BENGALURU: The Essel group’s television news broadcasting arm Zee Media Corporation Ltd (ZMCL) reported a 123.1 per cent growth (more than double) in consolidated profit after tax (PAT) for the period ended 31 December 2018 (Q3 2019, quarter or period under review) as compared (year-on-year comparison, y-o-y) to the corresponding year ago quarter (Q3 2018, year ago quarter). PAT in Q3 2019 was Rs 27.20 crore as compared to Rs 12.19 crore in Q3 2018. ZMCL consolidated simple operating EBITDA at Rs 57.99 crore in Q3 2019 was 26 per cent more than the Rs 46.03 crore in Q3 2018.
The company’s consolidated operating revenue increased 22.7 per cent y-o-y in Q3 2019 to Rs 194.22 crore from Rs 158.30 crore in the year ago quarter. Total income increased 23.2 per cent y-o-y in Q3 2019 to Rs 196.45 crore from Rs 159.49 crore in Q3 2018.
In its earnings release, ZMCL reported 21.9 per cent y-o-y growth in advertising revenue for Q3 2019 at Rs 175.51 crore from Rs 143.95 crore. Subscription revenue increased 10.8 per cent y-o-y to Rs 13.01 crore in Q3 2019 from Rs 11.74 crore. Other sales and services increased by 1.18 times in Q3 2019 to Rs 5.7 crore from Rs 2.61 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter.
Let us look at the other numbers reported by ZMCL
ZMCL’s total expenditure in Q3 2019 increased 21.7 per cent y-o-y to Rs 155.16 crore from Rs 127.52 crore. Employee benefits expense in the quarter under review increased 18.1 per cent y-o-y to Rs 38.87 crore from Rs 32.92 crore in Q3 2018. The company’s marketing promotion and distribution expenses in Q3 2019 increased 30.9 per cent y-o-y to Rs 22.01 crore from Rs 16.81 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter.
Operating costs in Q3 2019 increased 26.3 per cent y-o-y to Rs 29.50 crore from Rs 23.36 crore. Other expenses in Q3 2019 increased 17 per cent to Rs 45.85 crore from Rs 39.18 crore in Q3 2018.
It may be noted that ZMCL has sold its entire equity stake in Ez-Mall Online Ltd to a related party at an aggregate consideration of Rs. 8.60 crore. Accordingly, Ez-Mall Online Ltd ceased to be a subsidiary of ZMCL with effect from 30 June 2018 and gain on disposal of investments of approximately Rs 41.21 crore has been recognised during the previous quarter and shown as exceptional items. Also, during the previous quarter, ZMCL completed the acquisition of balance 40 per cent equity stake in its subsidiary Zee Akaash News Pvt Ltd (ZANPL). Accordingly, ZANPL became a wholly owned subsidiary of the company with effect from 1 June 2018 and figures for the current quarter are not comparable with previous periods presented in the consolidated financial results says the company.
