2025-02-21 09:44Subscriber Growth - Viu's subscriber base grew by 17% to 15.5 million, with strong growth in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand[4]. - Viu's subscription user base grew by 17% to 15.5 million, with subscription revenue increasing by 15%[25]. - ViuTV's registered user base grew by 6% year-on-year to over 3.2 million, indicating strong engagement among younger audiences[29]. Revenue and Financial Performance - Revenue increased by 3% to HKD 37.557 billion, while EBITDA reached HKD 12.849 billion[5]. - Total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024, increased to HKD 37,557 million, up from HKD 36,347 million in 2023, representing a growth of 3.3%[63]. - Total revenue (excluding mobile communications product sales) increased by 2% to HKD 32.031 billion, with overall revenue rising by 1% to HKD 34.753 billion[21]. - The revenue from the media business reached HKD 3,515 million in 2024, up from HKD 3,404 million in 2023, marking a growth of about 3.3%[80]. - The external revenue from Hong Kong increased to HKD 29,145 million in 2024, compared to HKD 28,477 million in 2023, reflecting a growth of about 2.3%[83]. EBITDA and Profitability - EBITDA for Hong Kong Telecommunications was HKD 13.743 billion in 2024, reflecting a 3% growth from the previous year[14]. - The EBITDA for the group in 2024 was HKD 12,849 million, slightly up from HKD 12,831 million in 2023, indicating a stable performance[82]. - The overall EBITDA margin for Hong Kong Telecommunications was 40% in 2024, up from 39% in 2023[16]. - Operating profit for the year was HKD 5.388 billion, an 8% increase compared to the previous year[14]. Loss and Net Income - The company reported a significant reduction in loss attributable to equity holders to HKD 300 million for the year[4]. - The net profit for the year decreased to HKD 1,941 million, down from HKD 2,090 million in 2023, reflecting a decline of 7.1%[63]. - The basic and diluted loss per share for the year was HKD 3.88, compared to HKD 6.10 in 2023[63]. - The loss attributable to equity holders of the company narrowed significantly to HKD 300 million, compared to HKD 471 million in the previous year[43]. Dividends - The final dividend declared is HKD 0.2848 per share, totaling an annual dividend of HKD 0.3825 per share[4]. - Proposed final dividend per share is HKD 0.4588, bringing the total annual dividend to HKD 0.7880[22]. - The company proposed a final dividend of HKD 0.2848 per share for the year ending December 31, 2024, consistent with the previous year[55]. Advertising Revenue - Viu's advertising revenue grew by 17% due to the introduction of an AVOD model for connected TV users[7]. - Viu's advertising revenue increased by 17% year-on-year, driven by sponsorships and the introduction of an AVOD model[26]. Operating Costs - Total operating costs increased by 6% year-on-year, amounting to HKD 19.127 billion in 2024[14]. - Operating costs rose by 3% to HKD 5.581 billion, primarily due to increased promotional expenses for OTT services[35]. Customer and Service Growth - Mobile communication service revenue grew by 5% to HKD 11.484 billion in 2024, driven by increased roaming contributions and a growing postpaid customer base[17]. - Roaming revenue increased by 37% year-on-year, reaching 98% of pre-pandemic levels in 2024[17]. - The number of 5G customers reached 1.747 million by the end of 2024, marking a 25% year-on-year growth[17]. - Local data service revenue rose by 6% to HKD 13.552 billion, while local telecom service revenue increased by 3% to HKD 17.350 billion[18]. Capital Expenditure and Debt - Capital expenditure for the year ending December 31, 2024, was HKD 2.341 billion, slightly up from HKD 2.324 billion in 2023, with approximately 95% attributed to Hong Kong Telecommunications[47]. - The group maintained a debt-to-asset ratio of 53% as of December 31, 2024, down from 55% in the previous year[45]. - As of December 31, 2024, the total debt of the group was HKD 52.393 billion, compared to HKD 52.329 billion on December 31, 2023[45]. Employee and Organizational Changes - The group employed over 14,600 staff globally as of December 31, 2024, a decrease from 15,000 employees in 2023[54]. Risk Management - The group has established risk management measures to manage market risks associated with foreign currency and interest rates, with most financing denominated in foreign currencies[49]. - The group has no assets pledged as collateral for bank loans as of December 31, 2024[51].