News Broadcasting
TV Today telecasts 16 per cent net profit rise in FY 2013
MUMBAI: Its FM radio broadcasting business is on the turnaround trail. And that – apart from its mainstay its news TV channels Aaj Tak, Headlines Today, Dilli Aaj Tak and Tezz- has helped Living Media India Ltd’s (The India Today group’s) television & FM radio broadcasting arm, TV Today Network, post a pleasing 16 per cent rise in its net profit in the year ended 31 March 2013. However, its Q4 2013 net profit has fallen 13.3 per cent against the corresponding previous year’s Q4-2012.
TV Today Network has been one of the more efficiently run news organisations in the Indian news broadcasting sector and has been reporting profits for some time now. Other listed news TV organisations have been bleeding and have just about starting showing profits. Hence, its Q4-2013 results appear to be just an aberration.
Let us look at the standalone Q4-2013 financials as against Q4-2012
Q4-2013 total revenues stand at Rs 84.27 crore, a drop of over 4.7 per cent as against last corresponding Q4-2012’s Rs 88.46 crore. Its TV broadcasting business contributes nearly 97 per cent at Rs 81.63 crore to its revenues while its FM radio broadcasting operations through its channel ‘Oye 104.8’ generated Rs 2.64 crore.
The broadcaster has managed to pare some of its expenses at Rs 77.89 crore in Q4-2013 as against last corresponding Q4-2012’s Rs 78.33 crore. The marginal difference is on account of its production costs being reduced to Rs 10.36 crore (Rs 11.24 crore).
Even though the company has seen a 13 per cent reduction in its net profit for Q4-2013 to Rs 6.36 crore (as against Q4-2012’s Rs 7.33 crore), what is heartening is the narrowing of its losses from its FM radio division in Q4-2013 to Rs 2.74 crore from Rs 4.46 crore in Q4-2012.
Let us take a look at the consolidated financials for the year ending 31 March 2013
As mentioned earlier, efficient management of its FM radio operations has helped TV Today Network in FY-2013. Its net profit for FY-2013 had a handsome increase of 16 per cent to Rs 12.21 crore (Rs 10.52 crore in FY-2012). A large part of this increase can be attributed to the decrease in losses at its FM radio division to Rs 13.24 crore from Rs 18.59 crore in FY-2012.
Total revenue for FY 2013 rose to Rs 312.66 crore as against FY-2012’s Rs 308.43 crore with TV broadcasting revenues contributing Rs 302.69 crore as against Rs 300 crore in FY-2012. Its FM radio division chipped in with Rs 9.98 crore as against Rs 8.09 crore last fiscal.
The company claims that its profits have been squeezed further on account of its payments to BSNL and Prasar Bharti amounting to Rs 80 lakh and monitoring charges for foreign satellite amounting to Rs 76.91 lakh.
From the short term perspective, its current liabilities including trade payables have significantly increased to Rs 128.39 crore in FY-2013 as against Rs 94.16 crore in FY-2012, a worrying 36 per cent rise, especially when its current assets have shot by only 24 per cent during the same period.
TV Today Network has made a strategic investment of Rs 45.52 crore in Mail Today Newspapers which is bringing out a daily newspaper in the north. Though Mail Today is in the initial stages of operations and presently incurring losses, the company holds a confident outlook of its future profitability.
The company has announced a 15 per cent dividend, even as the share closed at Rs 84.85 by the time trading ended on BSE.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
