TV Today Network - Initiating Coverage - Go with the market leader - Angel Broking

TV Today Network (TTNL) is one of India's leading Hindi-English news television networks. The company's operating segments include television broadcasting and radio broadcasting. The company operates four news channels, which include Aaj Tak, India Today (earlier know as Headlines Today), Tez and Dilli Aaj Tak. It is also engaged in publishing; its publications include India Today, Business Today etc. The company has hired well know anchors like Karan thapar and Rajdeep Sardesai in its team.

Strong viewership ranking in Hindi and English news genre: TTNL enjoys a strong viewership ranking in the Hindi and English news channel categories. The company's Hindi news channel - Aaj Tak has maintained its market leadership position occupying the No.1 rank for several consecutive years in terms of viewership and continues to dominate by being the channel of choice during unfolding of key national as well as international events. Further, TTNL's English news channel - India Today has been continuously gaining viewership ranking; it has now captured No. 2 ranking from No. 4 earlier. Its other channels like Dilli Aaj Tak and Tez are also popular among viewers.

TTNL to benefit from TV industry (ad + subscription revenue) growth of ~16% CAGR over CY14-19E: Going forward we expect TV industry to report a 16% CAGR over CY2014-19E on back of increased advertisement allocations by corporates, government and E-Commerce set ups, which are a significant new category. We also expect an improvement in subscription revenue due to digitization of phase 3 & 4. Since the last 6-7 quarters, FMCG and automobile companies (incur significantly high ad spends) are underperforming due to weak consumer buying sentiments in rural areas which is owing to two prior consecutive years of poor monsoon. However, we are now seeing some improvement in TV ad spends by these companies given the in-line current year monsoons. On this account TTNL will stand to benefit.

Complete exit from Radio business to improve profitability: TTNL had 7radio stations which were continuously incurring losses year after year (in FY2016, the Radio business accrued an EBIT level loss of Rs. 13.5cr). Out of the 7 radio stations, TTNL has sold off 4 (Jodhpur, Amritsar, Patiala and Shimla) for Rs. 4cr. The remaining 3 stations are in the process of getting sold off to ENIL but the sale will have to wait until concerns raised by the MIB are resolved. Going forward, we expect them to be sold off and this would prop up the company's profitability.

Outlook and Valuation: We expect TTNL to report a net revenue CAGR of ~16% to ~Rs. 743cr and net profit CAGR of ~16% to Rs. 128cr over FY2016-18E. The company has sustained its leadership position in Hindi news genre for 14 consecutive years while in the English news genre it currently holds the No.2 position. Further, the exit from the radio business should boost profitability. The company is debt free with Rs. 201cr of cash on its balance sheet. At the current market price of Rs. 297, the stock trades at a PE of 16.2x and 13.9x its FY2017E and FY2018E EPS of Rs. 18.4 and Rs. 21.4, respectively. We initiate coverage on the stock with a Buy recommendation and target price of Rs. 363 based on 17x FY2018E EPS, indicating an upside of ~22% from the current levels.

Shares of TV TODAY NETWORK LTD. was last trading in BSE at Rs.303.2 as compared to the previous close of Rs. 298.75. The total number of shares traded during the day was 6925 in over 224 trades.

The stock hit an intraday high of Rs. 303.75 and intraday low of 300. The net turnover during the day was Rs. 2093427.

Source : Equity Bulls

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