MUMBAI: The board of Padmalaya Telefilms has announced its financial results for the first quarter results ended 30 June 2004. The company has posted a net revenue of Rs 22.8 billion as compared to Rs 26.6 billion in the corresponding period last year, which shows a decline of 14.4 per cent.
Net profit before tax showed a decline of 19 per cent, to Rs 6240.50 million in comparison to the previous year's net profit which was Rs 7722.20 million.
The 14.4 per cent decrease in sales, is attributed to one regional feature film release in the first quarter of last year, whereby the company achieved higher revenue in film division according to Padmalaya Telefilms CFO Sarasuram.The company has although released one regional film in July 2004 which will contribute to the second quarter turnover. One Hindi movie is also slated for release in the month of September.
Also, in the television division, the library encashment was high in the previous year hence the turnover of the first quarter in the previous year is more.
Staff costs have gone up by eight per cent as the company has recruited new employees for the envisaged expansion projects. Also, the existing employees were given yearly due increments.
Coming to segment wise revenue and results one sees, that although no films have been released, the profit from the films division is Rs 315.8.60 million vis a vis Rs 2250.60 million in the previous corresponding period; the margin of profit up by 10 per cent.
Sarasuram explains, "The film division comprises of Film Production, Distribution and Exhibition activities. Though there have been no releases, the distribution activity went well during the last quarter. Of the total 22 movies distributed during the first quarter, 12 movies were hits and others were average. This has contributed to higher revenue and higher profit margins."
Also in the exhibition activity, the total number of theatres increased. This was also a significant contributor to higher revenues and profits.
TV profits have decreased dramatically at Rs 763.70 million, the margin of profit showing a decline of a whopping 24 per cent. This was because the current year's library encashment was very nominal. The previous year saw library encashment contribute 43 per cent of the total Television turnover. However, the fall in TV arena of the company is noteworthy.
Animation seems to have spruced up the company by almost an 80 per cent jump in profits. The last year saw an addition of the animation education division (from April 2004 onwards) and visual effects division for the existing animation division. The re-establishment of the brand name of ZICA , worked wonders for the lost stand ZICA had in the market. The expansion of the business to Mumbai, Kolkatta and Hyderabad also played a vital factor. Sarasuram adds, "The company is eyeing to enter into other major cities also and apart from ZICA, the company has started media training center with the association of Apple Computers Inc. The Apple authorised training center is first time in India."
The company has also increased the 3D animation department capacity to 200 per cent and thus the contribution from 3D animation is also more.
