BENGALURU: After three consecutive profitable quarters in fiscal 2017 (year ended 31 March 2017, FY-17), Indian direct to home Saurabh Dhoot led major Videocon d2h Limited had reported a net loss of Rs 87 million for the last quarter of last fiscal (Q4-17). The company has returned back to the black for the quarter ended 30 June 2017 (Q1-18, current) with a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 12 million. After the Essel group’s DTH company Dish TV India Limited, Videocon d2h is one of the few television signal carriage companies in India that have started reported profits after taxes.
The company has informed the bourses through a press release that it has received a nod from the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal ( for the scheme of arrangement among Videocon d2h (transferor company), Dish TV India and their respective shareholders and creditors for the amalgamation with Dish TV. The appointed date for the amalgamation is 1 October 2017.
Commenting on the company outlook, Videocon d2h executive chairman Saurabh Dhoot said, "In the past few weeks, the management has been working on an integration plan. The merged entity plans to adopt and implement the best practices of both companies. We believe this merger provides exciting opportunities through the customer service model, convergence of technologies, expanded breadth of content offerings including expansion of exclusive content, advertising income growth potential as well as synergies from a combined subscriber base of more than 28 million. The merged entity would be one of the largest pay TV platforms in the world in terms of subscriber base, according to the company estimates. I am very excited for this new journey of a business that commands strong business fundamentals and growth opportunities supported by our strong balance sheet and growing free cash flows."
Speaking on the business outlook, Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera said "I am pleased to share that Goods and Service Tax (GST) came into effect starting July 1, 2017. GST will simplify the taxation regime and improve the ease of doing business. GST would also drive the unorganized segment, such as local cable operators, towards taxation.
I am happy to share that the monsoons this year have been in line with long term average. This is likely to strengthen the macro-economic sentiment and imply good consumption from rural India. This is positive for the DTH industry and the upbeat rural sentiment due to the good monsoon could lead to a strong outlook for the festive quarter."
The company reported a 1.2 percent increase in revenue from operations for the current quarter at Rs 7,726 million as compared to Rs 7,633 million in Q1-17. Subscription and activation revenue increased 1.7 percent in Q1-18 to Rs 7,091 million from Rs 6,970 million in Q1-17. Adjusted EBIDTA was slightly lower in Q1-18 at Rs 2,485 million as compared to Rs 2,519 million in the corresponding year ago quarter. However, adjusted EBIDTA less capex in the current quarter increased substantially to Rs 1,246 million from Rs 887 million in Q1-17. Content costs in Q1-18 have increased to 42 percent of revenue as compared to 38.7 percent in Q1-17.
The company added 0.13 million net subscribers in Q1-18, far lower than the 0.43 million added in Q1-17 and lower than the 0.14 million subscribers added in the immediate trailing quarter. Quarter-over-quarter average revenue per user (ARPU) was Rs 198 in Q1-18 as compared to Rs 211 in Q1-17 and Rs 196 in Q4-17. Monthly subscriber churn in Q1-8 was higher at 1.27 percent as compared to 0.49 percent and 0.87 percent in Q1-17 and Q4-17 respectively. Subscriber acquisition costs in the form of hardware subsidies were INR 1,865 per subscriber during the first quarter of Fiscal 2018.
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