Cable TV
CASBAA appoints GM for Singapore & Southeast Asia
MUMBAI: The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) has appointed Henry K. Middleton as CASBAA general manager, Singapore & Southeast Asia.
This new position will encompass the Association’s relationships with government, member organisations and the multi-channel television and broadband industries as a whole, as well as building on a CASBAA decision in 2003 to formally open an office in Singapore, says an official release.
“This is a big step forward for the Association. It reflects general industry growth and the ever-growing importance of Singapore as the region’s communications hub,” said CASBAA chairman Marcel Fenez. “Henry’s breadth of knowledge of the pay-TV industry, including regulatory, business development and promotional issues, will be invaluable.”
The appointment of Mr. Middleton comes as CASBAA announces new memberships and upgraded participation in the Association by 13 companies, adds the release.
Patron memberships taken out by Taiwan-based cable TV MSO Eastern Multimedia Corp. and broadcaster SPE (AXN/Animax), plus upgrades to Patron status by HBO Asia and Walt Disney Television International, have added four new seats to the CASBAA Council of Governors and adds significant weight to the Association’s role as an influential industry spokesman. The next meeting of the policy-driving CASBAA Council will be on Tuesday, 15 June in Singapore.
The two new Patron memberships — and new Corporate memberships taken out by Harmonic Asia Pacific, Bird & Bird, International Launch Services, iMediaHouse, Music Choice and Clifford Chance, plus upgrades to Corporate level by SkyCable of the Philippines, Synovate of Hong Kong and BT of the UK — are an endorsement of the Association’s role in promoting and growing the cable and satellite industry in Asia, says the release.
“These additional memberships strengthen CASBAA’s position as an umbrella organization acting for the common good of the multi-channel cable, broadband and satellite industries and assists with our representation to the public, customers and policy makers,” said Mr Fenez.
“With our enhanced services, including the on-going dialogue with the advertising industry, our anti-piracy activities, the drive towards the further deployment of digital services, our research initiatives and the greater participation of individual members via our committee system we see CASBAA playing an ever more important role on behalf of the industry and its constituents,” said CASBAA CEO Simon Twiston Davies.
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.
