MUMBAI: NDTV's digital business, NDTV Convergence, has enjoyed spectacular growth. Its revenue has jumped by 65 per cent to Rs. 380 million from Rs. 230 million in the same quarter last year. However, the parent company, NDTV, reported a consolidated loss of Rs 220.01 million for the quarter ended 30 June 2017 (Q1-18, current quarter) as compared to a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 76.1 million in the immediate trailing quarter (Q4-17) and a loss of Rs 445.5 million for the corresponding year ago quarter.
NDTV Convergence now has 135 million unique visitors a month,which is more than 100 per cent increase over same period last year. Profit after Tax improved to Rs. 70 million compared to a loss of Rs. 30 million in the same quarter last year
The company launched RailBeeps,a new offering which allows users the fastest possible experience in tracking updates on their railway bookings. The product currently tracks live data on over 12,000 Indian trains, and allows users to discover the best trains, organize all their routes and trips in one place.
NDTV’s consolidated total income was almost the same year-on-year in Q1-18 at Rs 1,096 million as compared to Rs 1085.7 million, but declined sharply quarter-over-quarter from Rs 1,525.2 million.
NDTV’s consolidated total expenditure in the current quarter at Rs 1,284.3 million was substantially lower y-o-y than the Rs 1,477.6 million in Q1-17 and also lower q-o-q than the Rs 1,393.2 million in Q4-17.
The company’s television segment reported slightly lower y-o-y revenue in Q1-18 at Rs 1034.8 million as compared to Rs 1064.1 million in Q1-17 and lower q-o-q than the Rs 1,459.2 million in the immediate trailing quarter.
The group EBITDA improved by Rs. 19 million compared to same quarter last year. EBITDA from Television & Digital segments achieved break-even in this quarter, says the company.
The Group EBITDA loss was reduced from Rs. 210 million last year same quarter to Rs. 2 million in current quarter due to improved contributions from the digital business, cost reduction initiatives, improved productivity and reduction of losses in e-Commerce business.