SUNTV

March 7 (Reuters) - Sun Tv Network Ltd SUTV.NS:

• INTERIM DIVIDEND OF 2.50 RUPEES PER SHARE

Source text: [ID:]

Further company coverage: SUTV.NS

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** India's Sun TV Network SUTV.NS drops 7% to 10-month low of 586.55 rupees, biggest percentage loser on media .NIFTYMED index

** Company's Q3 profit slumps 20% Y/Y on lower advertisement revenue and higher operating expenses

** At least four brokerage firms cut PT after weak earnings

** Rival Zee Entertainment's ZEE.NS foray into southern market successful, but Sun TV's northern market foray needs more focus, says Nuvama

** "Sun TV's new Hindi channel dragged down margins," says CLSA; cuts PT to 670 rupees from 766 rupees earlier

** SUTV down 14% so far in 2025 vs 13% losses in media index

** Analysts' average rating on stock "buy"; median PT 790 rupees

(Reporting by Vivek Kumar M)

(([email protected];))

Nov 13 (Reuters) - Sun Tv Network Ltd SUTV.NS:

• DECLARED DIVIDEND OF 5 RUPEES PER SHARE

• SEPT-QUARTER CONSOL NET PROFIT 4.09 BILLION RUPEES

• SEPT-QUARTER CONSOL REVENUE FROM OPERATIONS 9.35 BILLION RUPEES

Source text: [ID:]

Further company coverage: SUTV.NS

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Updates paragraph 1 after regulatory approval

Aug 28 (Reuters) - The $8.5 billion merger of Reliance and Walt Disney India media assets has been approved by India's antitrust body, clearing the way for a deal that will create India's largest entertainment business.

The proposed merger, first announced in February, is expected to combine 120 TV channels and two streaming platforms, challenging rivals such as Japan's Sony 6758.T and Netflix NFLX.O in a $28 billion media and entertainment sector set to be worth $100 billion by the end of the decade.

Here is a list of the other leading media players in India and the sectors they dominate:

ZEE ENTERTAINMENT

One of the oldest media companies in India, Zee's businesses include television broadcasting, video streaming and movie production. Its domestic broadcast portfolio consists of around 48 TV channels as well as a streaming platform.

Japan's Sony Group in January pulled the plug on a $10 billion merger deal with Zee that had been in the works for two years, citing unresolved "closing conditions" and leadership disputes.

SONY INDIA

In its 29th year of operation, Sony Pictures Networks India, Sony Group's subsidiary, operates 26 channels ranging from general entertainment to sports and movies.

It says its content reaches as many as 700 million viewers in India and is available in 167 countries.

Sony also operates the video streaming platform Sony LIV in India.

NETFLIX

The streaming giant Netflix views India as a key market. In a recent visit to India, Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos was quoted as saying that he sees its Indian subscriber base rising to 100 million over time, from around 10 million now.

AMAZON PRIME

Amazon Prime Video is estimated to have about 20 million users in India. Its Indian aggregation service, Channels, offers subscriptions to other global and local video streaming services.

BENNETT COLEMAN AND COMPANY

Based in Mumbai and established in 1913, the company produces its flagship Times of India newspaper and owns a host of assets in broadcasting, publishing, radio, film and entertainment.

SUN TV NETWORK

Dominant in south India, Sun TV SUTV.NS operates 35 TV channels in six languages, along with 69 FM radio stations and three daily newspapers.

(Reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar and Dhwani Pandya in Mumbai and Varun Hebbalalu in Bengaluru; Editing by Kevin Liffey, Sharon Singleton and David Goodman)

(([email protected];))

Updates lead to reflect regulatory scrutiny on the merger

Aug 20 (Reuters) - The $8.5 billion merger of Reliance and Walt Disney media assets was dealt its biggest setback yet after an initial assessment by India's antitrust body noted that the combination could hurt competition due to their dominance over cricket rights.

The proposed merger, first announced in February, is expected to combine 120 TV channels and two streaming platforms, and is set to challenge rivals such as Japan's Sony 6758.T and Netflix NFLX.O in a $28 billion media and entertainment sector set to be worth $100 billion by the end of the decade.

Here is a list of the other top media players in India and the sectors they dominate:

ZEE ENTERTAINMENT

One of the oldest media companies in India, Zee's businesses include television broadcasting, video streaming and movie production. Its domestic broadcast portfolio consists of around 48 TV channels as well as a streaming platform.

Japan's Sony Group in January pulled the plug on a $10 billion merger deal with Zee that had been in the works for two years, citing unresolved "closing conditions" and leadership disputes.

SONY INDIA

In its 29th year of operation, Sony Pictures Networks India, Sony Group's subsidiary, operates 26 channels ranging from general entertainment to sports and movies.

It says its content reaches as many as 700 million viewers in India and is available in 167 countries.

Sony also operates the video streaming platform Sony LIV in India.

NETFLIX

The streaming giant Netflix views India as a key market. In a recent visit to India, Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos was quoted as saying that he sees its Indian subscriber base rising to 100 million over time, from around 10 million now.

AMAZON PRIME

Amazon Prime Video is estimated to have about 20 million users in India. Its Indian aggregation service, Channels, offers subscriptions to other global and local video streaming services.

BENNETT COLEMAN AND COMPANY

Based in Mumbai and established in 1913, the company produces its flagship Times of India newspaper and owns a host of assets in broadcasting, publishing, radio, film and entertainment.

SUN TV NETWORK

Dominant in south India, Sun TV SUTV.NS operates 35 TV channels in six languages, along with 69 FM radio stations and three daily newspapers.

(Reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar and Dhwani Pandya in Mumbai; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Sharon Singleton)

(([email protected];))

Aug 9 (Reuters) - Sun Tv Network Ltd SUTV.NS:

• SUN TV NETWORK LTD - DIVIDEND 5 RUPEES PER SHARE

• SUN TV NETWORK LTD JUNE-QUARTER CONSOL PAT 5.6 BILLION RUPEES

• SUN TV NETWORK LTD JUNE-QUARTER CONSOL REVENUE FROM OPERATIONS 13.12 BILLION RUPEES

Source text for Eikon: ID:nBSE4z1zNG

Further company coverage: SUTV.NS

(([email protected];))

** Shares of Sun TV Network SUTV.NS rise as much as 5.2% to 792.6 rupees; highest level since Aug 24, 2018

** Stocks trimmed some gains to trade 3.4% higher, while Nifty Media index .NIFTYMED is up 1.8%

** SUTV set to rise for a fourth straight session

** The reason for the move was not immediately clear

** Trading vol is 3.8x the 30-day daily avg, tops 5 mln for the second time in 2024

** Avg rating of the 12 analysts is "buy" and median PT is 754 rupees, ~3.3% lower than current price - LSEG data

** Stock has risen ~10% in 2024 so far, while Nifty Media index has fallen ~13%

(Reporting by Anuran Sadhu in Bengaluru)

(([email protected] ;))

May 24 (Reuters) - Sun Tv Network Ltd SUTV.NS:

• SUN TV NETWORK MARCH-QUARTER CONSOL NET PROFIT 4.15 BILLION RUPEES VERSUS PROFIT 3.8 BILLION RUPEES

• SUN TV NETWORK MARCH-QUARTER CONSOL REVENUE FROM OPERATIONS 9.61 BILLION RUPEES VERSUS 8.4 BILLION RUPEES

Source text for Eikon: ID:nNSEc1yLWP

Further company coverage: SUTV.NS

(([email protected];))

March 28 (Reuters) - Sun Tv Network Ltd SUTV.NS:

• SUN TV NETWORK LTD - DIVIDEND 3 RUPEES PER SHARE

Source text for Eikon: ID:nBSE6ljtLk

Further company coverage: SUTV.NS

(([email protected];))

Repeats for Asia morning readership. No change to text.

Feb 28 (Reuters) - India's top conglomerate, Reliance Industries RELI.NS, and Walt Disney DIS.N on Wednesday announced the merger of their Indian TV and streaming media assets, creating an $8.5 billion entertainment juggernaut in the world's most populous nation.

The merged entity will have 120 TV channels and two streaming platforms, and is set to challenge rivals such as Japan's Sony 6758.T and Netflix NFLX.O in a $28 billion media and entertainment sector set to be worth $100 billion by the end of the decade.

Here is a list of the other players in India and the sectors they dominate:

ZEE ENTERTAINMENT

One of the oldest media companies in India, Zee's businesses include television broadcasting, video streaming and movie production. Its domestic broadcast portfolio consists of around 48 TV channels as well as a streaming platform.

Japan's Sony Group in January pulled the plug on a $10 billion merger deal with Zee that had been in the works for two years, citing unresolved "closing conditions" and leadership disputes.

SONY INDIA

In its 29th year of operation, Sony Pictures Networks India, Sony Group's subsidiary, operates 26 channels ranging from general entertainment to sports and movies.

It says its content reaches as many as 700 million viewers in India and is available in 167 countries.

Sony also operates the video streaming platform Sony LIV in India.

NETFLIX

The streaming giant Netflix views India as a key market. In a recent visit to India, Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos was quoted as saying that he sees its Indian subscriber base rising to 100 million over time, from around 10 million now.

AMAZON PRIME

Amazon Prime Video is estimated to have about 20 million users in India. Its Indian aggregation service, Channels, offers subscriptions to other global and local video streaming services.

BENNETT COLEMAN AND COMPANY

Based in Mumbai and established in 1913, the company produces its flagship Times of India newspaper and owns a host of assets in broadcasting, publishing, radio, film and entertainment.

SUN TV NETWORK

Dominant in south India, Sun TV SUTV.NS operates 35 TV channels in six languages, along with 69 FM radio stations and three daily newspapers.

(Reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar and Dhwani Pandya in Mumbai; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

(([email protected];))

Repeats to media subscribers

Feb 28 (Reuters) - India's top conglomerate, Reliance Industries RELI.NS, and Walt Disney DIS.N on Wednesday announced the merger of their Indian TV and streaming media assets, creating an $8.5 billion entertainment juggernaut in the world's most populous nation.

The merged entity will have 120 TV channels and two streaming platforms, and is set to challenge rivals such as Japan's Sony 6758.T and Netflix NFLX.O in a $28 billion media and entertainment sector set to be worth $100 billion by the end of the decade.

Here is a list of the other players in India and the sectors they dominate:

ZEE ENTERTAINMENT

One of the oldest media companies in India, Zee's businesses include television broadcasting, video streaming and movie production. Its domestic broadcast portfolio consists of around 48 TV channels as well as a streaming platform.

Japan's Sony Group in January pulled the plug on a $10 billion merger deal with Zee that had been in the works for two years, citing unresolved "closing conditions" and leadership disputes.

SONY INDIA

In its 29th year of operation, Sony Pictures Networks India, Sony Group's subsidiary, operates 26 channels ranging from general entertainment to sports and movies.

It says its content reaches as many as 700 million viewers in India and is available in 167 countries.

Sony also operates the video streaming platform Sony LIV in India.

NETFLIX

The streaming giant Netflix views India as a key market. In a recent visit to India, Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos was quoted as saying that he sees its Indian subscriber base rising to 100 million over time, from around 10 million now.

AMAZON PRIME

Amazon Prime Video is estimated to have about 20 million users in India. Its Indian aggregation service, Channels, offers subscriptions to other global and local video streaming services.

BENNETT COLEMAN AND COMPANY

Based in Mumbai and established in 1913, the company produces its flagship Times of India newspaper and owns a host of assets in broadcasting, publishing, radio, film and entertainment.

SUN TV NETWORK

Dominant in south India, Sun TV SUTV.NS operates 35 TV channels in six languages, along with 69 FM radio stations and three daily newspapers.

(Reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar and Dhwani Pandya in Mumbai; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

(([email protected];))

Feb 14 (Reuters) - Sun Tv Network Ltd SUTV.NS:

• SUN TV NETWORK LTD DEC-QUARTER CONSOL NET PROFIT 4.54 BILLION RUPEES VERSUS 4.25 BILLION RUPEES

• SUN TV NETWORK LTD - RE-APPOINTS RAJARAMAN MAHESH KUMAR AS MD

• SUN TV NETWORK LTD - INTERIM DIVIDEND OF 2.50 RUPEES PER SHARE

• SUN TV NETWORK LTD DEC-QUARTER CONSOL REVENUE FROM OPERATIONS 9.23 BILLION RUPEES VERSUS 8.87 BILLION RUPEES

Source text for Eikon: ID:nBSE8BNQjj

Further company coverage: SUTV.NS

(([email protected];))

** Shares of Sun TV Network SUTV.NS rise as much as 3.6% to 674.5 rupees, highest since Nov. 2, 2018

** Stock climbed 4.1% in special "muhurat" trading session on Sunday

** Co's Sept-qtr consol net profit up 14.3% YoY; revenue jumps 26.9%

** Revenue from regional movie 'Jailer' propped growth - Elara Capital

** Brokerage sees co posting 5% ad revenue growth in 2H FY24, citing likely shift in spends to sports

** Adds, subscription revenue growth was healthy, led by price hikes

** Nearly 1.5 mln shares change hands as of 11:43 a.m. IST, 1.1X the 30-day moving avg

** Mean rating of 16 analysts "buy"; median PT 610 rupees - LSEG data

** Stock up ~38%, as of last close

(Reporting by Varun Vyas in Bengaluru)

(([email protected]))

Nov 10 (Reuters) - Sun Tv Network Ltd SUTV.NS:

• INDIA'S SUN TV NETWORK SEPT-QUARTER CONSOL NET PROFIT 4.65 BILLION RUPEES VERSUS PROFIT 4.07 BILLION RUPEES

• SUN TV NETWORK LTD SEPT-QUARTER CONSOL REVENUE FROM OPERATIONS 10.48 BILLION RUPEES VERSUS 8.26 BILLION RUPEES

• SUN TV NETWORK - INTERIM DIVIDEND 5 RUPEES/SHARE

Source text for Eikon: ID:nBSE4fXgcR

Further company coverage: SUTV.NS

(([email protected];;))

The author is a Reuters Breakingviews columnist. The opinions expressed are his own.

By Pranav Kiran

BENGALURU, Oct 31 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Selling a controlling stake in its India business to Reliance would be Walt Disney’s DIS.N least-worst option. The $147 billion U.S. media giant run by Bob Iger is closing in on a deal with Mukesh Ambani’s conglomerate after considering hawking the business off in chunks, Bloomberg reported last week. Disney Star is losing money and subscribers; reversing that would require both investment and cost-cutting, with no guarantee of success. Offloading it to Reliance now, at half the roughly $16 billion enterprise value analysts at Elara Capital ascribed to it when Disney took over the assets in 2019, would be a victory.

Its television outfit reaches more than 790 million people through over 60 channels across sports and entertainment. It loses money, but valuing it generously on the 3.4 times average multiple of trailing revenue at peers like Zee Entertainment Enterprises ZEE.NS and Sun TV Network SUTV.NS means it’s worth about $3 billion, annualising its $637 million top line in the nine months to the start of July.

The Disney+ Hotstar streaming business has hit a rough patch. Average monthly revenue per paid subscriber halved to $0.59 over the 12 months to the start of July as some 18 million of them, or 31%, quit the platform after it lost lucrative digital streaming rights for Indian Premier League cricket to Reliance’s JioCinema last year.

Analysts at Wells Fargo reckon Hotstar’s enterprise is worth $4 billion, while Elara pegs it at $5 billion. That values it at 10-13 times its $400 million of revenue in the 12 months to the end of September, per MoffettNathanson estimates, a steep premium to the 5.5 times multiple that slower-growing global rival Netflix NFLX.O trades at. A less frothy 3.8 times would fetch $1.5 billion.

That would value Disney Star at $4.5 billion, way below both Disney’s internal valuation of $10 billion and Reliance’s working estimate of $7 billion to $8 billion, per Bloomberg. But it gels with the $4 billion the potential buyer has ascribed to the business, India’s Economic Times reported on Oct. 24, without naming sources.

Ambani, Asia’s richest person, is known for not overpaying. He’d benefit from having Disney Star on the same stage as his streaming and TV businesses, though. Combined, the two could more easily cut costs and command higher advertising rates, assuming regulators approve any tie-up. That should help Disney reject too low-ball an offer. And by keeping a minority stake, it would benefit from any upside. The longer Iger waits to hop onto Reliance’s mousetrap, though, the less he might get.

Follow @PranavKiranBV on X

CONTEXT NEWS

Disney is nearing a deal to sell a controlling stake in Disney Star to Reliance Industries, rather than sell the business in parts, Bloomberg reported on Oct. 23. Disney may keep a minority stake in the unit.

According to the report, the U.S. entertainment giant values its India business, which comprises the Disney+ Hotstar streaming service and Star India, at some $10 billion, while Reliance reckons it’s worth between $7 billion and $8 billion.

The Economic Times reported on Oct. 24, citing unnamed sources, that Reliance values Disney Star at $3-4 billion.

(Editing by Antony Currie and Thomas Shum)

((For previous columns by the author, Reuters customers can click on KIRAN/
[email protected]; Reuters Messaging: [email protected]@reuters.net))

Adds analyst comments in paragraphs 9-10

BENGALURU, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Disney DIS.N is nearing a deal to sell its India operations, which it values at around $10 billion, to Reliance Industries RELI.NS, its biggest rival in the country, rather than sell the business in parts, Bloomberg News reported on Monday.

Disney has been exploring options to sell or find a partner for its India assets, Reuters reported in July, and has held talks with billionaires Gautam Adani and Sun TV Network-owner SUTV.NS Kalanithi Maran as well as private equity firm Blackstone BX.N, according to various media reports.

However, Disney may now sell a controlling stake in the business to Reliance, the Mukesh Ambani-controlled conglomerate whose streaming platform's success has weighed on the U.S. company's Indian business, Bloomberg reported.

Reliance, whose broadcast venture Viacom18 runs JioCinema, values Disney's India assets, which comprises the Disney+ Hotstar streaming service and Star India, at between $7 billion and $8 billion, the report said.

The enterprise value of the India business, Disney's biggest last year globally by users, was seen at around $15 billion to 16 billion when Disney took over Fox's business.

The deal could be announced as early as next month, although no final decision has been made and Disney could still decide to hold onto the assets, Bloomberg reported.

Disney and Reliance did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

JioCinema has put increased pressure on Disney India and other streaming platforms, with Ambani marketing the platform by offering free access to the Indian Premier League cricket tournament, digital rights of which were earlier with Disney.

"If Reliance offers Disney content free of cost, the growth rate for the OTT industry will be lower because subscription video-on-demand revenue will not happen," said Karan Taurani, senior vice president and research analyst at Elara Securities.

The "sizeable" overlap in Reliance-owned TV18 Broadcast TVEB.NS and Disney in the urban genre might create regulatory resistance and some channels may need to be shut down for clearance, Taurani said.

(Reporting by Varun Vyas and Rama Venkat in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza)

(([email protected];))

BENGALURU, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Walt Disney DIS.N is in preliminary talks with potential buyers, including Indian billionaires Gautam Adani and Sun TV Network SUTV.NS owner Kalanithi Maran, to sell its streaming and television business in the country, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

(Reporting by Navamya Ganesh Acharya in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza)

(([email protected]; +91 8805175330 ;))

** Shares of India-based broadcaster Sun TV Network SUTV.NS rise as much as 2.45% at 628.50 rupees, their highest since April 8, 2019

** Brokerage Nuvama says co likely to see a steady pickup in ad revenue and subscriptions, adds that H2FY24 and FY25 look promising

** SUTV's foray in North needs to be more focused, need to ramp up OTT presence - Nuvama notes

** The ratings agency maintains "buy" with TP 750 rupees

** Mean recommendation of 17 analysts is "buy", median TP 615 rupees - Refinitiv data

** Sun TV stock up ~28% YTD

(Reporting by Hritam Mukherjee in Bengaluru)

(([email protected];))

Aug 11 (Reuters) - Sun Tv Network Ltd SUTV.NS:

• JUNE-QUARTER CONSOL NET PROFIT 5.92 BILLION RUPEES VERSUS 4.94 BILLION RUPEES

• JUNE-QUARTER CONSOL REVENUE FROM OPERATIONS 13.49 BILLION RUPEES VERSUS 12.19 BILLION RUPEES

Source text for Eikon: ID:nBSEbVqM3c

Further company coverage: SUTV.NS

(([email protected];))

May 19 (Reuters) - Sun Tv Network Ltd SUTV.NS:

• INDIA'S SUN TV NETWORK MARCH-QUARTER CONSOL NET PAT 3.8 BILLION RUPEES VERSUS 4.1 BILLION RUPEES

• SUN TV NETWORK MARCH-QUARTER CONSOL REVENUE FROM OPERATIONS 8.4 BILLION RUPEES VERSUS 8.57 BILLION RUPEES

Source text for Eikon: ID:nBSE9zy2Jj

Further company coverage: SUTV.NS

(([email protected];))