GECs
Q1-17: Low programming and low realisation lower Balaji Telefilms standalone topline
BENGALURU: Balaji Telefilms Limited (Balaji) reported 23 percent year-over-year (y-o-y) decline in standalone total revenue from operations (TIO) for the quarter ended 30 June 2016 (Q1-17, current quarter). The company reported standalone revenue for Q1-17 at Rs 53.59 crore and Rs 69.38 crore for the corresponding year ago quarter.
Revenue from Balajis’ Commissioned Programs segment in Q1-17 was Rs 52.64 crore, while for Q1-16 it was Rs 68.44 crore. Programming hours for Q1-17 were 225.5 hours, lower than the 257 hours reported for the corresponding year ago quarter. Net realisation per hour was also lower at Rs 23.33 lakh in the current quarter as compared to Rs 26.6 lakh in Q1-16. The company says that the previous quarter included Nach Baliye and Jodha Akbar resulting in higher revenue as compared to the current quarter. The company says that Q2-17 will have two new shows Mazaak Mazaak Mein on Life Ok and Bhramarakshas on Zee TV. Margin was lower in the current quarter due to launch of a new show Kawach on June 11, 2016 which will improve in the subsequent quarters
The company’s Films segment reported operating revenue of Rs 53.44 crore in Q1-17 as compared to Rs 1.04 crore in Q1-16. The segment’s operating profit in the current quarter was Rs 2.53 crore as compared to an operating loss of Rs 0.45 crore. The company says that revenue growth in the current quarter is due to release of Azhar and Udta Punjab. The company expects revenue of approximately Rs 18.61 crore for satellite, digital and other rights of Azhar and Udta Punjab in Q2-17. It says further that piracy of two of its movies led to a lower profit on Udta Punjab and loss on Great Grand Masti (released in July 2016) resulting into an approximate loss of revenue of Rs 36 crore.
Balaji’s consolidated TIO increased 54.9 percent y-o-y to Rs 117.38 crore in Q1-17 as compared to Rs 75.80 crore in Q1-16. The company reported negative consolidated EBIDTA of Rs 3.01 crore for the current quarter as compared to a consolidated operating profit of Rs 4.76 crore in Q1-16.
Total comprehensive income in the current quarter was lower at Rs 0.66 crore as compared to a comprehensive income of Rs 4.28 crore in Q1-16.Balaji reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 0.2 crore in the current quarter as compared to a profit after tax of Rs 4.4 crore in Q1-16. The company says that net loss has been incurred in the current quarter after accounting for income tax of Rs 2.72 crore which relates to its television segment.
Total Expenditure in the current quarter was Rs 120.35 crore (102.5 percent of TIO) which was 64.5 percent more as compared to Rs 73.16 crore (96.5 percent of TIO) in Q1-16. Cost of Production/Acquisition and Telecast Fees in Q1-17 was Rs 83.92 crore (71.5 percent of TIO), 5.7 percent lower than Rs 89 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter.
Marketing and distribution expense in Q1-17 increased to Rs 13.26 crore as compared to Rs 0.30 crore in Q1-16. Employee Benefit Expense in the current quarter increased 54.1 percent y-o-y to Rs 6.46 crore (5.5 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 4.19 crore (5.5 percent of TIO) in Q1-16. Other expenditure in Q1-17 increased 17.3 percent y-o-y to Rs 7.82 crore (6.7 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 6.67 crore (8.8 percent of TIO).
Balaji says that it has so far invested Rs14.3 crore in its digital foray ALT Digital, which is currently in a prelaunch phase with expenses mainly on account of content, technology, salaries and other business overheads.
Note: The unit of currency in this report is the Indian rupee – Rs (also conventionally represented by INR). The Indian numbering system or the Vedic numbering system has been used to denote money values. The basic conversion to the international norm would be:
(a) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10,000,000 = 10 million = 1 crore.
(b) 10,000 lakh = 100 crore = 1 arab = 1 billion.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
