MUMBAI: Balaji Telefilms continued its prosperous streak with a net profit of Rs 126.8 million for Q1 2002-3. This marks a 157 per cent increase over profits of Rs 49.4 million announced for the same period last year.

The company's net sales moved up to Rs 397.7 million from Rs 236.6 million for Q1 2001-2, marking a growth of 21 per cent on the back of increase in programming hours and higher realizations per hour.

Balaji's fresh programming hours increased from 355.50 in Q4FY02 to 391.50 in Q1FY03, a sequential growth of 10.13 per cent. Balaji's ratio of Hindi to regional programming has also undergone a slight change over the last quarter. While Hindi programming has gone up to 261.5 hours from 221 hours in Q4FY02, regional programming hours have gone down marginally to 130 hours from 134.5 hours in Q4FY02. The company charged depreciation on sets and studios at a rate higher than that prescribed under Companies Act, resulting in profit for the quarter being lower by Rs. 5.83 million.

The company also announced that it had revised rates for Kkusum and Kutumb Sony Entertainment's hit shows; a daily soap is scheduled to start soon on Sahara as are a weekend thriller series on Sony and another weekly show on Star.