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Sun TV board declares third interim dividend of 50 percent
BENGALURU: The board of directors of the Sun TV Network (Sun TV) has declared a 50 percent dividend (dividend of Rs 2.50) per equity share of face value Rs 5 each for the quarter ended 31 December 2019 (Q3 2019, quarter, period under review). This is the third interim dividend disbursed by the company this fiscal.
The South Indian television and radio broadcaster behemoth reported total comprehensive income of Rs 351.39 crore (38.9 percent of operating revenue for the quarter, which was 31.6 percent y-o-y higher as compared to Rs 267.03 crore (39.1 percent of operating revenue) for the corresponding year ago quarter.
Sun TV reported 32.4 percent y-o-y increase in operating revenue for Q3 2019 at Rs 904.45 crore as compared to Rs 683.28 crore in Q3 2018. Total Income for the period under review at Rs 956.04 crore was 34.2 percent more y-o-y as compared to Rs 712.39 crore in Q3 2018. Sun TV says in a press release that its subscription revenue has grown by 24 percent y-o-y to Rs 349.60 crore.
Operating profit (EBITDA) for Q3 2019 at Rs 667.20 (73.8 percent of operating revenue) increased 35.6 percent y-o-y as compared to Rs 492.04 crore (72 percent of operating revenue) in Q3 2018. Profit after tax (PAT) for the quarter at Rs 351.33 crore (38.8 percent of operating revenue) was 31.6 percent higher y-o-y than Rs 266.97 crore (39.1 percent of operating revenue).
Sun TV reported 35.4 percent y-o-y increase in total expenditure in Q3 2019 at Rs 414.04 crore from Rs 305.76 crore in Q3 2018. Operating expenses in Q3 2019 increased 51.5 percent y-o-y to Rs 122.77 crore from Rs 81.05 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal. Employee benefits expense in Q3 2019 declined 0.7 percent y-o-y to Rs 71.71 crore from Rs 72.20 crore in Q3 2018.
Finance costs increased more than elevenfold y-o-y in Q3 2019 to Rs 0.71 crore from Rs 0.06 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Other expenses increase 12.6 percent y-o-y in Q3 2019 to Rs 42.77 crore from Rs 37.99 crore in Q3 2018.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
