Sun TV Network sees decline in profits; bets on cricket and digital

Sun TV Network has reported a softer set of financial results for FY25, with both revenue and profitability under pressure, even as the broadcaster outlined ambitious growth plans around cricket, movie distribution, and digital streaming.

The company posted a total income of ₹4,712.6 crore in FY25, down 1.55% from ₹4,787 crore in FY24. Operating revenue dropped more sharply by 6.24%, declining to ₹4,015 crore in FY25 from ₹4,282 crore in the previous year.

Total expenses rose 11.49% year-on-year, reaching ₹2,435 crore compared to ₹2,184 crore in FY24. This increase in costs contributed to an 11.54% fall in profit for the year, which came in at ₹1,703.6 crore, versus ₹1,925.8 crore in FY24.

On the revenue front, income from advertising and sale of broadcast slots slipped 3.48% to ₹1,441 crore from ₹1,493 crore in FY24, while subscription income remained stable, posting a 0.5% increase from ₹1,814 crore to ₹1,823 crore.

The movie distribution and rights business suffered the steepest decline, plunging 65.26% to ₹108.75 crore, compared to ₹313 crore in the prior year. Similarly, income from cricket franchises contracted 2.62%, falling to ₹641.73 crore in FY25 from ₹659 crore in FY24.

On the expenditure side, advertising and publicity expenses shot up 24.59%, reaching ₹45.4 crore against ₹36.44 crore a year earlier, reflecting higher marketing spends.

On a consolidated basis, total income stood at ₹4,543.96 crore in FY25, compared to ₹4,630.19 crore in FY24. Despite the dip, the company highlighted that sustained growth and higher margins in its broadcasting business, particularly in the southern states, as well as an uptick in digital revenues, helped cushion the overall impact.

Looking ahead, Sun TV Network is banking on cricket franchises and movie distribution as major growth drivers. The company said it expects revenues from these segments to increase substantially in the coming years.

A key milestone in FY25 was the acquisition of a franchise in “The Hundred” cricket league in the United Kingdom, which is expected to add incremental revenue and profit starting FY26. Sun TV already owns the SunRisers Hyderabad franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the SunRisers Eastern Cape team in South Africa’s T20 league.

The company continues to operate one of India’s largest broadcasting portfolios, with satellite television channels across seven languages—Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bangla, Marathi, and Hindi—alongside FM radio stations across the country. It also produces its own content, acquires rights, and operates its OTT platform Sun NXT, which remains central to its digital expansion strategy.

While FY25 was marked by rising costs and pressure on key revenue streams like advertising and movie distribution, Sun TV Network remains confident about its growth trajectory. With new sports investments, a strong regional broadcasting base, and a renewed digital push, the company expects to strengthen its revenue streams and return to higher growth in the years ahead.