MUMBAI: Balaji Telefilms Limited?s (BTL) net profit for the fiscal third quarter has jumped to Rs 49.4 million from Rs 11.23 million in the third quarter of previous fiscal as expenses remained under control.

The company?s net sales for the quarter grew to Rs 324.8 million from Rs 311 million in the corresponding quarter.

Expenditure decreased to Rs 334.1 million from Rs 370.7 million as staff cost saw a fall to Rs 18.32 million from Rs 36.34 million. Cost of production saw a minor increase to Rs 254 million from Rs 250.7 million.

In the quarter under review, the company posted a positive Ebitda of Rs 18.47 million compared to an Ebitda loss of Rs 18.8 million in the previous fiscal.

Balaji said it has realised revenues only from commissioned programming amounting to Rs 318.1 million against Rs 239.5 million a year ago.

There was no revenue from the sponsored segment during the quarter as the company has completely exited from this segment while partial revenues from the Sponsored programming was at Rs 30.8 million in the previous fiscal.

Hours of Hindi commissioned programmes stood at 146 compared to 120 in the trailing fiscal.

Balaji said that the share of commissioned programming in revenues during the quarter has improved both in terms of volume and realisation.

Balaji Motion Pictures Limited, the motion pictures subsidiary of BTL, posted a net profit of Rs 53 million on revenues of Rs 132.5 million. The expenses for the quarter stood at Rs 74.69 million.

Significant revenues came from the sale of satellite rights of ?Kya Super Kool Hain Hum? and ?Shootout at Lokhandwala.

Additionally, in line with the company?s strategic focus on de-risking its financials and limiting exposure to the volatility of the environment, it has already committed a sale of rights for music, overseas and home video for five of its movies to be released in 2013 though the paperwork is yet to be formalised.

BMPL said it is also in the process of entering into agreements to license the satellite rights of three of its upcoming films.

On a consolidated basis, Balaji increased its net profit to Rs 102.4 million compared to Rs 33.8 million in the preceding fiscal.

However, net sales declined to Rs 457.3 million from Rs 658.2 million while expenses stood at Rs 408.8 million compared to Rs 694.8 million.

MUMBAI: After getting to be a master at producing television shows and films, Ekta Kapoor is going back to studying. She has enrolled for a business development course at the Harvard University.

On 3 May next year, the head honcho of Balaji Telefilms will fly to the US to kick-start the course. It is said that the idea originated in her mind sometime ago that has finally taken shape now.

Talking about her study programme, Kapoor said that it?s a three-year degree course where she will have to be at the University for one month every year for three years. She has also wished that her company attains the best possible growth and for that, she wants to take her knowledge to the next level by going to Harvard, one of the finest institutions in the world.

Sources reveal that the course will require Kapoor to devote at least nine to ten hours every day during her stay at the university. When asked about who will look after her company during her absence, she referred to her parents.

MUMBAI: The Times Television Network (TTN) has appointed Rohit Kishore Chopra to the post of head legal at Times Television Network and Prime Connect. He will be based out of Mumbai and be responsible for all legal and regulatory affairs of TTN and Prime Connect as well as support the team on Box TV.

The existing legal teams at TTN and Prime Connect will report into Chopra who in turn will report into Avinash Kaul.

ET Now, Times Now and Zoom chief executive officer Avinash Kaul said, "We are delighted to have Rohit on board. Given his significant experience in the broadcast space, Rohit will play a pivotal role in directing the legal and regulatory aspects of TTN?s business."

Chopra comes to TTN from Viacom18 Media where he was head corporate legal affairs. He has worked at Balaji Telefilms Limited, Reliance Big Broadcasting and ESPN Star Sports in the past.

Chopra said, "I am really excited and honored to be a part of such a diversified media conglomerate. I look forward to working with this dynamic team and adding value to the system."

Mumbai: Balaji Telefilms has appointed Global Advertisers to promote its upcoming movie ?Kya Super Kool Hain Hum? in the outdoor space. Releasing on 27 July, the film is a sequel to the 2005 movie ?Kyaa Kool Hai Hum?.

Directed by Sachin Yardi, the movie is produced by Ekta Kapoor.

The outdoor campaign of the movie is being supported by TV, radio, print and digital campaigns.

Large posters of the movie starring Tusshar Kapoor and Ritesh Deshmukh in psychedelic colours are slated to appear across the city on Global?s hoardings.

The promotional campaign for the movie conceptualised by Global includes a PR campaign, direct mailers and SMSs. Global?s official social-networking accounts such as Facebook, Twitter and Blogs are also engaged for the promotion of the film online. As part of the arrangement, the film will also incorporate in-film promotion for Global Advertisers.

Global Advertisers managing director Sanjeev Gupta said, "We would like to thank Ekta Kapoor for believing in us. We have introduced monsoon packages to suit all budgets this year. We are experiencing record high demand for our outdoor inventories, a large percentage of which is being fueled by film promotions like the one we have charted out for Kya Super Kool Hain Hum. Our research, media planning and after sales teams are doing a phenomenal job of helping our clients achieve the desired impact."

Global Advertisers had also promoted Balaji?s Dirty Picture.

MUMBAI: Star India has elevated Nachiket Pantvaidya to head its flagship Hindi general entertainment channel Star Plus as its general manager.

Prior to this, Pantvaidya was heading Star India?s Marathi GEC Star Pravah.

Star India spokesperson has confirmed the development to Indiantelevision.com.

Pantvaidya is replacing Nitin Vaidya, who had quit following his 14 months stint at Star India.

Pantvaidya had joined Star Group in November 2009 as MD of Fox Television Studios India. Later he was moved to Star Pravah as EVP and GM.

Prior to that, Pantvaidya has worked with Balaji Telefilms, BBC Worldwide, Disney and Sony Entertainment (now Multi Screen Media).

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Nitin Vaidya quits Star India

Mumbai: Star India?s youth entertainment channel, Channel [V], is gearing up to launch second season of its popular teen-crime show Gumrah on 9 July.

The show will air every week Monday to Friday at 8 pm. Each episode will illustrate new stories of crime.

The show is co-produced by Balaji Telefilms? ALT Entertainment and Lost Boy Productions. It will continue to be hosted by Karan Kundra.

The channel said that with the introduction of season 2 of Gumrah, Channel [v] takes the plunge again into the world of crime to explore the different moods and emotions that drive the young minds.

Channel [V] EVP and GM Prem Kamath said, "Gumrah deals with the issue of teen crime which is very intricately connected to society today. The show?s wide acceptance amongst viewers has proved the importance and relevance of this issue. With the accelerating occurrences of crime in our society by youth, it makes us even more responsible to tackle the problem perceptively."

Kamath said that through Gumrah, the channel aims to educate the people on numerous psychological reasons that instigate youngsters towards taking the path of crime. "The idea is to educate both the teenagers and their parents in understanding and handling these complex issues," he added.

Balaji Telefilms joint managing director Ekta Kapoor said, "Gumrah as a concept has huge potential. The show has a direct connect with the audience as it is factual and relatable. The show is doing exceedingly well and it was only fair to give the audience more of what they like. Gumrah Season 2 will live up to its expectations and envisage a success story of viewership."