BENGALURU: Indian cable TV distribution company Den Networks Limited (Den Networks) seems to be on a roll. Its cable business PBT in Q1-2014 was Rs 32.77 crore despite a 22 per cent rise in depreciation and finance costs as against Rs 36.81 crore in Q4-2013.
Den Networks cable business PBT in Q1-2014 was Rs 32.77 crore as compared to Rs 18.40 crore in Q1-2013, up 78 per cent y-o-y. The company's PAT (before mark to market forex losses, exceptional one-time and ESOP expense) for Q1-2014 was Rs 19.22 crore versus Rs 17.04 crore in Q1-2013, a 13 per cent rise as compared to Q4-2013. After these adjustments, Den Networks cable business PAT stood at Rs 9.22 crore.
Den Networks cable business EBITDA for Q1-2014 was Rs 85.84 crore as against. Rs 43.82 crore in Q1-2013, a 96 per cent y-o-y jump, and was seven per cent more than the Rs 80.33 crore in Q4-2013.
The company's consolidated EBITDA for Q1-2014 was Rs 87.68 crore, almost double (up by 95 per cent) the Rs 45.06 crore in Q1-2013, but only 3.22 per cent more than the Rs 84.94 crore in Q4-2013.
Let us look at Den Networks other figures for Q1-2014
Den Networks' consolidated revenue for Q1-2014 was Rs 275.42 crore as compared to the Rs 200.60 crore in Q1-2013, up by 37 per cent y-o-y, but was slightly lower (by 1.04 per cent) than the Rs 278.31 crore for Q4-2013.
The cable distribution company's consolidated PBT for Q1-2014 was Rs 34.49 crore while consolidated PAT for the quarter stood at Rs 10.15 crore which included the impact of mark-to-market forex losses of Rs 10 crore and higher depreciation and finance costs compared to Q4-2013.
Den Networks cable business revenue for Q1- 2014 was Rs 262.85 crore as compared to the Rs 264.93 crore in Q4-2013. Revenues in Q4-2013 included Rs 15.10 crore on account of a one-time sale of Set Top Boxes (STBs). Excluding the impact of this sale, Den Networks cable business revenues grew by 5.2 per cent q-o-q (as compared to Q4-2013).
Den Networks' consolidated expenditure for Q1-2014 at Rs 187.74 crore was up 20.9 per cent as compared to the Rs 155.54 crore in Q1-2013, but was 2.9 per cent lower than the Rs 193.37 crore for Q4-2013.
Consolidated operation, administrative and other costs for Q1-2014 at Rs 160.70 crore were up 20.4 per cent as compared to the Rs 133.52 crore in Q1-2013 but 2.4 per cent lower than the Rs 164.68 crore in Q4-2013.
Den Networks consolidated Personnel cost for Q1-2014 at Rs 27.04 crore was 28 per cent more than the Rs 22.02 crore for Q1-2013, but 5.75 per cent lower than the Rs 28.69 crore in Q4-2013. Consolidated depreciation for Q1-2014 at Rs 33.22 crore was more than double (more by 113.5 per cent) as compared to the Rs 15.56 crore in Q1-2013 and 21.8 percent higher than the Rs 27.27 crore in Q4-2013.
Consolidated interest and other financial charges of Rs 19.97 crore were more than double the Rs 9.97 crore for Q1-2013 and 22.1 per cent more than the Rs 16.36 crore in Q4-2013.
Den Networks CEO S N Sharma said, "With the successful implementation of digitisation in Phase II cities, India is now firmly in the digital era. The overall response from consumers is extremely positive as they can now clearly perceive the benefits of digital and the superior experience associated with it. The major focus areas now are the completion of package selection by subscribers, collection of KYC data and the start of retail consumer billing, which are being spurred on by MSOs with a strong regulatory backing. These steps will truly complete our industry's transformation into a B2C model. We are also drawing up plans for digitising our analog base in Phase III and IV cities while gearing up for our broadband foray."
Den Networks recently launched two digital cable channels - DEN Movies and DEN Classic, available to Den Network subscribers in selected areas. The company says that it sees the local cable channel segment become a potential growth area along with the spread of digitisation.
