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Lower Ad revenue curtails Discovery Communications Q3-16 numbers

Published

9 years ago

November 2, 2016

BENGALURU: An overall 4.1 per cent decline in advertising revenue for the quarter ended 30 September 2016 (Q3-16, current quarter) vis-à-vis the corresponding year ago quarter resulted in flat revenue for Discovery Communications Inc., (Discovery). The company reported overall revenue of $1,556 million for the current quarter versus $1,557 million in Q2-15. Overall Advertising revenue declined in Q3-16 to $670 million as compared to $699 million in Q2-15.

Discovery’s other major revenue stream – Distribution, reported 3.9 per cent year-over-year (y-o-y) increase in the current quarter at $806 million as compared to $770 million. Discovery’s ‘Other’ revenue declined 2.4 per cent y-o-y to $80 million from $82 million.

Operating income declined 9.3 per cent y-o-y in Q3-16 to $458 million from $505 million. The company’s adjusted Operating Income before Depreciation and Amortisation (OIBDA) declined 2.4 per cent in the current quarter to $562 million from $576 million.

Geographical breakup:

US Networks

Discovery’s US Network’s revenue increased 1.5 per cent y-o-y in Q3-16 to $793 million from $781 million. US Networks adjusted OIBDA improved 3.4 per cent y-o-y in Q3-16 to $458 million from $443 million.

US Networks distribution revenue in the current quarter increased 6.7 per cent y-o-y to $458 million versus $443 million. US Networks advertising revenue declined 3.4 per cent y-o-y to $396 million in the current quarter from $410 million. US Networks ‘Other’ revenues in Q3-16 increased 14.3 per cent y-o-y to $16 million from $14 million.

Discovery says that Distribution revenue growth was primarily driven by higher rates, partially offset by a slight decline in subscribers. Advertising revenues decreased primarily due to expected ratings declines, partially offset by higher pricing and inventory management.

US Networks Operating expenses decreased 1 per cent mainly due to lower content amortization, partially offset by higher marketing costs. Adjusted OIBDA increased due to higher revenues and lower operating expenses.

International Networks

Discovery’s International Revenue in Q3-16 declined 2.7 per cent to $720 million from $740 million. International Networks OIBDA declined 16.1 y-o-y per cent in the current quarter to $183 million from $218 million.

International Networks Distribution revenue increased 1.4 per cent y-o-y in Q3-16 to $425 million from $419 million. International Networks Advertising revenue in the current quarter declined 5.5 per cent y-o-y in the current quarter to $273 million from $289 million. International Networks ‘Other’ revenue in Q3-16 declined 31.25 per cent y-o-y to $22 million from $32 million.

The company says that changes in foreign currency exchange rates reduced third quarter International revenues and adjusted OIBDA growth by 5 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively. Distribution revenues, excluding the impact of currency effects, grew 8 per cent mostly due to higher affiliate rates in Latin America, Northern Europe and CEEMEA as well as higher volume in Latin America.

Advertising revenues, excluding the impact of currency effects, declined, primarily due to lower ratings and pricing in Northern Europe, partially offset by higher volume in Southern Europe. Other revenues declined primarily due to lower Eurosport sub-licensing revenues.

Education and Other

‘Education and Other’ revenues increased 19.4 per cent y-o-y to $43 million in the current quarter from $36 million. ‘Education and Other OIBDA improved by 80 per cent to a loss of $1 million from a loss of $5 million.

The company says that Education and Other revenues for the third quarter increased by $7 million primarily due to higher production deliveries at the Studios production business and increased international revenues at the Education business. Adjusted OIBDA improved primarily due to higher revenues, partially offset by additional investments in the Education business.

Other Developments

On October 13, 2016, Discovery announced a plan to contribute $100 million and its digital network Seeker and production studio SourceFed in exchange for a 39 per cent minority interest in a new holding company, Group Nine Media. Group Nine Media includes digital companies Thrillist Media Group, Now This Media, and The Dodo. Discovery has the option to buy a controlling stake in Group Nine Media in the future. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016, subject to customary closing conditions.

Company speak

“While we faced challenging but expected headwinds this quarter, Discovery is well positioned for long-term growth driven by our well-defined global brands, differentiated content and favourable distribution agreements,” said Discovery president and CEO David Zaslav, “We have continued to strengthen and maximize our traditional pay-TV offering with robust new programming while aggressively exploiting new opportunities to leverage our content across numerous digital platforms around the world. Amid an ever shifting global media ecosystem, Discovery is evolving to reach more consumers on more screens and platforms than ever before.”

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Kumar Mangalam Birla makes KBC debut with Amitabh Bachchan

Published

2 months ago

December 29, 2025

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: India’s most famous hot seat is about to welcome an unlikely first-timer. For the first time on Hindi general entertainment television, industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla will appear on Kaun Banega Crorepati, the iconic quiz show hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.

The special episode marks a rare meeting point of boardroom heft and prime-time television, bringing one of India’s most influential business leaders face to face with the country’s most enduring screen legend. It is a crossover that blends intellect, leadership and popular culture, all under KBC’s familiar spotlight.

Birla’s appearance dovetails neatly with the show’s current theme, Jahaan Akal Hai, Wahan Akad Hai, which celebrates the confidence that comes from clarity of thought and knowledge. His presence lends weight to the idea that sharp thinking and conviction are as vital in life as they are in the quiz chair.

In a thoughtful conversation with Bachchan, Birla shared an upbeat view of India’s economic journey, pointing to the nation’s rapid growth and the scale of opportunity opening up across industries and communities. He spoke of momentum, ambition and a future shaped by enterprise and ideas.

The episode is not all serious talk. In lighter moments, Birla confessed his long-standing admiration for Bachchan, calling him his favourite actor and admitting to a touch of nervousness at answering questions in front of the Shahenshah himself. The candour adds a human touch to a man more often seen in headlines than on television sets.

The special episode airs on Monday, 29 December at 9.00 pm on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV.

Factual

Rocky heats up NCR as Road Trippin returns with winter bites

Published

2 months ago

December 26, 2025

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Winter’s bite just got tastier. Road Trippin With Rocky is back for its 15th season, with Rocky Singh rolling through the NCR to plate up comfort food, cult favourites and cold-weather cravings from 27 to 30 December.

The four-day journey opens in Noida, where Rocky kicks off with the much-loved Jain Tikki Wala in Sector 27 before wrapping the day at the always-humming Social. Faridabad follows, with stops shaped by local recommendations, while Gurugram brings a balance of indulgence and restraint from a standout vegetarian spread to smoky carnivore fare at The Pit, finished with Thai flavours at Banng.

Saving the grand finale for Delhi, Rocky dives into the capital’s contrasts from humble roadside falahar to refined fine-dining tables that define New Delhi’s evolving food scene. The promise is simple: honest recommendations that belong on every serious food lover’s list.

Over the years, #RoadTrippin has grown into one of HistoryTV18’s most successful digital-first properties. Built for viewers who snack on content on the move, the format’s easy humour, spontaneity and conversational style have kept audiences coming back season after season.

The numbers underline its pull. Across platforms, the franchise has clocked over 2 billion impressions and more than 550 million video views, turning each new season into a highly anticipated return.

Season 15 of #RoadTrippinWithRocky will play out across HistoryTV18’s and Rocky’s social media handles, a winter road trip that proves once again that in NCR, the cold only makes the food hotter.

Factual

Street of Stories Warner Bros doc amplifies GB Road’s unheard voices

Published

3 months ago

November 18, 2025

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: The cries may have gone unheard, but the stories now refuse to stay silent. Warner Bros. Discovery and Times Network have come together to shine a piercing, humanising light on Delhi’s GB Road, one of India’s most stigmatised spaces with Unheard Cries at GB Road, a documentary that trades sensationalism for truth, and myth for lived reality. The film premiered on 17 November 2025 on discovery+, offering rare, unfiltered access to a world long discussed but rarely listened to.

Crafted under Times Now Studios and shaped by producer and co-writer Rohit Chadda, the documentary draws on over 50 in-depth interviews with survivors, sex workers, police officials, social workers and experts. Instead of dramatisation or stylised retellings, the film builds itself on first-hand accounts bringing to the fore women whose lives have often been spoken about, yet scarcely spoken to.

At its heart, Unheard Cries at GB Road is a testament to the women who battle cycles of trauma, exploitation and coercion, while still searching for small, stubborn pockets of hope. Their accounts, delivered on record and often at great personal risk, reveal the emotional, physical and psychological landscapes of a district too frequently flattened by stereotype.

Warner Bros. Discovery, head of factual entertainment, lifestyle & kids for South Asia,Sai Abishek said the project demanded both courage and care. “Unheard Cries at GB Road is a story that demands to be seen and heard. Factual storytelling carries responsibility, and this film embodies that commitment. By giving these women the space to speak for themselves, the documentary brings rare honesty and emotional depth to a subject too often misunderstood.”

The production team gained access to the interiors of brothels, capturing the quiet routines, the harsh constraints and the precarious negotiations that shape daily life. Insights from the Delhi Police, NGO workers and legal experts situate these personal stories within the larger systems of trafficking, safety failures and legal gaps that the women must navigate.

Rohit Chadda said, “We made this film to confront a truth that has long remained ignored. Our commitment from the very beginning was to tell these stories with honesty, dignity, and responsibility – and we hope it resonates deeply enough to spark reflection, conversation, and a sense of hope, which results in long term change. Unheard Cries at GB Road is the first production under the banner of Times Now Studios, and we intend to build on this foundation by creating more meaningful, purpose-driven stories that deserve a platform and a voice.”

“This special documentary, produced under Times Now Studios and directed by Rohit Chadda and Yatharth Chauhan, is built on more than 50 in-depth interviews.”

While the documentary does not attempt to provide simple solutions, it offers something more vital, a vantage point grounded in truth. By presenting the voices of women who endure the unseen and the unimaginable on a daily basis, the film asks viewers to confront the complexity of GB Road with empathy rather than judgement.

Unheard Cries at GB Road is streaming now on discovery+, inviting the nation to listen truly listen to stories that can no longer remain in the shadows.