LeTV net profit jumps in Q1

Leshi Internet Information & Technology Corp, or LeTV, reported a 20 percent jump in net profit for the first quarter (Q1) due to growth in views. [ZHEN HUAI/CHINA DAILY]

BEIJING - Chinese online video website LeTV reported on Wednesday a 20 percent jump in net profit for the first quarter (Q1) due to growth in views.

Leshi Internet Information & Technology Corp, or LeTV, reaped 114.7 million yuan ($17.8 million) of net profit attributable to shareholders in Q1, according to the company's financial statement.

Profits were up 20.3 percent year on year, nearly double the 11.3 percent growth in the same period of last year.

Business revenue surged 117.2 percent from a year earlier to 4.6 billion yuan.

The company attributed the earnings increase to steadily expanding viewer coverage and advertising income.

The website clocked 410 million average daily visits in Q1, up from 270 million at the end of March 2015.

This growth in viewers growth helped drive advertising income up by over 60 percent, the company said.

Founded in 2004, Shenzhen-listed LeTV has a market cap of more than 100 billion yuan.

Initially established as a video streaming site, the company also produces TVs and smartphones, and is now eyeing the smart car sector.