BENGALURU: HT Media Limited (HT Media) radio segment reported 37.1 per cent growth in operating profit at Rs 29.21 crore in FY-2015 as compared to the Rs 21.31 crore in FY-2014. The segment reported 78.8 per cent growth in operating result in Q4-2015 (quarter ended March 31, 2015, current quarter) at Rs 8.56 crore as compared to the Rs 4.81 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year (Q4-2014) but was 9.3 per cent lower than the Rs 9.44 crore in the immediate trailing quarter Q3-2015.

Note: The figures mentioned in this report are consolidated figures unless stated otherwise.

HT Media has four FM radio stations – Fever FM in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata. HT Media’s radio segment’s revenue in FY-2015 at Rs 99.38 crore was 6.8 per cent more than the Rs 93.12 crore in FY-2014. HT media says that growth was driven by advertising revenues growth of approximately 12 per cent being partially off-set by reduced focus on events and activations.

In Q4-2014, the segment reported 12.8 per cent growth in operating revenue to Rs 25.82 crore as compared to the Rs 22.88 crore in Q4-2014 and was almost flat (up 0.04 per cent) as compared to the Rs 25.81 crore in Q3-2015.

HT Media reported 4 per cent growth in Total Income from Operations (TIO) FY-2014 at Rs 2289.71 crore as compared to the Rs 2200.70 crore in FY-2014. TIO in Q4-2015 at Rs 576.92 crore was 6.1 per cent more than the Rs 543.84 crore in Q4-2015 but was 4.7 per cent lower than the Rs 605.50 crore in the previous quarter.

The company reported 13.4 per cent decline in profit after tax (PAT) in FY -2015 at Rs 179.81 crore as compared to the Rs 207.53 crore in FY-2014. PAT in Q4-2015 at Rs 39.28 crore was 12.7 per cent higher than the Rs 34.84 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year, but declined 38.6 per cent as compared to the Rs 63.97 crore in Q3-2015.

Advertising (Ad) revenue in FY-2015 at Rs 1851.7 crore improved 5.3 per cent from the Rs 1758.3 crore in FY-2014. Ad revenue in Q4-2015 grew 5.7 per cent to Rs 465.3 crore from Rs 440.1 crore in the year ago quarter, but declined 6.3 per cent from the Rs 496.1 crore in the trailing quarter.

Circulation revenue in FY-2015 improved 10.8 per cent to Rs 284.8 crore from Rs 257 crore in FY-2014. In Q4-2015, circulation revenue improved 8.6 per cent to Rs 71.1 crore from Rs 65.5 crore in Q4-2014, but declined 3.1 per cent from Rs 73.4 crore in Q3-2015.

Other revenues in the current year declined 7.8 per cent to Rs 320.7 crore from Rs 347.7 crore in FY-2014. Other revenues improved 12.5 per cent in the current quarter to Rs 90.3 crore in Q4-2015 from Rs 80.3 crore in Q4-2014 and improved 13.2 per cent from Rs 79.8 crore in Q3-2014.

HT Media’s digital segment reported 36.3 per cent growth in FY-2015 to Rs 103.90 crore from Rs 76.22 crore in FY-2014.The segment reported 31.1 per cent growth in operating revenue to Rs 28.60 crore from Rs 21.82 crore in Q4-2014 and was 7.3 per cent more than the Rs 26.65 crore in Q3-2015. The segment has been reporting operating loss on a regular basis.

HT Media chairperson and editorial director Shobana Bhartia said, “We ended the year on a high note on the back of a growth in ad revenue and higher circulation in Mumbai and the Hindi belt. Hindustan Times’ Mumbai edition and Hindustan’s Uttar Pradesh editions, strengthened their presence in their respective geographies, and were both profitable. Our digital businesses grew handsomely and are at an inflection point. Radio continues to do well and we will invest in its growth. With a strong base, our continuing focus on digital initiatives and stronger tailwinds in the economy, we are confident of delivering value to our shareholders in the year ahead.”

The Board of Directors at its meeting on 15 May, 2015 have recommended a dividend of Rs. 0.40 per equity share of Rs. 2 each; translating to 20 per cent of face value. Dividend for the year amounted to Rs. 9.31 crore (excluding Dividend Distribution Tax).