Sun TV PAT up 30%

Sun TV Network Ltd has reported about 30 per cent increase in net profit to Rs 567.38 crore for the year ended March 31, 2010, from Rs 437.11 crore for the previous year. Revenue grew by about 38 per cent to Rs 1,359.01 crore compared to Rs 1,008.20 crore. The company’s board has recommended final dividend of Rs 6 per equity share of face value of Rs 5 each in view of the silver jubilee year of the company. This is in addition to the interim dividend of 30 per cent, which is Rs 1.50 per equity share declared in January.

“The company has posted sharp increase of four per cent in EBITDA (earnings before, interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) from 76.53 per cent. The growth in revenue has been largely a function of the sustained advertising growth and subscription revenue from across multiple product categories,” said Ajay Vidyasagar, said Ajay Vidyasagar, chief operating officer of Sun TV. The company effect between 10 per cent and 33 per cent increase in advertisement tariff in January and this will lead to further increase in revenue this fiscal, he added. On an average, Sun enjoys a market share (viewership) of 38 per cent to 40 per cent during weekdays and 30 per cent to 32 per cent on weekends. The total size of the Tamil TV viewing market is between Rs 750 crore and Rs 800 crore. Sun is the market leader and the other major channels such as Kalaignar TV and Vijay TV have average shares of about eight per cent and six per cent respectively (TAM ratings).

Sun is focusing on growing weekend market share on par to that of weekdays by drawing passive audience such as men and children in families, Vidyasagar said. The channel would offer a balanced mix of fictional (soaps) and reality shows including both general entertainment (song, dance and comedy) and non-fiction (game shows), he added.