased 4.8 per cent QoQ from Rs 26.75 crore.

     

    The company has controlled its total expenditure in Q3-2015, which was almost flat (up by 0.3 per cent) YoY at Rs 123.49 crore as compared to Rs 123.08 crore and was 2.6 per cent more QoQ as compared to Rs 120.33 crore.

     

    Cost of goods and operations in the current quarter declined 7.9 per cent YoY to Rs 32.50 crore as compared to Rs 35.29 crore  and was 3.4 per cent lower QoQ than 33.64 crore. Employee Cost in the current quarter declined 4.1 per cent to Rs 38.15 crore from Rs 39.76 crore and was 1.1 per cent lower QoQ than the Rs 38.60 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    ZMCL group CEO – news cluster Bhaskar Das said, “With the country emerging as a star performer, media and entertainment industry is also hopeful of riding the growth wave. A double-digit upward swing in ad spends, as per early estimates this year, bodes well for ZMCL, especially when the corporation is charting a clutter bursting path to set itself apart from the commoditised content ecosystem. Our path breaking content propositions, which are finding expression in our evolved programming across channels, are bound to create an unmatched viewer vibrancy that will surely interest the ad vibrant sectors. At ZMCL, we have been quick to adapt to current global trends and tap newer and disruptive opportunities of growth anytime anywhere. A step in this direction is our focus on native communication that has helped us defy industry gravity and diversify our revenue risk. I am hopeful that we will continue to find new avenues of growth and sustain the competitive advantage that we have built over years.”

     

    ZMCL COO Rajendra Kumar Arora added, “ZMCL is an industry pioneer having perfected the art of driving operational efficiencies. It has been our constant endeavour to define and follow processes. As the industry slowly realises the relevance of technology in driving down costs, we at ZMCL have been at the forefront of using cutting-edge technology as an enabler in optimising expenditure. While we are innovatively experimenting with content and investing in it to generate impact, we are confident of maintaining a robust bottomline as we go ahead. The fact that we have been able to garner more

    eyeballs will, in near future, also provide an impetus to topline. Our improved EBITDA margins point to synergy in operations.”

  • TRAI report: 139 channels violating 12 mins AdCap rule

    TRAI report: 139 channels violating 12 mins AdCap rule

    New Delhi: A Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) report reveals that 27 news and current affairs and 112 general entertainment channels continue to violate the regulations for telecasting a maximum of twelve minutes of advertisements and commercials.

     

    The report released by TRAI shows that the number of violators among news channels has come down from 36 while that of non-news channels has risen from the 105 as on June 29.

     

     Average duration per hour of Advertisements (commercial and selfpromotional) during peak hours (7pm to 10 PM) in pay news channels for the period June 29 to September 27, 2015 shows that the highest of these is 20.99 minutes by Zee Akaash News Pvt. Ltd and the lowest is 12.55 minutes by Zee Media Corporation Limited.

     

     Among pay non-news channels for the same period, the highest is 21.20 minutes by 4U Broadband India Pvt. Ltd and the lowest is 12.07 minutes by Movies Now+. There are at least fifteen news and 25 non-news channels clocking more than fifteen minutes per hour which indicates increase over June-end, reveals the TRAI report.

     

     According to information available to TRAI, the rest of the news channels are carrying less than 12 minutes of average duration per hour of advertisements (commercial and self-promotional) during peak hours (7pm – 10 pm) from June 29 to September 27. TRAI says that the information is based on the data submitted by the broadcasters and that it bears no responsibility for the figures given.

     

     A petition against the AdCap rule had been filed by the News Broadcasters Association and some channels challenging the TRAI decision to implement the directive of 12 minutes contained in the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry and TRAI are the respondents in the petition.

     

    As reported earlier, even as the broadcasters are still to come to an amicable solution with the government, the AdCap conundrum continues to drag on with another postponement for early next year. After the Information and Broadcasting Ministry told the Court on November 27 that it was discussing the issue with broadcasters, the matter was put off to 11 February. This was the first time that the Ministry had put in an appearance in the petition. The Bench observed that the matter had been pending for some time and therefore it will hear and conclude the case in the next hearing.

  • Q1-2016: Zee Media revenue up 1.3%, boosted by 15% jump in subscription rev

    Q1-2016: Zee Media revenue up 1.3%, boosted by 15% jump in subscription rev

    BENGALURU: Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL) reported 1.3 per cent growth in Total Income from Operations (TIO) to Rs 135.26 crore in Q1-2016 (quarter ended 30 June, 2015) as compared to Rs 133.46 crore in Q1-2015, but 3.3 per cent lower than the Rs 139.88 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    The growth was due to a 15 per cent growth in subscription revenue in the current quarter at Rs 28.67 crore (21.2 per cent of TIO) as compared to the Rs 24.93 crore (18.7 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2015 partially offset by the 5.1 per cent decline in advertising revenue at Rs 96.75 crore (71.5 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2016 as compared to the Rs 101.92 crore (76.4 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2015.

     

    Subscription revenue in the immediate trailing quarter was however 5.1 per cent higher at Rs 30.21 crore and advertising revenue was 1.9 per cent higher at Rs 98.69 crore than the corresponding Q1-2016 revenue.

     

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

     

    (2) The figures in this report are consolidated figures unless stated otherwise

     

    Other Sales and services revenue in the current quarter at Rs 9.84 crore (7.3 per cent of TIO) was 48.9 per cent more than the Rs 6.61 crore (4.9 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2015, but 10.4 per cent lower than the Rs 10.98 crore (7.8 per cent of TIO) in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    Television business advertising and subscription numbers

     

    Television advertising revenue in the current quarter was almost flat (declined 0.4 per cent) at Rs 79.72 crore as compared to the Rs 80.01 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter. Advertising revenue for new channels more than doubled (went up 2.1 times) to Rs 5.68 crore in Q1-2016 as compared to the Rs 2.71 crore in Q1-2015, while advertising revenue from the older existing channels declined 4.2 per cent to Rs 74.05 crore as compared to the Rs 77.30 crore in Q1-2015.

     

    Television subscription revenue in Q1-2016 increased 23 per cent to Rs 25.84 crore as compared to the Rs 21.01 crore in Q1-2015.

     

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by ZMCL

     

    ZMCL reported a lower loss of Rs 7.1 crore in Q1-2016 versus a loss of Rs 17.52 crore in Q1-2015 and loss of Rs 7.18 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    Total expense (TE) in Q1-2016 at Rs 133.01 crore was 7.5 per cent lower than the Rs 143.80 crore in Q1-2015 and 3.3 per cent lower than the Rs 137.48 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    ZMCL’s employee benefit expense (EBE) in Q1-2016 at Rs 42.11 crore was 5.4 per cent more than the Rs 39.55 crore in Q1-2015 and was seven per cent more than Rs 39.34 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    In Q1-2016, ZMCL’s operational cost at 20.79 was 36.9 per cent lower than the Rs 32.96 crore in Q1-2015 and 25.6 per cent less than the Rs 27.94 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    ZMCL News Cluster group CEO Bhaskar Das said, “We are exploring new areas of innovation, both in form and content, in such a way that media is again established as the fourth pillar of democracy. We seek to improve our understanding and increase our collaboration with the change agents who are creating a positive impact on the development of our country. This I am hopeful will help us break the clutter and create meaningful content differentiation in the highly fragmented news TV genre.”

     

    ZMCL CEO Ashish Kirpal Pandit added, ”As the company sets itself apart from the me-too content environment, we are hopeful that new-age advertisers will find immense value in partnering with us for pushing their communication through our differentiated media vehicles. While we are looking at investing to upgrade our content, we remain focused on maintaining a robust bottomline. We are also trying to gauge the full impact of BARC ratings, and how it is going to play out in the future.”

  • CNN-IBN to split; Turner explores opportunity for new partner

    CNN-IBN to split; Turner explores opportunity for new partner

    MUMBAI: Turner Broadcasting System owned American giant CNN’s tie up with Reliance Industries’ TV18 will cease to exist, come January 2016.

     

    Amidst speculations of various possible team ups CNN International chief commercial officer Rani Raad informs Indiantelevision.com, “The partnership ran the natural course of its agreement and a mutual decision was made to chart our own respective growth independently. We are very proud of what we have co-created with TV18 for the Indian market.”

     

    In an official media statement Network18 Group CEO A.P. Parigi said, “The last decade has seen a lot of momentum in the Indian media industry and has been particularly exciting for us. During this time we witnessed two media houses coming together to redefine the way news is presented to a demanding audience; we at TV18 have benefited from this relationship with CNN. At the launch of the channel, TV18 was a relatively small organisation; that has changed now.  Network18 has grown from two news channels in 2005 to 17 news channels in 2015. Today, we have the largest footprint in the current affairs, regional and business news space in India.  The TV18 line-up of channels today are well established and highly regarded in this dynamic, complex and challenging environment.”

     

    The venture is yet to come to a consensus and is currently exploring all the options. “CNN remains deeply committed to long-term participation in India, one of the world’s largest and most vibrant media markets. As is the natural course of business, we continue to explore opportunities in India and every other important market around the world. Our #1 international news brand in Asia Pacific and the rest of the world, and the winner of multiple prestigious awards, CNN International, continues to lead and serve consumers in India with the best of global news content across multi-platforms,” informs Raad. 

     

    With media reports suggesting a possible tie-up between CNN and Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL), a source close to the development says, “Yes, CNN is in talks with ZMCL. But, it will be premature to say that the deal has been locked, as CNN is speaking to other players in the market as well.”

     

    The partnership started in 2005 with CNN Turner International signing a deal with TV18 group company Global Broadcast News (GBN), which was then headed by journalist Rajdeep Sardesai. This marked the launch of CNN-IBN. Last year, Mukesh Ambani owned Reliance Industries took total ownership of Network 18 Media which was founded by Raghav Bhal in 1993.