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.
GECs
Pocket FM partners with Indian Open Pickleball 2026
Audio platform joins forces with major tournament to engage young fans.
MUMBAI: Pocket FM just served up a perfect partnership because when audio storytelling meets pickleball’s fast-paced rallies, even the sidelines start listening. Pocket FM, the world’s largest audio series platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Indian Open 2026, one of India’s biggest pickleball tournaments organised by Global Sports in Hyderabad in association with Pickl’Out and Crosscourts Sports Club.
The collaboration brings Pocket FM’s immersive storytelling to one of the fastest-growing emerging sports in India. Pickleball, known for its accessibility, energy and strong community appeal, is rapidly attracting younger, digitally savvy audiences making it an ideal platform for Pocket FM to deepen its cultural relevance.
Under the partnership, Pocket FM will enjoy extensive on-ground and digital visibility throughout the tournament, which begins on 1 April 2026. This includes centre court branding, venue-wide presence, presenting rights for select matches, player lounge branding, team jersey integration, and strong integration across live streaming and social media.
Pocket FM, SVP and global head for brand marketing and partnerships Vineet Singh said, “Pickleball is building a strong connection with young and engaged audiences in India. This partnership allows us to connect with people in a meaningful way through strong on-ground presence and digital visibility.”
Global Sports and Indian Open 2026, founder Hemal Jain added, “Partnering with Pocket FM adds an exciting new dimension to the experience. As a brand that has built deep resonance with young audiences, Pocket FM is a strong fit for the energy and ambition of this tournament.”
The move reflects Pocket FM’s continued strategy of aligning with emerging passion points and building deeper engagement with communities driven by competition and shared experiences.
In a country where sports and stories often collide, Pocket FM isn’t just sponsoring a tournament, it’s turning every rally into a narrative, proving that the best audio moments sometimes happen when the paddle meets the ball.
