iWorld
Q3-2016: Radio City revenue up 15%
BENGALURU: Music Broadcast Limited (MBL), which runs Radio City, reported 14.9 YoY (year-on-year) growth in operating revenue (OpRev) for the quarter ended 31 December, 2015 (Q3-2016, current quarter) at Rs 64.80 crore as compared to Rs 56.39 crore for the corresponding prior year quarter. Revenue in Q3-2016 was 16.7 per cent higher QoQ (quarter-on-quarter) as compared to Rs 55.54 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.
Note: (1) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore
(2) Margins have been calculated on operating revenue in this report.
For the nine month period ended 31 December, 2015, (9M-2016, year to date or YTD), MBL reported 11.3 per cent higher OpRev at Rs 167.72 crore as compared to Rs 150.65 crore in the corresponding prior year nine month period. Though PAT in the current quarter and nine month period has reduced as compared to corresponding prior year periods, operating profit (Operating revenue minus expenses) has increased.
The company’s profit after tax (PAT) in Q3-2016 declined 5.4 per cent YoY to Rs 16.17 crore (25 per cent margin) as compared to Rs 17.10 crore (30.3 per cent margin), but increased by more than a third (increased by 34.2 per cent) from Rs 12.05 crore (21.7 per cent margin). PAT for 9M-2016 declined 30.7 per cent to Rs 25.99 crore (15.5 per cent margin) from Rs 37.53 crore (24.9 per cent margin) in the corresponding period of the previous year.
As mentioned above, Operating profit increased 22.1 per cent in the current quarter YoY to Rs 25.40 crore (39.2 per cent margin) as compared to Rs 20.80 crore (36.9 per cent margin) and increased 59.7 per cent QoQ from Rs 16.09 (29 per cent margin). Operating profit in 9M-2016 increased 17.6 per cent to Rs 56.01 crore (33.4 per cent margin) from Rs 47.63 crore (31.6 per cent margin) in 9M-2015.
Expenses in Q3-2016 were 10.7 per cent higher YoY at Rs 39.40 crore (60.8 per cent of OpRev) as compared to Rs 35.59 (63.1 per cent of OpRev) and almost flat (reduced by 0.1 per cent) QoQ as compared to Rs 39.45 crore (71 per cent of OpRev). Expenses in 9M-2016 increased 8.4 per cent to Rs 111.71 crore (66.6 per cent of OpRev) from Rs 103.02 crore (68.4 per cent of OpRev).
Jagran Prakashan numbers in brief
MBL’s parent company, Indian publishing company Jagran Prakashan Limited (JPL) reported 22.5 per cent increase in YoY consolidated operating revenue in Q3-2016 to Rs 576.36 crore as compared to Rs 470.46 crore. JPL’s advertising revenue increased 28.5 per cent YoY to Rs 434.82 crore from Rs 338.35 crore. Circulation revenues increased two per cent to Rs 102.02 crore from Rs 100 crore. JPL’s PAT in Q3-2016 increased 40.1 per cent YoY from Rs 66.62 crore.
For 9M-2016, JBL reported 17.1 per cent increase in operating revenue to Rs 1577.02 crore from Rs 1347.02 crore in the corresponding prior year nine month period, advertising revenue increased 22.6 per cent to Rs 1169.36 crore from Rs 954.17 crore, circulation revenue increased 3.5 per cent to Rs 302.36 crore from Rs 292.15 crore. PAT in 9M-2016 after extraordinary item (Rs 116.30 crore) more than doubled (up 104.3 per cent) to Rs 364.52 crore from Rs 178.43 crore in 9M-2015.
iWorld
X launches XChat messaging app on iOS with calls and encryption
Standalone app marks shift from “everything app” vision, adds E2E messaging.
MUMBAI: From one big app to many small chats, X seems to be splitting its ambitions. X has rolled out its standalone messaging app, XChat, to iOS users, opening up a new front in its evolving product strategy. The app allows users to connect with existing X contacts through private and group messages, file sharing, as well as audio and video calls. The launch follows a limited beta phase, where the platform tested the product with a smaller user base to refine the experience. Now available publicly, XChat marks a notable pivot from earlier ambitions championed by Elon Musk to turn X into a single “everything app” combining messaging, payments, commerce and more.
Instead, the company under xAI ownership and backed by SpaceX appears to be building a suite of standalone applications, each targeting specific use cases while expanding its broader ecosystem.
At launch, XChat includes end-to-end encrypted messaging, PIN-based access, disappearing messages, and features such as message editing, deletion for all participants, and screenshot blocking. The company has also said the app is free from advertisements and tracking mechanisms, positioning it as a privacy-first alternative in a crowded messaging space.
However, security claims around the platform are likely to face scrutiny. Earlier iterations of XChat drew criticism from experts who argued it fell short of established encrypted platforms like Signal. With the wider rollout, the app is expected to undergo fresh evaluation to assess whether those concerns have been addressed.
Beyond messaging, XChat will also house X’s Communities feature, which is being discontinued on the main platform due to low usage and spam concerns. Migrating these users could provide an early boost to adoption, effectively turning XChat into both a communication and community hub.
The move underscores a broader recalibration at X less about cramming everything into one app, and more about spreading bets across multiple touchpoints, one message at a time.
