Cable TV
Terror attack puts paid to CAS Bill discussion in RS today
NEW DELHI: If it’s not this then it’s that. Yesterday it was the opposition uproar over the alleged irregularities by the petroleum ministry in the allotment of petrol pump dealerships. The terrorist strike on Hindu pilgrims in Kashmir in the early hours today closed the lid on any chances that the Cable TV Network Regulation Amendment Bill 2002 had of coming up for discussion.
The Bill was listed as the second item on today’s Rajya Sabha (Upper House) agenda. The chances of that happening seem nonexistent following the terrorist attack on pilgrims en route to the Amarnath shrine this morning. Eight pilgrims were killed and 32 wounded when militants attacked the heavily guarded base camp for the pilgrims near Pahalgam, 100 km from Srinagar in the south Kashmir district of Anantnag. One militant was also reportedly killed when security forces retaliated, according to police sources in Srinagar.
The attack, close on the heels of the absolute chaos Parliament has been witnessing in the last few days, has probably put paid to the chances of the CAS bill coming up for discussion today. If, in between discussing the militant attack and the slanging match on the allotment of the petrol pumps, the Elders can find the time to discuss the Bill then there may yet be a some news to report on this front before the day is out.
The Bill could not be taken up for discussion yesterday as both houses of Parliament were adjourned following opposition uproar over the alleged irregularities by the petroleum ministry in the allotment of petrol pump dealerships. The Bill is the second on today’s agenda, and a three hour discussion on the issue of conditional access system has been allowed. Sources in the I & B ministry said if the Bill does make it to today’s business in the Rajya Sabha, it could well sail through.
The Bill has had a rough passage thus far with I&B minister working hard to ensure unanimity between the ruling party and opposition members on the issue of CAS.
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.
