Rentrak Growth Driven by AMI Division

Multi-screen measurement company Rentrak Corporation has announced results for the quarter ending June 30th. While revenues in the company's Home Entertainment division were down 10% to $16.3m, a 132% rise in the AMI business intelligence division ensured overall growth - by 13% to $24.6m.

Revenues for AMI (Advanced Media Information), which specializes in recurring subscription business intelligence services, rose to $8.3m, doubling its share of Rentrak's total revenue to 34%. The figure was boosted by the firm's acquisition of Nielsen EDI and its business, one of a series of deals that the firm has pursued in order to grow AMI's position in the set top box (STB) data collection market.

Gross margin improved from $7.4m to $10.7m, or 43% of consolidated revenues, despite operating expenses climbing $3.4m to $10.7m, due mostly to one-time charges and recurring costs pertaining to EDI, plus an increase in stock-based compensation expense. Excluding such one-time costs, adjusted EBITDA would have been $2.9m, versus $821,000 a year previously.

Last month the firm partnered with consumer data giant Experian Simmons to add behavioural data to its TV Essentials (national viewing figures) and StationView Essentials (local equivalent) STB research tools. Earlier this month it signed an expanded deal with Charter Communications, a cable TV supplier, to collect data from boxes across their network.

Describing the results as 'fantastic', CEO Bill Livek said: 'We are continuing to successfully execute against our business initiatives as we become the database currency of choice throughout the entertainment and advertising industries.'

The company is online at www.rentrak.com .