MUMBAI: DB Corp?s radio business has turned profit positive in four years since launch.

The company said the net profit from its radio business in the third quarter ended 31 December rose 113 per cent to Rs 47 million from Rs 16.5 million a year earlier. Its revenue in the third quarter grew 21 per cent to Rs 190.8 million from Rs 156.7 million a year earlier.

DB Corp, publisher of leading Hindi daily newspaper Dainik Bhaskar, said advertising revenues from its radio business grew 22 per cent to Rs 191 million in the third quarter from Rs 157 million a year earlier. Operating profit from DB Corp?s radio business was Rs 73 million in the third quarter, up 68 per cent from a year earlier.

DB Corp?s consolidated net profit in the third quarter grew 28 per cent to Rs 704 million from Rs 554 million a year earlier. The company?s consolidated operating profit grew by 25.1 per cent in the quarter to Rs 1.23 billion from Rs 983 million a year earlier.

The company?s consolidated revenues grew by 11.2 per cent to Rs 4.42 billion in the third quarter from Rs 3.98 billion a year earlier. Its consolidated revenues from advertising rose 12 per cent to Rs 3.41 billion in the quarter from Rs 3.05 billion a year earlier. The company?s consolidated expenditure increased to Rs 3.34 billion in the third quarter from Rs 3.13 billion a year earlier.

DB Corp?s net profit from print media business rose 21 per cent to Rs 1.06 billion from Rs 872.1 million a year earlier. The company has seen revenue from print media grow to Rs 4.16 billion in the third quarter from Rs 3.72 billion a year earlier.

The company?s advertising revenue from print media business increased to Rs 3.18 billion in the third quarter from Rs 2.87 billion a year earlier, a rise of 11 per cent. Its circulation revenue grew 16 per cent to Rs 729 million in the third quarter from Rs 630 million a year earlier.

DB Corp?s operating profit margin from print media business was 28 per cent at Rs 1.17 billion, after a foreign exchange loss of Rs 36.1 million.

DB Corp managing director Sudhir Agarwal said, "Following the past few quarters of sluggish economic growth and subdued sentiment, I believe this quarter heralds better tidings on the back of an improved economic environment that has also spurred the momentum of media ad spend over the last few months ? a trend that may continue.?

"We continue to strengthen our internal capacities and resources and remain optimistic about our progress in every region. Our efforts in consolidating pan-India readership growth especially in the recently launched areas of Jharkhand and Maharashtra that are emerging strongly, and persistent cost rationalisation ? is reflected in this quarter?s performance."

MUMBAI: Ranchi, the capital city of Jharkhand, has become the third team to compete in the fledging Hockey India League with the joint-venture Patel-Unixcel Group taking the franchise rights.

The Ranchi team will be jointly owned by Bangalore-based Patel Group and the Chinese Taipei-based Unixcel Group. Former national Hockey player Banti Singh, who hails from Kolkata, has been appointed as the CEO of the franchise.

Hockey India-promoted HIL will have six franchisees which will compete in the event to be held every year from January 2013. Earlier, Sahara India and Jaypee Group had taken franchise rights for Lucknow and Punjab teams.

The global broadcast rights for the event are held by ESPN Star Sports.

"We are pleased to welcome the Patel-Unixcel Group on board," said Hockey India Secretary-General and Hockey India League Chairman Dr Narendra Batra. "We are sure that the Bangalore-based Patel Group and the Chinese Taipei-based Unixcel Group will provide a fantastic impetus to hockey in the region, which is a major nursery for the sport."

Uniexcel Group Chairman Suresh Kumar Chauhan said, "There could have been no better way to get in to sport than with a sport that has emotional connect with all of India," he said. "I am very delighted that we have got the Ranchi franchise as I come from Kolkata and always carry very strong feelings for eastern India."

MUMBAI: Big Magic, the regional entertainment for Hindi heartland from the Reliance Broadcast Network (RBNL) group, has added a new show to its content lineup.

The channel which is available in UP, MP, Bihar and Jharkhand, has started a new Bhojpuri music band.

The band ? ?Hamaar Des Hamaar Sangeet? - will air everyday at 9-9.30 am.

The new band, Big Magic hopes, will cater to the audiences spread across the Hindi Heartland who enjoy Bhojpuri
Music.

This Music band will feature songs from the latest and popular Bhojpuri films. Apart from popular Bhojpuri Music, it will be interspersed with Bhojpuri gags to increase the entertainment quotient for the viewers.

The gags, performed by Bhojpuri comedians, will showcase typical characters from the region like a doodhwala bhaiya, policeman, and politician performing gags on local insights.

The band will keep introducing more interesting local characters over a period of time, the comoany said in a statement.