NEW DELHI: The FM stations of All India Radio, FM Gold (106.4) and FM Rainbow (102.6), were shut down for the day today for urgent maintenance and repairs of the Pitampura transmitter in Delhi.

The shut-down also affected to some extent Radio Mirchi, Radio City and some other Delhi-based FM stations which use the same transmitter in addition to their own.

Senior personnel in AIR said the maintenance had been continuing since 3 September and was being carried out during night hours.

However, it had been felt necessary to work during day time so that the entire work could be completed in a day.

However, this had not affected the transmission of the channels through direct-to-home platforms.

These personnel said that there will be another half-day shut-down for the same reason on 15 September.

Sources from some private FM channels said their programming had only been affected minimally as they also use other tramsmitters. They said they had been informed about the closure well in advance.

Mumbai: Radio Mirchi, Entertainment Network India Ltd?s FM radio business, has beaten the ad slowdown in the industry and improved operating margins has enabled it to report a 34 per cent rise in its net profit in the fiscal-first quarter ended 30 June 2012.

Radio Mirchi?s net profit in the first quarter was Rs 129.7 million, up from Rs 96.5 million a year earlier, as it gained from a robust growth in its advertisement revenues.

Revenue in the first quarter was Rs 689 million.

Its operating profit during the quarter was Rs 262 million, up 20 per cent from a year earlier. The company?s operating (EBIDTA) margin in the first quarter of 2012-13 was 38.2 per cent, up from 34.4 per cent a year earlier.

ENIL?s consolidated net profit in the first quarter rose 44 per cent to Rs 134.1 million from Rs 92.9 million a year earlier. Consolidated revenue for the first quarter at Rs 700.4 million was nearly flat compared with Rs 687 million a year earlier.

MUMBAI: Radio Mirchi, Entertainment Network India Ltd?s (ENIL) FM radio business, is eyeing a turnover jump of 10 per cent this fiscal amid a soft advertising climate while margins could come under pressure due to increase in marketing spends.

The airtime sales on the FM radio channel will show sluggish growth due to external factors but Radio Mirchi?s innovative ad solutions will trigger the growth.

Radio Mirchi will explore overseas opportunities by licensing its brand. It will, however, not get into equity deals or be involved in operations in international markets.

The company is sitting on a cash pile of Rs 2.2 billion but will invest in Phase 111 as it sees a bright growth opportunity then.

The pressure on margins due to a rise in marketing expenses will push the levels to around 30 per cent this fiscal.

For the fiscal ended 31 March 2012, Radio Mirchi brand, has posted a net profit (standalone) of Rs 565.09 million, up 8.24 per cent, compared to Rs 522.09 million a year ago.

Income from operations saw a 9.02 per cent jump to Rs 3 billion, as against Rs 2.76 billion a year ago. Expenses stood at Rs 2.33 billion, from Rs 2.23 billion.

Radio Mirchi?s profit (from operations before other income, finance cost and exceptional items) was at Rs 682.26 million, up from Rs 573.66 million a year ago.

Meanwhile, for the three-month period ended 31 March, the company has posted a net profit of Rs 196.17 million, up from a net profit of Rs 180.33 million it had posted in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal.

Income from operations was up 14.63 per cent to Rs 932.78 million in the quarter, from Rs 813.68 million.