China Digital TV Announces Unaudited Second Quarter 2009 Results

China Digital TV Announces Unaudited Second Quarter 2009 Results

BEIJING, Aug. 6 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- China Digital TV Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE:STV) ("China Digital TV" or the "Company"), the leading provider of conditional access ("CA") systems to China's expanding digital television market, today announced its unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009.

   Highlights for the Second Quarter 2009    -- China Digital TV shipped approximately 2.13 million smart cards during      the second quarter, compared to 2.38 million smart cards shipped in the      first quarter of 2009.    -- According to market data collected by the Company, China Digital TV      entered into 12 out of a total of 18 new contracts to install CA      systems in China in the second quarter of 2009.    -- Net revenues in the second quarter were US$14.6 million, a 1.9%      increase from the first quarter of 2009 and a 24.7% decrease from the      corresponding period in 2008.    -- Diluted earnings per ADS (one ADS representing one ordinary share) in      the second quarter were US$0.12.    

"The second quarter was a challenging period for China Digital TV and the CA industry in China in general as some cable operators chose to postpone digitalization projects primarily due to the present lack of sophisticated value-added service applications for digital TV platforms and uncertainties resulting from anticipated consolidation in China's cable industry," said Mr. Jianhua Zhu, China Digital TV's chairman and chief executive officer.

The Company noted that in the near term cable operators in China are expected to maintain a cautious attitude toward digitalization, resulting in slower than expected growth of smart card shipments. However, as the CA industry market leader with a strong track record and long-term relationships with cable operators in China, China Digital TV is confident in its ability to continue capturing market share.

"We are pleased that our digital TV-based advertising business, which we have been investing in for over a year, began to generate revenue in the second quarter. We will continue to actively invest in value-added services such as video-on-demand, digital video recording and digital advertising that both complement our leadership in the CA market and leverage our expertise and relationships with China's cable operators," concluded Mr. Zhu.

Mr. Mason Xu, chief financial officer of China Digital TV added, "Increased expenditure on research and development, especially for our value-added service initiatives impacted our bottom line for the quarter. However, effective cost controls and continued improvements in efficiency allowed China Digital TV to maintain profitability and a strong balance sheet. Going forward, we will continue to prudently manage operating costs while making necessary investments to ensure that we are well positioned to build upon our leadership in China's digital TV market."

Second Quarter 2009 Results

(Note: Unless otherwise stated, all financial statement measures stated in this press release are based on U.S. GAAP.)

In the second quarter of 2009, China Digital TV recorded net revenues of US$14.6 million, a decrease of 24.7% from the second quarter of 2008 and an increase of 1.9% from the first quarter of 2009. The year-over-year decrease in net revenues was primarily due to decreased revenues from smart card sales. The quarter-over-quarter increase was largely due to substantially increased revenues from the company's head-end system integration business including a major system integration project for a customer in northern China which contributed about US$0.87 million in revenues.

   Revenue Breakdown                                       2009 Q2        2009 Q1       2008 Q2                                         (in U.S. dollars, in thousands)   Products   Smart Cards                         $12,593        $13,518       $18,030   Set-top boxes and others                 10             14            39   Subtotal                             12,603         13,532        18,069   Services   Head-end system integration           1,361            439           919   Head-end system development             103             47           108   Licensing income                        319            260           248   Royalty income                          209            120           138   Value-added services *                   85             --            --   Subtotal                              2,077            866         1,413   Total revenues                      $14,680        $14,398       $19,482    * Value-added services represent digital TV-based advertising business    

Revenues generated from smart cards and related products were US$12.6 million in the second quarter of 2009, a decrease of 30.3% from the corresponding period in 2008 and a decrease of 6.9% from the first quarter of 2009. Sales of smart cards and related products accounted for 85.9% of total revenues for the quarter, down from 94.0% in the first quarter of 2009. The year-over-year decrease was primarily due to decreases in both volume and the average selling price ("ASP") of smart cards. The quarter-over-quarter decrease was primarily due to a decrease in the volume of shipments of smart cards in the second quarter of 2009, which was partially offset by an increase in ASP.

In the second quarter of 2009, revenues from the top five customers accounted for 33.4% of total revenues, compared to 35.4% in the first quarter of 2009.

Revenues from services were US$2.1 million in the second quarter of 2009, an increase of 47.0% from the corresponding period in 2008 and an increase of 139.8% from the first quarter of 2009. Service revenues accounted for 14.1% of total revenues for the quarter. The year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter increases were primarily due to an increase in head-end system integration revenues from the large head-end system integration project completed with revenue fully recognized during the second quarter.

Gross profit in the second quarter of 2009 was US$10.8 million, a decrease of 30.2% from the corresponding period in 2008 and a decrease of 2.5% from the first quarter of 2009. Gross margin was 74.0% in the second quarter of 2009, compared to 79.8% in the corresponding period in 2008 and 77.4% in the first quarter of 2009. The quarter-over-quarter decline in gross margin was primarily due to the lower margin head-end system integration project completed during the second quarter. The year-over-year decline in gross margin was mainly due to a decrease in the ASP of smart cards and the head-end system integration project.

In the second quarter of 2009, the ASP of smart cards increased by 3.3% compared to the first quarter of 2009. The unit cost of smart cards decreased by 3.5% compared to the first quarter of 2009.

Operating expenses in the second quarter of 2009 were US$5.1 million, an increase of 19.2% from the corresponding period in 2008 and an increase of 5.2% from the first quarter of 2009.

-- Research and development expenses for the second quarter were US$2.2 million, an increase of 35.8% from the corresponding period in 2008 and an increase of 15.1% from the first quarter of 2009. The year-over-year increase was mainly due to increases in both headcount and average salary. The quarter-over-quarter increase was primarily due to increases in expenses in certain R&D projects and higher traveling expenses.

-- Selling and marketing expenses for the second quarter were US$1.8 million, an increase of 38.7% from the corresponding period in 2008 and an increase of 14.6% from the first quarter of 2009. The year-over-year increase was mainly due to an increase in headcount and higher marketing expenses. The quarter-over-quarter increase was primarily due to higher marketing and traveling expenses.

-- General and administrative expenses for the second quarter were US$1.1 million, a decrease of 18.1% from the corresponding period in 2008 and a decrease of 18.7% from the first quarter of 2009. The year-over-year decrease was mainly due to a decrease in professional service fees. The quarter-over-quarter decrease was mainly due to decreases in both bad debt expense and depreciation expense.

Income from operations in the second quarter was US$5.7 million, a 48.9% decrease from the corresponding period in 2008 and an 8.5% decrease from the first quarter of 2009.

Operating margin, defined as income from operations divided by net revenues, in the second quarter of 2009 was 39.3%, compared to 57.9% in the corresponding period in 2008 and 43.8% in the first quarter of 2009.

Income tax expenses in the second quarter of 2009 were US$0.5 million, a decrease of 68.5% from the corresponding period in 2008 and a decrease of 0.7% from the first quarter of 2009. For 2009, the Company expects to be subject to a 7.5% preferential tax rate under the relevant PRC tax regulations.

Net income attributable to China Digital TV Holding Co., Ltd., in the second quarter of 2009 was US$6.8 million, a decrease of 39.3% from the corresponding period in 2008 and a decrease of 9.7% from the first quarter of 2009.

Non-GAAP net income attributable to China Digital TV Holding Co., Ltd., defined as net income excluding certain non-cash expenses, such as share-based compensation expenses and amortization related to business acquisitions, in the second quarter of 2009 was US$7.3 million in the second quarter of 2009, a decrease of 36.3% from the corresponding period in 2008 and a decrease of 8.8% from the first quarter of 2009.

As of June 30, 2009, China Digital TV had cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and deposits with maturity over three months totaling US$210.6 million. In the second quarter of 2009, cash flow from operations was approximately US$6.0 million.

Business Outlook

Based on information available as of August 6, 2009, China Digital TV expects smart card shipments for the third quarter of 2009 to be in the range of 1.85 million to 2.25 million. Net revenues for the third quarter of 2009 are expected to be in the range of US$11.8 million to US$14.0 million, representing a year-over-year decrease in the range of 17% to 30%.

Conference Call Information

The Company will hold an earnings conference call at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 6, 2009 Eastern Time (8:00 a.m. on Friday, August 7, Beijing/Hong Kong Time).

   Conference Call Dial-in Information   United States Toll Free:  +1-800-901-5241   International:            +1-617-786-2963   Hong Kong:                +852-3002-1672   China Toll Free:          +10-800-130-0399    Passcode:  China Digital TV Earnings Call   

Please dial-in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and provide the passcode to join the call.

A replay of the call will be available for one week between 11:00 p.m. on August 6, 2009 and 11:00 p.m. on August 13, 2009 Eastern Time.

   Replay Information    United States:            +1-888-286-8010   International:            +1-617-801-6888    Passcode:                 63707809   

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of this conference call will be accessible through the Investor Relations section of China Digital TV's website at http://ir.chinadtv.cn/ .

Safe Harbor Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "may," "should" and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the outlook for the third quarter of 2009 and comments by management in this announcement about trends in the CA systems, digital television, cable television and related industries in the PRC and China Digital TV's strategic and operational plans and future market positions. China Digital TV may also make forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about China Digital TV's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from projections contained or implied in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: competition in the CA systems, digital television, cable television and related industries in the PRC and the impact of such competition on prices, our ability to implement our business strategies, changes in technology, the progress of the television digitalization in the PRC, the structure of the cable television industry or television viewer preferences, changes in PRC laws, regulations or policies with respect to the CA systems, digital television, cable television and related industries, including the extent of non-PRC companies' participation in such industries, and changes in political, economic, legal and social conditions in the PRC, including the government's policies with respect to economic growth, foreign exchange and foreign investment.

Further information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties is included in our annual report on Form 20-F and other documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. China Digital TV does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this press release.

About China Digital TV

Founded in 2004, China Digital TV is the leading provider of CA systems to China's expanding digital television market. CA systems enable television network operators to manage the delivery of customized content and services to their subscribers. China Digital TV conducts substantially all of its business through its PRC subsidiary, Beijing Super TV Co., Ltd., and its affiliate, Beijing Novel-Super Digital TV Technology Co., Ltd., as well as subsidiaries of its affiliate.

For more information please visit the Investor Relations section of China Digital TV's website at http://ir.chinadtv.cn/ .

   For investor and media inquiries, please contact:    In China:     Eric Yuan    China Digital TV    Tel:   +86-10-8279-0021    Email: ir@chinadtv.cn     Cynthia He    Brunswick Group LLC    Tel:   +86-10-6566-9504    Email: chinadigital@brunswickgroup.com    In the US:     Kate Tellier    Brunswick Group LLC    Tel:   +1-212-706-7879    Email: ktellier@brunswickgroup.com                         China Digital TV Holding Co., Ltd.           Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations               (in U.S. dollars in thousands, except share data)                                              For the three months ended                                          June 30,   March 31,    June 30,                                            2009        2009        2008                                                                As adjusted(1)   Revenues:     Products                             $12,603     $13,532      $18,069     Services                               2,077         866        1,413   Total revenues                          14,680      14,398       19,482     Business taxes                           (84)        (80)         (94)   Net revenue                             14,596      14,318       19,388    Cost of Revenues:     Products                              (2,319)     (2,663)      (2,908)     Services                              (1,470)       (569)      (1,008)   Total Cost of Revenues                  (3,789)     (3,232)      (3,916)   Gross Profit                            10,807      11,086       15,472    Operating expenses:     Research and development expenses     (2,192)     (1,904)      (1,614)     Selling and marketing expenses        (1,751)     (1,528)      (1,262)     General and administrative      expenses                             (1,128)     (1,387)      (1,378)   Total Operating Expenses                (5,071)     (4,819)      (4,254)    Income from operations                   5,736       6,267       11,218      Interest income                        1,590       1,713        1,778     Other income /(expense)                  (43)         28         (290)   Income before income tax                 7,283       8,008       12,706   Income tax benefits / (expenses)     Income tax-current                      (484)       (488)      (1,433)     Income tax-deferred                       26          27          (23)   Net income before net (loss)income    from equity investments                 6,825       7,547       11,250     Net income(loss) from equity      investments                              (6)          9           (3)   Net income                               6,819       7,556       11,247      Less: Net income (loss)       attributable to noncontrolling       interest                                (6)         (4)          (1)   Net Income attributable to China    Digital TV Holding Co., Ltd.           $6,825      $7,560      $11,248    Net income per share:   Basic ordinary shares                    $0.12       $0.13        $0.20   Diluted ordinary shares                  $0.12       $0.13        $0.18    Weighted average shares used in    computation:   Basic ordinary shares               57,616,550  57,332,914   57,346,818   Diluted ordinary shares             58,466,825  58,479,390   60,915,126                          China Digital TV Holding Co., Ltd.                Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets                         (in U.S. dollars in thousands)    ASSETS                                  June 30, 2009    December 31, 2008                                                                As adjusted(1)   Current assets:    Cash and cash equivalents                   $146,555           $202,947    Restricted cash                                   16                 24    Bank deposit maturing over three months       63,981             68,887    Accounts receivable, net                      15,841             12,509    Inventories                                    4,515              4,014    Prepaid expenses and other current assets      3,197              3,974    Deferred costs-current                           307                326    Deferred income taxes - current                  251                201   Total current assets                          234,663            292,882    Property and equipment, net                    2,054              1,880    Intangible assets, net                         1,528              1,854    Goodwill                                         499                499    Long-term investments-equity method     investments                                     440                437    Long-term investments-held to     maturity securities                          14,671                 --    Deferred costs-non-current                       245                338    Deferred income taxes - non-current               89                 86   Total assets                                  254,189            297,976    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   Current liabilities:    Accounts payable                               1,257              1,103    Accrued expenses and other     current liabilities                           6,975              7,888    Deferred revenue - current                     3,752              3,704     Payable to shareholders                           --             57,210    Income tax payable                                 7              1,088   Total current liabilities                      11,991             70,993    Deferred revenue-non-current                     716                957    Deferred income taxes -     non-current                                      --                 --   Total Liabilities                              12,707             71,950    Equity:      Shareholders' equity    Ordinary shares                                   29                 29    Additional paid-in capital                   156,919            154,643    Statutory reserve                             10,184             10,184    Accumulated profit                            67,295             52,910    Accumulated other comprehensive income         6,501              6,696      Total shareholders' equity                 240,928            224,462    Noncontrolling interest                          554              1,564   Total shareholders' equity                    241,482            226,026    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY                 $254,189           $297,976    (1) Amount in relation to noncontrolling interest, formerly named minority       interest, is reclassified in accordance with FASB Statement No. 160,       Noncontrolling Interest, which was adopted by the Company on January 1,       2009.     Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures  

Non-GAAP net income attributable to China Digital TV Holding Co., Ltd. excludes certain non-cash expenses, such as share-based compensation expenses and amortization of acquired intangible assets. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company's performance and liquidity by excluding certain non-cash expenses that may not be indicative of its operating performance from a cash perspective. The Company believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to this additional information in assessing the Company's performance and when planning and forecasting future periods.

                                          For the three months ended                                         June 30,  March 31,  June 30,                                           2009      2009       2008   Net Income attributable to China    Digital TV Holding Co., Ltd. -   GAAP                                  $6,825    $7,560    $11,248   Share-based compensation                 405       376        161   Amortization related to    business acquisition                     97        99        102   Net Income attributable to China    Digital TV Holding Co., Ltd. -   Non-GAAP                              $7,327    $8,035    $11,511  

Source: China Digital TV Holding Co., Ltd.

CONTACT: In China: Eric Yuan of China Digital TV, +86-10-8279-0021, or
ir@chinadtv.cn; Cynthia He of Brunswick Group LLC, +86-10-6566-9504, or
chinadigital@brunswickgroup.com; In the US: Kate Tellier of Brunswick Group
LLC, +1-212-706-7879, or ktellier@brunswickgroup.com

Web Site: http://ir.chinadtv.cn/

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Profile: International Entertainment