DTH
Despite lower ARPU, Videocon d2h posts higher Q3 profit
BENGALURU: The Saurabh Dhoot-led Indian DTH player Videocon d2h reported profit after tax (PAT) at Rs 30.85 crore for the quarter ended 31 December 2017 (Q3 2018, quarter under review). The company had reported PAT of Rs 16.78 crore for the immediate trailing quarter Q2 2018 and PAT of Rs 21.77 crore for the corresponding year ago quarter Q3 2017. Adjusted EBITDA increased 9 per cent yoy in Q3 2018 to Rs 291.41 crore from Rs 267.24 crore. Adjusted EBITDA less capex increased 62.9 per cent yoy to Rs 188.50 crore during the quarter under review as compared to Rs 115.70 crore.
Videocon d2h revenue from operations increased 7.2 per cent yoy during the quarter under review to Rs 833.6 crore from Rs 777.39 crore. Subscription and activation revenue increased 7.3 per cent yoy to Rs 763 crore in Q3 2018 from Rs 711.20 crore.
Subscriber matrices
The company’s subscriber base increased by 1.6 lakh (1 crore = 10 crore = 100 lakh) during Q3 2018 to 134.1 lakh from 132.5 lakh in the immediate trailing quarter Q2 2018. The company had a subscriber base of 127.7 lakh in Q3 2017. Videocon d2h reported a quarterly subscriber churn of 1 per cent, higher than the churn of 0.62 per cent reported for Q2 2018. Subscriber churn for Q2 2017 was 0.87 per cent. The company has reported lower average revenue per user of Rs 208 for the quarter under review as compared to Rs 212 for the immediate trailing quarter, but higher than the Rs 205 for the corresponding year ago quarter.
Let us look at the other numbers reported by Videocon d2h
Total expenses increased 6.5 per cent yoy to Rs 726.59 crore in Q 2018 from Rs 681.97 crore. Operating expenses increased 8.9 per cent yoy to Rs 423.61 crore in Q2 2018 from Rs 407.38 crore. Administration and other expenses reduced 14 per cent yoy to Rs 18.89 crore during the quarter under review from Rs 21.97 crore. Employee benefits expenses declined 4.3 per cent yoy to Rs 28.92 crore in Q2 2018 from Rs 30.21 crore. Selling and distribution expenses reduced 3.5 per cent yoy to Rs 50.84 crore in Q2 2018 from Rs 52.69 crore.
Company speak
Videocon d2h executive chairman Dhoot said, “I am pleased to report that we continued to deliver a strong quarterly result with our adjusted EBITDA being our highest ever quarterly adjusted EBITDA at Rs 2.91 billion. Our adjusted EBITDA per subscriber continued to improve further and came in at Rs 73 per subscriber per month.”
“We continue to see a recovery on the ground and expect overall business prospects to improve driven by several factors including lower content availability on the FreeDish platform and the Indian government’s focus on increasing affordable housing and improving rural income levels in the recent budget,” he added.
“During the quarter, the company received all the necessary approvals relating to its amalgamation with and into Dish TV India. The two companies now intend to file the relevant intimations / e-forms with the Registrar of Companies, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Maharashtra, Mumbai in the last week of February 2018, which filing date will become the effective date for the proposed merger. The company will issue the relevant timelines and other mandatory notices in relation to the merger in due course,” concluded Dhoot.
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DTH
Dish TV launches ‘Kuch chhota sa’ campaign for TV flexibilit
New campaign highlights 190+ channels, Always-On service, Rs 99 Freedom Pack.
MUMBAI- Sometimes, the smallest remote click can fix the biggest daily friction and Dish TV is betting on exactly that insight. The company has rolled out a new campaign built around the thought ‘Kuch chhota sa karne par, life hogi behtar’, turning everyday viewing annoyances into a case for simpler, more reliable television access.
The campaign taps into a familiar household reality: millions of viewers continue to rely on free-to-air channels but increasingly want the flexibility of premium content, often ending up with a patchy and inconsistent viewing experience. Dish TV positions itself as the middle path—a structured yet flexible alternative that promises continuity without complexity. At its core is the pitch of an “Always-On” service, designed to keep content accessible even when recharge timelines slip, effectively reducing one of the most common friction points in DTH consumption.
To strengthen this proposition, the platform is offering access to over 190 channels, alongside a flexible pricing hook through its Freedom Pack, starting at Rs 99. The pack is positioned as a seasonal companion particularly relevant during high-engagement periods such as cricket tournaments, school holidays and festive windows, when content consumption spikes but users may not want long-term commitments.
Conceptualised by Enormous, the campaign unfolds through two master films and three short edits rooted in slice-of-life storytelling. From a husband quietly navigating around his sleeping wife to siblings striking a compromise over a coveted window seat, the narratives lean into humour and relatability rather than heavy messaging. The underlying idea remains consistent: small adjustments can meaningfully improve everyday experiences.
The rollout spans a full 360-degree media mix, including television, digital platforms, on-ground activations, point-of-sale visibility, Google Display Network placements and influencer-led content, signalling a push for both scale and contextual engagement.
As viewing habits continue to evolve in a hybrid ecosystem of free and paid content, Dish TV’s latest play reflects a broader industry shift where reliability and flexibility are increasingly positioned as differentiators, not just add-ons. In a market crowded with choice, the brand’s wager is simple: sometimes, it’s the smallest tweak that keeps audiences tuned in.
