(29 October 2005 9:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Indian firm CyberMedia, which claims to be South Asia's first and largest speciality media house, has announced that its total income rose by 26 per cent for the second quarter ended 30 September 2005.

Operating margins increased by 17.4 per cent.

Gross income was up by 26 per cent to Rs. 212.75 million compared to the second quarter opf the previious fiscal. Revenues from publishing business were up by 40 per cent to Rs. 140.82 million. Revenues from research business up by 56 per cent to Rs. 39.9 million.

Revenue from the company's online business went up by 72 per cent to Rs 16.28 million. The company's MD Pradeep Gupta said, "I am happy to inform you that it has been another successful quarter for CyberMedia. Our strategy of focusing on high growth, high margin businesses has started giving positive results with operating margins improving to 17.4 per cent. Also I would like to mention that our pioneering effort for globalising the print media is progressing well, and both our new projects – Global Outsourcing and BioSpectrum, Asian Edition will be launched before schedule."

CyberMedia has 11 publications (including Dataquest and PCQuest) in the infotech, telecom, consumer electronics and biotech areas. It al;so boasts of an end-to-end Media value chain including the internet - www.ciol.com, events and television

It also provides media services include market research (IDC India), job board (CyberMedia Dice), content outsourcing, multimedia, and media education. CyberMedia claims that its products reach out to 1.2 million readers and 0.7million online community members.

During the quarter the company formed in the US a 50:50 joint venture ‘CMP Cyber Media LLC’ with CMP Media which is publishes technology magazines. The JV was formed for publishing and marketing the “Global Outsourcing”- a publication for BPO sector

Cuber Media has also received permission to publish the Asian edition of BioSpectrum from the Media Development Authority of Singapore. The inaugural issue is expected to be launched in January 2006. It also states that its multimedia and events subsidiaries are shifting focus to higher margin business in a phased manner. These subsidiaries will be merged back into the holding company to create consolidated portfolio spanning print, digital and events

The company also claims to be enjoying a buoyant market with high ad-spends. Advertisement revenues from both publication and the internet are steadily increasing the company adds.