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Tag: ZMCL

  • Zee Media crosses 150 million viewers

    Zee Media crosses 150 million viewers

    MUMBAI:  Zee Media achieves another milestone on an average weekly basis Zee Media crosses 150+ million viewers mark.

    Zee Media Corporation Limited (formerly Zee News Ltd.) is India’s one of the Largest News Network with 10 channels, Mumbai edition of DNA newspaper and digital properties like zeenews.com and dnaindia.com.

    The network comprises of two national channels Zee News (Hindi News), Zee Business (Hindi Business News) and India 24×7(Hindi News). In addition it has regional news channels, Zee Madhya Pradesh Chhattisgarh (Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh), Zee 24 Taas (Marathi), Zee Rajasthan News (Rajasthan), Zee Punjab Haryana Himachal and Zee Kalinga News (Odisha). Additionally the company operates 2 regional news channels through its subsidiaries viz. 24 Ghanta (Bengali) through Zee Akaash News Pvt Ltd and Maurya TV (Bihar & Jharkhand) through Maurya TV Private Limited.

    “It’s rare to be able to touch so many people’s lives and we take pride in adhering to our proposition of delivering in-depth analysis, varied perspective and inspirational stories!”, says ZMCL marketing head Pooja Gupta. This journey though exhilarating, sometimes tumultuous times, has been an enriching and enlightening one. 

    While ZMCL have remained intact over the years and have gained credibility for our strong foothold and news coverage, ZMCL is impatient like any innovators. It seeks potential everywhere and every problem is an opportunity for growth. As the largest news network ZMCL believe our work must be integral to our mission of nurturing more informed and aware citizens, inspiring moments of optimism and happiness, creating value and making a difference to their viewer’s lives, opines ZMCL CEO R. K. Arora.

    This achievement would never have been possible without the continued and relentless support from all our viewers and business associates who have played an intensive role to unlock the collaborative power of the news business, making a much greater collective impact.  

    “The attempt is to achieve a new pinnacle in terms of revenue and market share. So let the revelry continue from a million to a zillion!” signs off ZMCL group CEO Dr. Bhaskar Das.

  • Q2-2016: Zee Media EBIDTA up 9.7 percent

    Q2-2016: Zee Media EBIDTA up 9.7 percent

    BENGALURU:  Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL), the erstwhile Zee News Limited reported a 3.1 percent deline in Total Income from Operations (TIO) to Rs 127.04 crore in the quarter ended September 30, 2015 (Q2-2016, current quarter) as compared to the Rs 131.12 crore in Q2-2015. TIO in the current quarter was 6.1 percent lower than the Rs 135.26 crore in Q1-2016.

     

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

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

     

    ZMCL’s EBIDTA however improved 9.7 percent to Rs 6.71 crore in the current quarter as compared to the Rs 6.12 crore in Q2-2015. ZMCL’s EBIDTA in the immediate trailing quarter was higher at Rs 14.76 crore.

     

    ZMCL’s existing television channels returned positive operating results (Positive EBIDTA) of Rs 17.43 crore crore in Q2-2016. Its TV Broadcasting EBIDTA was negatively impacted to the extent of Rs 7.26 crore by its new channels, and hence the TV Broadcast business returned a positive EBIDTA of Rs 10.17 crore.  Overall, ZMCL’s EBIDTA was further impacted by a negative EBIDTA of Rs 3.45 crore from its Print Business, hence the company reported the EBIDTA of Rs 6.71 crore mentioned above in Q2-2016.

     

    While the company’s Television Broadcast business revenue grew YoY grew 1.8 percent to Rs 100.30 crore in the current quarter as compared to Rs 98.56 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter, its Print business revenue declined 7.9 percent to Rs 30.02 crore as compared to Rs 32.59 crore. TV Broadcast business revenue in Q1-2016 was higher at Rs 108.64 crore, while Print business revenue was lower at Rs 28.04 crore.

     

    Advertisement and Subscription Revenues

     

    The company’s overall advertising and subscription revenues declined both YoY and QoQ in Q2-2016. ZMCL reported 2.6 percent lower advertising revenue of Rs 90.69 crore (71.4 percent of Total Revenue) in the current quarter as compared to 93.14 crore (71 percent of Total Revenue) in Q2-2015 and was 6.3 percent lower than the Rs 96.75 crore (71.5 percent of Total Revenue).

     

    TV Business advertisement revenue increased 2.1 percent to Rs 72.59 crore in Q2-2016 as compared to the Rs 71.1 crore in Q2-2015, but declined 8.9 percent as compared to the Rs 79.72 crore in the immediate trailing quarter. TV Business Advertisement revenue from existing channels declined 3.9 percent in the current quarter to Rs 65.93 crore as compared to the Rs 68.58 crore in Q2-2015 and declined 11 percent as compared to the Rs 74.05 crore in Q1-2016. Advertisement revenue from new channels more than doubled (went up 2.7 times) to Rs 6.66 crore as compared to the Rs 2.52 crore in Q2-2015 and increased 17.3 percent as compared to the Rs 5.68 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    Overall subscription revenue in the current quarter declined 3 percent to Rs 27.24 crore (21.4 percent of Total Revenue) in Q2-2016 as compared to the Rs 28.07 crore (21.4 percent of Total Revenue) in the corresponding year ago quarter and was 5 percent lower than the Rs 28.67 crore (21.2 percent of Total Revenue) in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    TV Business YoY subscription revenue declined 0.2 percent in the current quarter to Rs 24.44 crore as compared to the Rs 24.62crore in Q2-2015, and declined 5.4 percent as compared to the Rs 25.84 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by ZMCL

     

    ZMCL’s Total Expenditure in the current quarter declined 3.4 percent to Rs 133.35 crore as compared to the Rs 138.01 crore in Q2-2015, but increased 0.3 percent as compared to the Rs 133.01 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    Employee Benefits Expense in Q2-2016 declined 7.2 percent to Rs 38.60 crore in Q2-2016 as compared to the Rs 41.60 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter and was 8.3 percent lower than the Rs 42.11 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    Operational Cost in Q2-2016 declined 17.5 percent to Rs 21.14 crore as compared to the Rs 25.62 crore in Q2-2015 but was 1.7 percent higher than the Rs 20.79 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    Marketing, Distribution and Business Promotion Expenses in Q2-2016 increased 66 percent to Rs 24.97 crore as compared to the Rs 15.04 crore in Q2-2015 and was 15.3 percent more than the Rs 21.65 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    ZMCL’s loss in Q2-2016 increased to Rs 16.98 crore as compared to the loss of Rs 11.53 crore in Q2-2015 and the loss of Rs 7.1 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    Group CEO, News Cluster  Bhaskar Das said, “With hardly any content differentiators, news has become commoditized over the years. Fragmentation has also not helped the cause of the genre. However, we at Zee Media have been constantly investing on breaking the clutter and creating path breaking content so that we can distinctly set ourselves apart from the current normal. Our breakthrough experiments in content have borne results.”

     

    Das further added, “Zee News, the pioneer in news broadcasting in India, has turned into viewers’ first choice of late as we continue to make the content meaningful and relevant in the context of the current discourse. The bouquet of ZMCL channels and our newspaper, dna, continue to be one of India’s largest news networks and we leverage our multiple access points to reach both our viewers and advertisers, providing value to every stakeholder at every step.”

  • ZMCL forays into English news broadcasting; names Rohit Gandhi as editor-in-chief

    ZMCL forays into English news broadcasting; names Rohit Gandhi as editor-in-chief

    MUMBAI: Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL) has announced its foray into the English news broadcasting space with the appointment of Rohit Gandhi as editor-in-chief of English news broadcast and related content, effective 17 August.

    It may be recalled that Indiantelevision.com was the first to report about the network’s plan to get into English news broadcasting. In an earlier conversation, Essel Group chairman Dr Subhash Chandra had said, “I have been harbouring this thought of starting a global news network in English for the global audience but with an India point of view.”

    Gandhi, who reports to ZEEL MD and CEO Punit Goenka, will be heading the operations of all initiatives in this space, working closely with the business head & revenue resources.

    Goenka said, “Venturing into the English News space allows us to extend our presence in the overall news genre across geographies and even in the international arena. We want to launch a news network for global audiences with an Indian point-of-view. With Rohit on-board to spearhead this initiative, we are confident that we will be able to showcase a world-class product. We welcome Rohit to the Zee family and wish him all the very best.”

    Gandhi added, “It is a phenomenal opportunity for me to work with Zee and Punit to deliver world-class coverage to viewers at home. We want to continue on the path of providing in-depth, textured coverage across platforms to address the ever-changing needs of the global audiences.”

    ZMCL has neither revealed the name of its new English news channel nor its launch date.

    Gandhi brings with him over 23 years of experience across 40 countries and has managed the complete gamut of the news business. In his previous assignment, he was the international correspondent & communication strategist for South Asian International News. Prior to that he worked with CBC, CNN, BCTV & Global TV, Canada, and NDTV. He has also covered many war zones including Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003.

  • “Govt. should come up with clear, transparent security clearance guidelines:” Dr Subhash Chandra

    “Govt. should come up with clear, transparent security clearance guidelines:” Dr Subhash Chandra

    MUMBAI: The growing number of television channels and the recent debate over the security clearance of Kalanithi Maran owned Sun TV Network has led the ‘Big Daddy’ of Indian television to come out and speak about ownership and security guidelines of the mushrooming channels.

     

    Essel Group chairman Dr Subhash Chandra said, “From the beginning, I have been of the view, which I mentioned during the UPA 1 regime to Priyaranjan Das Munshi and Dr. Manmohan Singh that licences should not be issued without proper checks.”

     

    According to Chandra, news channel licences should be scrutinized in the manner that the Reserve Bank of India scrutinizes applications before issuing any licence in financial service. “They go to the extent of finding out the ultimate source of funding as well as cleanliness of people involved and check them out before issuing licence,” he informed. 

     

    Chandra has been actively speaking about having a strict and clear guideline before issuing licences from 2001-2006. “But because no one was listening to my point of view, I decided to then remain dormant and listen to the government’s point of view,” he laughed off. 

     

    Ten days ago, Chandra had tweeted rather sensationally saying, “I will not be surprised if for some TV stations, the final money is coming from Dawood Ibrahim.” He feels that the system prevalent currently doesn’t go even one layer beyond what the person has submitted. 

     

    The minimum amount required for starting a news channel today is Rs 5 crore. “As per the guidelines today, the check is done on the person submitting the money. No one tries finding out where the money is coming from. This is eroding our credibility as media,” he said.  

     

    Chandra is of the opinion that the time has come to have strict, clear and transparent guidelines, which will expose the corporate veil and go to the real source of funding. “The government is not doing anything on the issue of media ownership and then says that all media is wrong,” he added. 

     

    Pointing out that no one so far has debated on the issue, he said, “I want the debate to be triggered and then the decision can be taken collectively.”

     

    Calling out to the government to check entities through clear guidelines, he said, “Those who are clean will come out clean, but the government hasn’t checked anyone. We are open to such scrutiny ourselves.”

     

    Stressing on the fact that not having clear security guidelines compromises with the national and economic security, Chandra said, “I want to see clean money coming into the sector.”

  • 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.”

  • ZMCL to launch English news channel for global audience

    ZMCL to launch English news channel for global audience

    MUMBAI: Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL) is looking at expanding its portfolio of news channels. The network is prepping itself for an English news channel now, albeit for the global audience. 

     

    “I have been harbouring this thought of starting a global news network in English for the global audience but with an India point of view,” said Essel Group chairman Dr Subhash Chandra. 

     

    The network is currently working on the channel. “We will announce the launch soon, it could be any week or any month,” added Chandra. 

     

    The channel could be launched with or without a partner, informed Chandra adding that the channel will first launch in India and then have a global presence. “We will start with our nation and then go global,” he said. 

  • Zee Media responds to SEBI’s queries on Rs 200 crore rights issue

    Zee Media responds to SEBI’s queries on Rs 200 crore rights issue

    NEW DELHI: Zee Media has replied to the queries sent by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) from the merchant banker of Zee Media Corporation regarding the company’s proposed Rs 200 crore rights issue. 

     

    Zee Media sources in Mumbai told Indiantelevision.com that it had earlier sent a response to SEBI on 21 January but the regulator thereafter sought further queries. These had been answered well in time, the sources added.

     

    The sources declined to give more details as it said the issue was at a delicate stage.

     

    However, the sources clarified that in a rights issue, shares are issued to existing investors as per their holding at pre-determined price and ratio. 

     

    As per the latest weekly update to the processing status of draft offer documents filed with SEBI, the regulator has said clarifications were awaited on the proposed rights issue of Zee Media as on 23 January this year. 

     

    SEBI had said that it might issue observations on Zee Media document within 30 days from the date of receipt of satisfactory reply from the lead merchant bankers to the clarification or additional information sought from them. 

     

    The regulator had received the draft offer documents on 2 January this year through its lead manager Axis Capital. The company’s proposed rights issue is estimated to be raised up to Rs 200 crore. 

     

    The funds raised from the issue would be utilised towards purchase of equipment and accessories for production and broadcasting, repayment of certain loans availed by the company, funding subsidiaries for repayment of loans, and other general corporate purposes. 

     

    Zee Media Corporation Ltd (ZMCL) broadcasts 10 news channels including two national ones – Zee News and Zee Business.

     

    Earlier in October, the company’s board of directors had “approved, in-principle, raising of funds for an amount not exceeding Rs 200 crore through issue of equity shares of the company to its eligible shareholders.” 

  • ‘Dr. Subhash Chandra’s Show’ to focus on time management

    ‘Dr. Subhash Chandra’s Show’ to focus on time management

    MUMBAI: The latest episode of the Dr. Subhash Chandra (DSC) Show, Zee Media Corporation’s flagship show, will focus on the topic of Time Management. Dr. Subhash Chandra, Chairman, Essel Group and ZEE will address Management students at one of the country’s premier institutions, IMT Ghaziabad on 23 January, 2015.

     

    Speaking on the upcoming episode, Dr. Chandra said, “Effective time management not only helps to improve productivity but also helps you to achieve your goals. As an entrepreneur, one has a limited amount of time and needs to use it wisely.”

     

    Dr. Subhash Chandra (DSC) Show is aired every Saturday at 10 pm on Zee News and 7pm on Zee Business and on Sundays at 11 am on both Zee News & Zee Business.  This show is also aired on other channels of Zee Media.

     

    Dr. Chandra is rightly referred to as the Media Moghul of India. With his pioneering vision and entrepreneurial mindset to achieve growth, he revolutionized the television industry by launching the country’s first satellite television channel – Zee TV in 1992 and later the first private news channel, Zee News. Dr. Chandra started the Essel Group which is among India’s most prominent business houses with a diverse portfolio of assets in media, packaging, entertainment, technology-enabled services, infrastructure development and education.

  • Q3-2015: ZMCL reports 52.6% revenue growth

    Q3-2015: ZMCL reports 52.6% revenue growth

    BENGALURU: Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL), the erstwhile Zee News Limited, reported 52.6 per cent growth in Total Income from Operations (TIO) to Rs 139.88 crore in Q3-2015 as compared to Rs 91.69 crore in Q3-2014 and 6.7 per cent more than the Rs 131.12 crore in Q2-2015. YTD, the company reported a 60.3 per cent growth in TIO to Rs 404.45 crore from Rs 252.39 crore in 9M-2014.

     

    The company reported loss of Rs 9.40 crore in Q3-2015 versus a PAT of Rs 5.92 crore in the corresponding quarter of last year and a loss of Rs 12.86 crore in Q2-2015. ZMCL reported a loss of Rs 39.47 crore in 9M-2015 versus a PAT of Rs 14.82 crore in 9M-2014.

     

    In its earnings release, ZMCL says that new channels incurred an operating loss of Rs 7.65 crore in Q3-2015, a loss of Rs 3.31 crore in Q3-2014 and  loss of Rs 10.13 crore in the immediate trailing quarter. YTD, new channels reported an operating loss of Rs 30.34 crore in 9M-2015 and an operating loss of Rs 10.83 crore in 9M-2014. 

     

    ZMCL’s print business reported an operating loss of Rs 3.28 crore in Q3-2015, a loss of Rs 18.8 crore in 9M-2015. In Q2-2015, print business had reported an operating loss of Rs 4.39 crore.

     

    ZMCL television business reported EBIDTA of Rs 20.07 crore in Q3-2015 and Rs 43.8 crore in 9M-2015. Television business had reported EBIDTA of Rs 20.62 crore in Q2-2015.

     

    ZMCL News Cluster group CEO Bhaskar Das said, “We continue to reach the highest number of consumers across India through our TV channels. Consolidating our position as the largest news network, Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL) reached over 116 million consumers through its 2 national channels and 8 regional channels. Striving to create content differentiator in a me-too market, we are investing strategically into content that aligns with big news events. The increased focus on content has been made possible by robust growth in advertisement revenue. I am also happy to note that the government is favourably viewing broadcasters’ opposition to the whole paradigm on the ad cap regulation.” 

     

    ZMCL CEO Ashish Kirpal Pandit added, “On top of the learning curve of how to make broadcasting operations profitable, we at ZMCL are hopeful that our regional bouquet will stabilize soon and start yielding positive returns. We also expect that the impact of digitization will come into full play very soon. We are confident about the business which will be backed by high quality shows that will hit the screen very soon.”

     

    Watch this space for more…

     

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

     

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

     

    (3) The consolidated financial results of the Company comprise of financials of following subsidiaries viz. Zee Akaash News Private Limited (60 per cent), Mediavest India Private Limited (100 per cent), Diligent Media Corporation Limited (99.99 per cent), Pri-Media Services Private Limited (100 per cent) and Company’s share in the results of an Associate entity, Maurya TV Private Limited, wherein Company held 37.87 per cent till December 11, 2014 and post December 11, 2014, consequent to further acquisitions, Maurya TV Private Limited became Wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company. 

     

  • ZMCL drops ‘TEN’ format, switches to full news

    ZMCL drops ‘TEN’ format, switches to full news

    MUMBAI: Almost a year ago, Zee Media Corporation (ZMCL) had come up with a strategic idea to monetise its regional news channels. A concept called ‘TEN’ was introduced, called terrestrial entertainment network that meant half of the channel’s content would have news while the other half would focus on entertainment.

     

    Now, the network has decided to revert to its old formula of sticking to just news and hence, put an end to the ‘TEN’ format. The channels namely Zee Rajasthan Plus (Marudhara) for Rajasthan,  Zee Purvaiya for Bihar & Jharkhand, Zee Kalinga for Odisha, will no longer air any show pertaining to entertainment.  Zee Purvaiya and Zee Kalinga were launched early this year while Zee Marudhara was launched in July, last year.

     

    Erstwhile ZMCL CEO Alok Agrawal, who recently moved to Network18, had said in an earlier interaction with indiantelevision.com that the investment gone into these ‘TEN’ format channels was more than a pure news-focused channel and it had potential. However, now sources from the network say that it is looking at saving some costs as well as bringing synergy between its channels.

     

    Even though the ROI and plans are being worked out, the channels are preparing to go 24X7 news oriented. Zee Punjab/Haryana/Himachal which also runs similarly on the TEN network will have more news, in a few days. Zee Purvaiya will end its entertainment shows from 20 July while Zee Kalinga and Zee Marudara will follow the same from August.

     

    The entire look and feel of the channels will also undergo a makeover to suit the programming change and will soon be followed by a marketing campaign, plans for which are in the making.

     

    Recently, Zee UP/Uttarakhand which was rechristened Zee Sangam also dropped the TEN format and went on to be a national channel with a focus on UP.