Cable TV
Lower activation fees, new businesses make Den Networks post a subdued result, low PAT for Q1-2015
BENGALURU: Den Networks Ltd (Den Networks) reported almost flat q-o-q result in Q1-2015. The company reported a slight drop in consolidated Total Income from Operations (TIO) in the current quarter at Rs 298.81 crore, down 1 per cent as compared to the Rs 301.86 crore in Q4-2014 and 11.2 per cent higher as compared to the Rs 268.70 crore in Q1-2014. Activation revenue dropped by Rs.47.5 crore in Q1-2015 as compared to the corresponding year ago quarter.
The company says that Operational Revenue (excluding Activation Revenue) grew by 35.4 per cent y-o-y; subscription revenues grew by Rs 71.25 crores (82.7 per cent) y-o-y. The breakup of revenue from operations for Q1-2015 is: Subscription Rs 146 crore; placement revenue Rs 116 crore; digital activation revenue Rs 20 crore and other operating revenue of Rs 3 crore. Another breakup of revenue is revenue from cable Rs 284.6 crore, broadband revenue Rs 1 crore and soccer revenue-nil.
Den Networks EBIDTA before other income in Q1-2015 fell 16.6 per cent to Rs 57.16 crore from Rs 68.57 crore in Q4-2014 and was 29.4 per cent lower than the Rs 80.94 crore in Q1-2014. The decline of Rs 23.78 crore (29.4 per cent) y-o-y comprises largely of losses on account of launch of broadband and soccer (Rs 12 crore) and lower activation revenue in cable business by Rs 42.75 crores.
Notes: 100,00,000 = 100 lakhs = 10 million = 1 crore
The company’s PAT in Q1-2015 at Rs 1.12 crore (0.4 per cent of TIO) which was about one ninth of the Rs 10.05 crore (3.3 per cent of TIO) in the immediate trailing quarter and also about one ninth of the Rs 10.15 crore (3.8 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2014.
Let us look at the other numbers reported by Den Networks for Q1-2015
Den Networks total expenditure in Q1-2015 at Rs 284.93 crore (95.4 per cent of TIO) was 5.9 per cent more than the Rs 269.18 crore (89.2 per cent of TIO) in Q4-2014 and was 24 per cent more than the Rs 229.69 crore (31.6 per cent of TIO) in the corresponding year ago quarter.
One of the major components of total expenditure is content cost in the case of Den Networks. The company paid Rs 106.42 crore (35.6 per cent of TIO) towards this expense head in Q1-2015, which was 5.5 per cent more than the Rs 100.85 crore (33.4 per cent of TIO) in Q4-2014 and was 25.2 per cent more than the Rs 85.01 crore (31.6 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2014.
Another major expense head is operational, administrative and other costs (admin cost). Den Networks admin cost in Q1-2015 at Rs 106.77 crore (35.7 per cent of TIO) which was 4.8 per cent more than the Rs 101.88 crore (33.8 per cent of TIO) and was 26.5 per cent more than the Rs 84.41 crore (31.4 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2014.
Based on the new accounting norms for calculating depreciation, the net effect is a higher depreciation of Rs 1.48 crore, which has resulted in a lower PAT in the current quarter.
The company says that it has deployed 2.7 lakh set-top boxes in the current quarter.
Den, through its wholly owned subsidiary – Den Soccer Pvt Ltd, has been awarded the team rights for Delhi – its home town. The team is named ‘Delhi Dynamos FC’. ISL is founded by IMG Reliance and Rupert Murdoch’s Star Group, under the aegis of All India Football Federation (AIFF). The inaugural season of the League is scheduled to begin in October, 2014.
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MUMBAI: When margins wobble, liquidity talks and in Q3 FY25-26, cash did most of the talking. Den Networks Limited closed the December quarter with consolidated revenue of Rs.251 crore, marginally higher than the previous quarter but down 4 per cent year-on-year, even as profitability stayed resilient on the back of strong cash reserves and disciplined cost control.
Subscription income softened to Rs.98 crore, slipping 3 per cent sequentially and 14 per cent from last year, while placement and marketing income offered some cheer, rising 15 per cent quarter-on-quarter to Rs.148 crore. Total costs climbed faster than revenue, up 7 per cent QoQ to Rs.238 crore, driven largely by higher content costs and operating expenses. As a result, EBITDA dropped sharply to Rs.13 crore from Rs.19 crore in Q2 and Rs.28 crore a year ago, pulling margins down to 5 per cent.
Yet, the bottom line refused to blink. Profit after tax stood at Rs.40 crore, up 15 per cent sequentially and only marginally lower than last year’s Rs.42 crore. A healthy Rs.57 crore in other income helped cushion operating pressure, keeping profit before tax at Rs.48 crore, broadly stable quarter-on-quarter despite the tougher cost environment.
The real headline-grabber, however, sits on the balance sheet. The company remains debt-free, with cash and cash equivalents swelling to Rs.3,279 crore as of December 31, 2025. Net worth rose to Rs.3,748 crore, while online collections accounted for 97 per cent of total receipts, underscoring strong cash discipline across operations, including subsidiaries.
In short, while Q3 showed signs of operating strain, the financial backbone remains solid. With zero gross debt, steady profits and a formidable cash war chest, the company enters the next quarter with flexibility firmly on its side proving that in uncertain markets, balance sheet strength can be the best growth strategy.
