Cable TV
Karnataka cable ops-Udaya talks fail
BANGALORE: The Karnataka cable fraternity have come away disappointed after yet another attempt by them to get the Udaya Network to rethink its decision to turn pay from 1 August failed.
A delegation representing cable operators from all the districts from Karnataka today met Vijay Kumar, vice-president Udaya TV, at the network’s headquarters in Bangalore in an attempt to “resolve the impasse”. According to Karnataka State Cable TV Operators Association (KSOA) spokesperson Ponnacha, the cable operators proposed that Udaya News and Ushe go pay while Udaya continue as a free to air channel.
This was unacceptable to Vijay Kumar who according to Ponnacha had this to say: “You (cable operators) are willing to allow foreigners like Sony and Star to take away money from India, but when an Indian company wants money which will remain in India, you are refusing co-operation and creating problems.”
“The cable operators from across the state, now present in Bangalore, will decide the next course of action shortly,” Ponnacha said.
Inspite of repeated calls and a personal visit to the offices of the Sun Network by this correspondent, no response or statement was forthcoming from Vijay Kumar or any other official from Udaya/Sun.
As reported earlier, Udaya Network’s market leader Udaya TV, along with Udaya News and Ushe, became dearer by Rs 18 as of 1 August. Udaya TV became encrypted from 1 August, while the other two channels were already running as encrypted feeds.
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.
