HT Media Q409 Call

Note: we’re updating this post on the fly, while on HT Media’s earnings conference call. Do keep checking back for updates Rajiv Verma, CEO, HT Media Ltd: “We’re coming out of a commodity bubble, and such breakage of bubbles are always tumultous. On the raw material and cost side we’ve seen turbulence. Most of the business environment [...]

Firms hiring again. Now, don’t tell that to real estate folks

This new survey by the labor ministry shows that firms are hiring and there are signs of revival. The keyword here is: Survey. We all know how surveys work. So, without spending much time on that let’s see what the survey says. Jobs were created in gems and jewellery, textiles, Information technology and handloom. The caveat [...]

Geodesic Completes Acquisition Instant Messaging Co Interactive Networks Inc

After announcing its plans to acquire a South American messaging business in February, BSE listed firm Geodesic Ltd has completed the acquisition of Interactive Networks Inc (INI), a Montevideo, Uruguay. The amount paid to acquired a 100% stake in the company, which will now be a subsidiary of Geodesic, has not been disclosed. INI was founded [...]

Geodesic Buys Interactive Networks For Undisclosed Sum

Indian mobile and desktop communication and entertainment Geodesic has bought South American messaging and collaborations company Interactive Networks, which will become a wholly owned subsidiary. The acquisition gets Geodesic into the South American and African markets—it was already in India, Europe, Asia and the US. There seem to be good synergies beyond geography: Geodesic gets some offerings for mobile carrier and enterprise markets and Interactive Networks can include Geodesic's suite of entertainment and communication products as part of their portfolio. More at our sister site mocoNews.net. Related Geodesic Bucks Slowdown, Q4 Net Up 32%, FY09 Net Up 90% From our Sponsors: Lotame Locate, Target, and Message your customer using Social Data What happens when events in Social Media threaten your brand, like Dominos Pizza? Read the real world case study that tells you exactly what to do and what not to do, if your brand comes under attack. This FREE case study from Lotame is a must read for every CEO, CMO and Brand Manager, EVEN if you don’t use Social Media today. Click here to download the case study.

Geodesic Acquires South American Firm Interactive Networks

Mobile and desktop communication systems provider Geodesic Ltd has acquired South America-based Interactive Networks Inc. Interactive, which will now become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Geodesic, is a software provider of advanced instant messaging and value addedsolutions. The deal size was not disclosed. The deal will help Mumbai-based Geodesic expand its presence in South America and Africa. BSE and NSE listed Geodesic closed at Rs 109.25 yesterday, with a market capitalisation of a little more than Rs 1,000 crore. The deal would help Geodesic expand beyond the retail and consumer markets into the mobile carrier and enterprise markets. Geodesic plans to use Interactive’s instant messaging (IM) platform to help operators offer PC and Web IM clients to both subscribers and non-subscribers.The solutions now offered will specifically support mobile carriers’ and handset vendors’ needs. Revenue from mobile social networking and user-generated content is forecasted to grow to $70 billion in 2012. Uruguay-based Interactive Networks has implemented its solution with 12 major carriers across South America, Africa and Asia. The company had raised $800K from Prosperitas Capital Partners in 2007. Interactive acquisition will also help Geodesic to expand its productportfolio. “Through this transaction, Geodesic also acquired Interactive Networks’ development team, a group that brings extensive mobile VAS experience and that will help us to further serve our expanding global customer base,” said Arvind Venkateswaran, Geodesic’s senior vice president and general manager for its wireless business.

Technorati Profile for cliam my blog

Technorati Profile

Changing face of VC

Venturebeat has a great summary on whats happening in the venture capital world. While the specific conversation is focused around US, some of the aspects have relevance in other markets like India. From new deal structures, building profitability versus value (when there is a tradeoff), virtualization as a macro trend, kids as a market, evolution [...]

News Viewership Surged On Poll Day; AajTak, NDTV 24×7 Most Watched

It comes once in five years and the minute by minute swing in fortunes and the import of the whole affair makes it a television event way more thrilling than 20/20 cricket. Not surprisingly, as counting began for the general elections to the 15th Lok Sabha, India was glued to TV, radio, websites and Twitter (the hashtag #Indiavotes09 was the top trending topic for most part of Saturday, alongside Angels and Demons and Wolfram Alpha). The Election Commission website crashed under the weight of an anxious citizenry seeking up-to-the-minute data. The National Informatics Centre, the webmasters, were prepared for 2,800 hits per second, not the 300,000 hits per second that they eventually got, according to this TOI story.  According to data from audience measurement firm aMap, or Audience Measurement and Analytics Ltd, news channels saw a huge surge in viewership on Saturday (click chart to enlarge). Their gross rating points (GRP), a metric that takes into account the number of people watching a channel as well as the time they spent watching it, registered a huge jump when compared with a normal Saturday last month. Among Hindi channels, AajTak, from the TV Today Network, was the most watched, with 20.2 GRPs, up 249% from a comparable Saturday last month (see chart). Star News was second with 17.2 GRPs and India TV was third, with 13.1 GRPs. Among the English news channels, NDTV 24x7 was the most watched, with a GRP of 3.7, up 115% from a comparable Saturday last month. Times Now came a close second, with 3.6 GRPs and CNN IBN was third, with 2.7 GRPs. Must Attend Event: EconSM: Social Meets Mobile, May 14th in San Francisco. Speakers include Seth Sternberg, (CEO and Co-Founder, Meebo), Kevin Thau, (Director, Mobile Business Development, Twitter), and George Linardos, (VP, Product Management, Media, Nokia) among many more. See full list and register at www.econsm.com. Get 10% off the the early registration fee by using code "EconSM0910"

Tool track | Digital engagement drives new business

According to ViziSense, an online audience measurement service of the Mumbai-based digital marketing and technology company Komli Media Pvt. Ltd, at least four million unique users searched the Internet for information on politics and politicians in ...

HT Media Q4 Net Profit Down 44% On Newsprint, Slowing Ad Revenue Growth

Publisher HT Media today said net profit for the quarter ended 31 March dropped 44% from the year-ago period to Rs23.43 crore on account of higher newsprint prices, adverse currency movement and slowing ad revenue growth. Net sales grew 7% y-o-y to Rs333.82 crore, and total income grew 6% y-o-y to Rs343.91 crore. Profit margin dropped to 7% from 13% during the corresponding quarter last fiscal. Company also made a provision of Rs6.03 crore for dimunition in the value of long-term investments. Ad revenue from the publishing business grew 5% to Rs279.7 crore. For the year ended 31 March, net profit was down 41% at Rs85.23 crore. The company held the same factors were responsible for the decline. Total income grew 11% to Rs1,357 crore. Profit margin dropped to 6% from 12% during the previous fiscal. Print ad revenue grew 11% to Rs1,129 crore. Consolidated net profit for the fiscal dropped dramatically to Rs90 lakh from Rs101 crore last fiscal. This is an unexplained segment and there should be more clarity post tomorrow's concall.  Operational updates from the company: According to IRS 2009 R1, flagship daily Hindustan Times maintains leadership position in Delhi and NCR and grew 4% in Mumbai. Hindustan is fastest growing Hindi daily. Mint readership grew by 25%, soon to be launched in Kolkata. Fever 104 FM becomes No. 1 station in Bangalore as well. Last week we reported that the station had broken into leadership position in Mumbai. Jobs portal Shine.com crosses 2.2 million user registrations. "We remain committed and are on course in implementing our growth plans which combined with the results they have already yielded, encourages me to remain confident of our performance outlook going forward," HT Media chairperson Shobhana Bhartiya said in a statement. From our Sponsors: Lotame Locate, Target, and Message your customer using Social Data What happens when events in Social Media threaten your brand, like Dominos Pizza? Read the real world case study that tells you exactly what to do and what not to do, if your brand comes under attack. This FREE case study from Lotame is a must read for every CEO, CMO and Brand Manager, EVEN if you don’t use Social Media today. Click here to download the case study.