News Broadcasting
ETC posts profit of Rs 62.26 million in Q1 2002
ETC Networks seems to have turned the corner.
After posting losses of Rs 136.12 million for the year ended 31 March 2002, the company has claimed to have notched up a net profit after tax of Rs 62.26 million for Q1 2002-03. The growth, of more than 464 per cent over last year’s corresponding figures of Rs 11.03 million, has been achieved due to an improvement in the performance of both ETC Music and ETC Punjabi, the company claims.
Total income of the company for the quarter ended 30 June 2002 stands at Rs 111.77 million as against Rs 771.85 for the same period last year, a growth of 44.8 per cent. Cost control measures and improvisations in the revenue mix, says the company, have helped improve the EBITDA margin from 21.3 per cent to 56 per cent over last year’s corresponding figures.
Zee Telefilms (which now holds 51 per cent stake in ETC Networks) group broadcasting CEO Sandeep Goyal has responded to ETC’s better performance this quarter with, “The process of integration is continuing in full swing and we have launched Alpha ETC Punjabi earlier this month in UK. This channel will be launched in the US and Canada markets in the months to come.”
ETC claims to lead in the market share and reach of both its channels. Quoting TAM figures, it says that out of the top ten programmes in the music channel segment, etc occupies five slots, while ETC Punjabi continues to lead the Punjabi language segment.
While the company had managed to halve its programming and telecast expenses to Rs 125.871 million in FY 2001-02, its turnover had dived to Rs 313.3 million from Rs 538.2 million the previous year.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
