TVml August 28, 2020 National Stock Exchange of India Limited BSE Limited Exchange Plaza, Plot No. C/1, P J Towers G-Block Bandra-Kurla Complex, Dalal Street Bandra (E) Mumbai - 400051 Mumbai - 400 001 Trading Symbol: TV18BRDCST SCRIP CODE: 532800 Dear Sirs, Sub: Annual Report for the financial year 2019-20 including Notice of Annual General Meeting The Annual Report for the financial year 2019-20, including the Notice convening Annual General Meeting, being sent to the members through electronic mode, is attached. The Secretarial Audit Report of material unlisted subsidiary is also attached. The Annual Report including Notice is also uploaded on the Company's website www.nw18.com. This is for your information and records. Thanking you, Yours faithfully, For TV18 Broadcast Limited c ~~ ~"OrJ . )," ('.i/'. ~ . .-...e:--.-~ l \ I Ratnesh Rukhariyar Company Secretary Encl. As Above TV18 Broadcast Limited (eIN - L74300MH2005PLC281753) Regd. office: First Floor, Empire Complex, 414- Senopoti Sopot Marg, Lower Parel, Mumboi-400013 T +91 2240019000,66667777 W www.nw18.com E:[email protected] CONTENTS 01 - 11 Corporate Overview 01 Information. Entertainment. Impact TV18 is as unique as 02 Driven to Inform 04 Inspired to Involve it is impactful. It blends 06 Brands that Stimulate compelling and insightful 08 Letter to Shareholders news with inspiring and 09 Corporate Information stimulating entertainment; 10 Board of Directors an attribute that makes it 12 - 68 stand out amongst peers Statutory Reports regardless of size or vintage. 12 Management Discussion and Analysis 29 Board’s Report 40 Business Responsibility Report India’s largest News Broadcast network and the third 49 Corporate Governance Report largest player in the Television entertainment space, TV18 has infused into the Media and Entertainment industry a large dose of youthful dynamism. The youngest 69 - 175 TV network among peers, TV18 offers an innovative portfolio Financial Statements that is designed to reach out to audiences across genres and languages. 69 Standalone Financial Statements 120 Consolidated Financial Statements TV18’s expanding bouquet of channels and platforms is diverse and cutting-edge, and is crafted to make a meaningful difference to the daily lives of millions of Indians across the length and 176 - 186 breadth of the country. Notice 176 Notice of Annual General Meeting View this report online or download at www.nw18.com The Group commissioned India’s largest integrated TV and Digital newsroom at Mumbai. In this ever-expanding media universe with continuously changing business-dynamics, we remain dedicatedly focussed on shaping the contours of a new India – where we celebrate the diversity in tastes and multiplicity of opinions through common platforms, lofty ambitions and shared values. TV18 Broadcast Limited DRIVEN TO INFORM At TV18, we are driven by a hunger to keep our audiences well informed through neutral, fair and balanced news and views. It is our constant endeavour to satiate their appetite for knowledge across subjects and mediums, through impactful initiatives. Our #IndiaGives campaign, launched on March 24, 2020, has helped lakhs of poor daily wagers hit the hardest by the COVID-19 crisis, by creating awareness and mobilising donors to raise money. Our unique Corona wall has enabled the dissection and analysis of key parameters relating to the COVID-19 pandemic; with drilldowns and visualisations making it relevant and relatable for viewers. Our coverage of the Pulwama attack and the subsequent surgical strikes also underscored the prowess of TV18’s reportage. The India-China stand-off in the Doklam was a major instance of credible news and trustworthy expert views contributing significantly to strengthening the discourse on a subject of national importance. 02 Annual Report 2019-20 CORPORATE OVERVIEW STATUTORY REPORTS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Driven to Inform Special on-ground reports on lack of hospital facilities and other critical services further helped put the spotlight on critical issues during the pandemic. FY 2019-20 further saw us raise the bar for media reportage of the world’s largest democratic exercise with our unbiased, cutting-edge coverage of the Lok Sabha elections and various state assembly polls. Our unique Magic (Election) Wall kept our viewers duly informed about the latest poll-related information and trends. Our social campaigns - ‘Swasth Immunised India’, ‘Mission Pani’, ‘Hava Me Zehar’, among others, are helping boost awareness among people on vital issues like health, water and pollution. The year also saw CNBC-TV18 India Business Leader Awards (IBLA) complete 15 years of enthralling audiences through convergence of the country’s biggest industry doyens on a live platform. 03 TV18 Broadcast Limited INSPIRED TO Involve TV18’s entertainment portfolio is an eclectic mix of stories that travel across regions and languages, incorporate cutting-edge production values and continually push the envelope on differentiation. Mass entertainment remains our biggest and most impactful Colors Cineplex was launched play, with Colors offering ground-breaking and differentiated during the year as a premium shows and programmes. Hindi movie pay channel. The #1 Non-Fiction property in the Hindi GE genre. Bigg Boss charted new heights, with its 13th season being the most watched one yet, both SD and HD feed. Balumama on Colors Marathi enhanced the audience connect of Kodeeswari, aired on Colors Tamil, is an all-female version of the the channel through an earthy story. show ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire’. 04 Annual Report 2019-20 CORPORATE OVERVIEW STATUTORY REPORTS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Inspired to Involve MTV Hustle, India’s first ever rap reality show, is pushing the envelope for music-loving youth. Naagin, the highest-rated fiction show in GE since inception has been adapted into 11 languages from its original Hindi version, including Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai and Sinhalese. Voot Kids is a differentiated edutainment product with watch-play-learn-listen capability for children in a safe web environment. For the English-speaking audiences, Comedy Central remains the most loved channel despite being focussed on a single genre. In the Digital subscription arena, Voot Select was launched with differentiated original content, including the mythological thriller ‘Asur’, rated 8.5 on IMDB. The National Award winning Viacom18 Motion Pictures’ movie ‘Andhadhun’ received rave reviews and box office success which transcended borders. We are also continuously building on our edge in the infotainment domain. History TV18’s world-class documentary ‘Kumbh: Among the Seekers’ kept viewers riveted with its never-seen-before mix of engrossing stories, stunning visuals, human-interest features and exceptional insights tracing our planet’s historical footprints. 05 TV18 Broadcast Limited BRANDS THAT STIMULATE Television News Diversity • 20 domestic TV News channels spanning 15 languages • TV Entertainment bouquet includes leading urban GEC and 9 regional language TV channels BUSINESS News general News • A film studio renowned for clutter-breaking cinema, and a leading OTT platform make it a full-portfolio offering REGIONAL News • Class leading digital properties Entertainment HINDI General Entertainment Hindi Films REGIONAL Entertainment 06 Annual Report 2019-20 CORPORATE OVERVIEW STATUTORY REPORTS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Brands that Stimulate ENGLISH Entertainment KIDS Entertainment Reach 1 in every 2 Indians is a consumer of our broadcast content YOUTH AND MUSIC Infotainment TV channels reach out to 800+ million people in India annually, representing 95%+ of the TV viewing universe Touch 100 million people every month through TV18's digital properties across News and Entertainment Digital FILM & WEB SERIES OTT - VIDEO ON Demand Viewership 10.5% share of News viewership Digital CONTENT TV18 maintained its leadership even versus legacy brands and free-to-air networks 9.5% Entertainment viewership share Subsidiary Viacom18 (a JV with Viacom Inc) CONTENT Asset Monetisation is the #3 pan-India entertainment broadcaster 07 TV18 Broadcast Limited LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS Dear Shareholders, In a continually changing media landscape, made even more difficult by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown, Network18 has continued to focus on improving performance whilst delivering world-class news and entertainment. Our focus on setting industry-defining standards in fair journalism and engaging story- telling translated into more consumer-enriching experiences amid increased media consumption during this period. The strength of our brands and class-leading content creation Network18 Group is at the cusp of emerging as the largest listed capabilities continued to enhance consumer engagement across media and distribution company in the country. As part of the our TV channel bouquet, which includes our umbrella brands consolidation currently underway in the Reliance Group’s media News18 and Colors. and distribution businesses, cable companies DEN and Hathway are set to be merged with Network18 and TV18, subject to Our 72 channel-strong TV broadcast network, straddling News regulatory approvals. We are getting future-ready to embrace the and Entertainment, is reaching out to Indians across every next phase of growth, encompassing greater depth of reach and linguistic group with custom-built content and innovative breadth of content, backed by strengthened financials. packaging designed to deliver to their unique expectations and aspirations. With