| MUMBAI:
UTV Software Communications has posted a consolidated net profit (after minority
interest) of Rs 378.22 million for the quarter ended 31 December 2009, up 29 per
cent as compared to Rs 293.84 million in the same quarter of the previous year.
The company,
on the back of movies, posted a 38 per cent jump in revenues for the quarter.
Total revenue stood at Rs 2.21 billion compared to Rs 1.60 billion in the year-ago
period. However, expenses also rose 21.9 per cent to Rs 1.85 billion. The
company has consolidated the financials of UTV-US, IG Interactive, UMP PLC, UTV
Global Broadcasting, UTV TV Content, UTV New Media, and UTV Games and the group's
indirect subsidiaries Ignition Entertainment Limited, Indiagames Limited, UTV-Motion
Pictures (Mauritius), UTV Tele-Talkies Ltd ITNation Media, RB Entertainment, True
Games Interactive, GenX Entertainment and UTV Entertainment Television (UETL).
It also includes UTV's television joint ventures with Smriti Irani Television
Limited. UTV
said that 49 per cent of the total revenue in the quarter has come from its movie
business, followed by 30 per cent from broadcasting, 11 per cent from television
content, eight per cent from games content and remaining two per cent from the
new media business. UTV
chairman and CEO Ronnie Screwvala said, “The last year has been a difficult
one partly due to the weakening global economy but I am pleased with the manner
in which our businesses have emerged stronger by delivering good growth in overall
revenues for this quarter over the same quarter last fiscal. We are hoping that
the worst is now behind us and gradually the global economy is recovering from
the downturn.” Movie
Segment
The movie business fetched Rs 1.07 billion for the quarter (from
Rs 321.45 million a year ago), while operating profit soared to Rs 430.71 million
(from Rs 215.06 million). Broadcasting
Segment
Broadcasting revenue, from four channels including Bindass, Bindass
Movies, UTV Movies and World Movies, stood at Rs 646.61 million, up from Rs 299.86
million. The company posted operating profit of Rs 39.39 million from the sector
as against a loss of Rs 113.15 million in the year-ago period. “Broadcasting
business of UTV has been the highlight for quarter under discussion as during
this quarter the network flourished as one of the fastest growing network in the
broadcasting space in the country. Also, we at UTV have always been in favour
of consolidation in the broadcasting sector and we are aggressively pursuing opportunities
to achieve the same,” Screwvala added. Television
Segment
The revenues from this segment, spread over TV content production,
airtime sales and dubbing businesses, slipped to Rs 246.3 million (From Rs 356.3
million), while operating profit narrowed to Rs 8.53 million (from Rs 19.49 million).
Games
Segment
UTV’s gaming business raked in Rs 178.04 million (compared
to Rs 346.02 million in the year ago period). The segment saw an operating loss
of Rs 13.45 million, as compared to an operating profit of Rs 12.24 million a
year ago. This
business segment comprises Ignition, Indiagames and True Games. New
Media Segment
Revenue in this segment stood at Rs 33.77 million (from Rs
54.61 million), while operating loss was Rs 14.97 million (from operating profit
of Rs 1.41 million). The
new media segment comprises the web and mobile foray of the company. | 
