News Broadcasting
NDTV profits up in Q1 FY20
BENGALURU: The Prannoy and Radhika Roy-led New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV) reported consolidated profit after tax of Rs 16.66 crore for the quarter ended 30 June 2019 (Q1 2020, quarter or period under review) as compared to a loss of Rs 10.73 crore for the corresponding year ago quarter Q1 2019 (y-o-y). Consolidated PAT for the period under review grew 26.4 per cent from the Rs 13.18 crore reported in the immediate trailing quarter Q4 2019 (q-o-q).
The company reported 10.3 per cent y-o-y growth and 7.3 per cent q-o-q growth in consolidated operating revenue for Q1 2020 at Rs 109.67 crore. For Q1 2019 and Q4 2019 the company had reported consolidated operating revenues of Rs 99.43 crore and Rs 102.24 crore respectively. Consolidated total income which includes operating revenue as well as other income for Q1 2020 grew 12 per cent y-o-y to Rs 113.87 crore from Rs 101.66 crore, but declined 1.2 per cent q-o-q from Rs 115.28 crore.
Operating EBITDA for the period under review grew 275.2 per cent (almost quadrupled) per cent y-o-y to Rs 25.29 crore (23.1 per cent of operating revenue) from Rs 6.74 crore (6.8 per cent of operating revenue) and grew 46.5 per cent q-o-q from Rs 17.26 crore (16.9 per cent of operating revenue).
The company has two segments – television media and related operations (TV); and Retail/Ecommerce segment (Retail). For its TV segment, NDTV reported 11.5 per cent y-o-y revenue growth at Rs 108.96 crore for Q1 2020 from Rs 97.72 crore and 7.8 per cent q-o-q revenue growth from Rs 101.40 crore. TV segment operating result for Q1 2020 was 164.5 per cent y-o-y higher at Rs 27.64 crore from Rs 10.45 crore but was 1.7 per cent lower q-o-q than Rs 28.12 crore. For the Retail segment, NDTV reported revenue of Rs 1.65 crore for Q1 2020 which was 55.3 per cent lower y-o-y than Rs 3.69 crore and was 13.6 per cent lower q-o-q than Rs 1.91 crore. NDTV reported negative operating result (loss) for all the three quarters to the extent of Rs 1.05 crore, 4.71 crore and Rs 0.33 crore for Q1 2020, Q1 2019 and Q4 2019 respectively.
Let us look at the other numbers reported by NDTV
Total expenses in Q1 2020 reduced 8.4 per cent y-o-y to Rs 93.96 crore from Rs 102.58 crore. Production expenses and cost of services in Q1 2020 increased 28.3 per cent y-o-y to Rs 24.16 crore from Rs 18.83 crore. Finance costs increased 0.3 per cent y-o-y in Q1 2020 to Rs 6.68 crore from Rs 6.66 crore during the corresponding period of the previous year. Employee benefit expense reduced 18.9 per cent y-o-y in Q1 2020 to Rs 31.46 crore from Rs 38.77 crore in Q1 2019. Operating and administrative cost in the quarter under review reduced 19.2 per cent y-o-y to Rs 16.51 crore from Rs 20.44 crore in Q1 2019. Marketing distribution and promotional expenses in Q1 2020 was 16.4 per cent lower at Rs 12.25 crore as compared to Rs 14.68 crore.
News Broadcasting
News18 India launches Command Centre war explainer with Arya
New show shifts from debates to decoding global conflicts and impacts
MUMBAI: News18 India has rolled out a new war-focused programme, Command Centre, featuring Gaurav Arya, as it looks to offer viewers a sharper, more grounded take on global conflicts amid rising tensions in West Asia.
Positioned as an “insider war room”, the show moves away from conventional panel debates and instead focuses on explaining military developments, decoding strategy and connecting global events to their everyday impact, from fuel prices to economic shifts.
The format leans heavily on visuals and data. The studio has been designed like a command hub, complete with large LED war maps, real-time graphics and an alert system to track developments as they unfold.
At the centre of it all is Arya, who brings his military background to simplify complex war strategies for viewers. His signature line, “Seedhi baat samjhiye”, anchors the show’s promise of clarity over noise.
News18 India managing editor Jyoti Kamal said, “Command Centre, featuring Major Gaurav Arya is designed to deliver accurate insights and a clear perspective on how evolving conflicts impact everyday life, from household budgets to national security. With expert voices analysing every development in real time, the show goes beyond headlines to decode what’s happening now, what it means, and what could come next.”
Echoing the intent, Gaurav Arya added, “In times of war, confusion is the biggest threat. With News18 India’s Command Centre, we are bringing viewers inside the war room, decoding strategies, tracking every escalation, and explaining, in the simplest terms, what it means for India and for every household. Seedhi baat samjhiye, this is where you understand not just what is happening, but what happens next.”
The weekday show will air in the afternoon slot and will also feature Gaurav Shukla, adding to its editorial depth.
With its mix of analysis, visuals and a clear focus on impact, the show reflects a broader shift in news consumption. Viewers are no longer just watching events unfold, they are looking to understand what those events mean for them.
