Film Production
FY-16: Eros International Media revenue up
BENGALURU: The Sunil Lulla led Eros International Media Limited (Eros) reported 11.4 percent increase in total revenue including other income (TR) for the fiscal ended 31 March 2016 (FY-16, current year, current fiscal) as compared to the previous year. Eros reported TR of Rs 1,603.45 crore in FY-16 as compared to Rs 1,441.03 crore in FY-15.
The company’s Total Income from Operations (TIO) in the current year increased 11.3 percent to Rs 1,582.58 crore in the previous fiscal. Profit after Tax (PAT) after minority interest in the current year declined 13.5 percent to Rs 214.15 crore (13.4 percent PAT margin of TR) as compared to Rs 247.06 crore (17.1 PAT margin of TR) in the previous year.
Eros says that revenue for FY-16 saw a significant growth on account of global releases of Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Bajirao Mastani, TanuWeds Manu Returns, Welcome Back, Srimanthudu amongst others across theatrical, overseas and satellite revenues, and overseas releases of Dil Dhadakne Do, Singh is Bling and Gabbar is Back reinforcing the portfolio and film mix strategy
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.
Earnings before Interest and Tax in FY-16 declined 6.6 percent to Rs 337.36 crore from Rs 361.19 crore in the previous year.
The breakup of revenues in FY-16 was: Television and others 30 percent; Theatrical 43.8 percent; Overseas 26.1 percent. The comparative breakup of revenues in FY-15 was: Television and others 31.3 percent; Theatrical 38 percent; Overseas 30.7 percent.
Total Expenditure in the current year increased 17.2 percent to Rs 1,266.09 crore (80 percent of TIO) from Rs 1,079.84 (76 percent of TIO) in FY-15.
Direct Costs during FY-16 stood at Rs 1,144.8 crore, including Rs. 617.8 crore of content amortization (Rs 940 crore of direct costs including content amortization of Rs 497.6 crore in FY-15) and overflow accrued to Producers on account of hit films.
For the period ending March 31, 2016, the company generated free cash flow of Rs 300 crore as compared to negative Rs 50 crore in FY-15. As on 31 March 2016, total receivables stood at Rs. 428.2 crore as compared to Rs. 525.7 crore as on 31 March, 2015.
Films released in FY-16
In FY-16, of the 63 films released by Eros, 6 high budget, 16 medium and 41 low budget films were released in as against 6 high budget, 11 medium and 47 low budget movies in FY-15. In FY-16, of the 63 films that were released 33 were Hindi and 30 were Regional films as compared to 64 films during FY-15, which included 45 Hindi and 19 regional films.
In the quarter ended 31 March 2016 (Q4-16, current quarter) Q4-16, only 6 medium and 6 low budget films were released as against 1 high budget, 4 medium and 17 low budget movies in Q4-15. During the quarter, 12 films were released consisting of 3 Hindi and 5 Tamil/Telugu films and 4 Regional films as compared to 22 films during Q4-15, which included 17 Hindi and 5 Tamil/Telugu films.
Company speak
Eros executive vice chairman and managing director Lulla said, “Fiscal 2016 clearly proved to be one of the best year for our films at the Box Office demonstrating the quality and robustness of our content green-lighting strategy, a strong competitive edge for Eros. This is possible as over the years, we have built scale and expertise with the help of an experienced management team which has constantly set new benchmarks in the industry. Continuing this momentum, we had an excellent start to FY17 with Sardaar Gabbar Singh in Telegu, ‘Ki & Ka’ in Hindi and 24 in Tamil delivering splendid performances and together with ‘Housefull 3’ scheduled to open next week, we are looking at a blockbuster first quarter.
“We have a very exciting film slate for the upcoming quarters, which include films such as ‘Rock On 2’, ‘Dishoom’, ‘Baar Baar Deko’, ‘Shivaay’, Banjo, Singham 3 together with a diversified slate of other regional releases. On the whole, FY 2017 will be seeing an exciting movie repertoire of over 65 content driven Eros films in Hindi and other regional languages, making it the biggest future slate by any studio in India. The slate would also be aided by compelling films from our franchise production arm, Trinity Pictures. To further demonstrate our portfolio and de-risking strategy, I am happy to announce that a substantial part of the above mentioned slate is already pre-sold for satellite rights with the major television networks.”
“I am happy to report that we ended the year with record revenues of Rs. 16,036 million and healthy profitability. Further, we generated Rs. 3,000 illion free cash flow in FY16 and strengthened our balance sheet by bringing about working capital efficiencies. We are confident that we will continue to maintain
our market leadership position in the years to come.”
Film Production
Disney to cut 1,000 jobs under new chief executive
The entertainment giant’s freshly installed boss inherits a restructuring already in motion, with marketing and corporate roles bearing the brunt
CALIFORNIA: Walt Disney is preparing to slash up to 1,000 jobs in the coming weeks, the Wall Street Journal reported, as the entertainment giant’s freshly installed chief executive moves swiftly to trim fat and tighten the ship.
The cuts, less than 1 per cent of Disney’s global workforce of 231,000, will fall hardest on marketing and corporate roles. The planning, notably, began before D’Amaro formally took the top job in March, suggesting the new boss inherited a restructuring already in motion rather than one of his own making.
Driving the push is Asad Ayaz, Disney’s newly appointed chief marketing officer, who in January assumed command of a unified, company-wide marketing operation spanning film, television and streaming. His consolidation drive has been given a suitably cinematic internal name: Project Imagine.
The move is modest by Disney’s recent standards. Between 2023 and 2025, under former chief executive Bob Iger, the company eliminated roughly 8,000 positions across several brutal rounds of cuts, saving $7.5 billion, comfortably exceeding its own targets. As recently as June 2025, several hundred more jobs were axed across Disney Entertainment, hitting film and television marketing, publicity, casting, development and corporate finance.
Disney’s structural headaches are well-documented: shrinking streaming margins, a weakened box office, and fierce competition from Amazon and YouTube gnawing at its flanks. The company is merging its Disney+ and Hulu teams into a single app, has brought in consultants from Bain & Co to guide its broader cost strategy, and is betting heavily on digital growth.
The wider entertainment industry offers little comfort. Sony Pictures, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery have all taken the knife to their workforces in recent years, and further cuts loom if Paramount’s acquisition of Warner goes through.
For D’Amaro, the message is clear: there will be no honeymoon period. The magic kingdom still has some cost-cutting spells left to cast.
