Cable TV
MIB grants registration to 15 MSOs in Feb
MUMBAI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has published a document listing all the registered multi-system operators (MSO) in the country. As per the document, there are 1645 registered MSOs in India as on 28 February 2020.
Fifteen MSOs were granted registration in the month of February 2020. A total of 150 MSOs were granted registration in the year 2019. Surprisingly, just one MSO, Sharma Cable Network, was granted registration in the entire of 2018 as per the document.
All the granted registrations are valid for a period of 10 years. The name of the companies that were added in the registration list in January includes Haur Cable Network, Nabadiganta Cable Network, Krishna Enterprises, Lamjingba Times, Sneha Digital Networks, Bangabhumi Cable and Broadband, AIS Cable & Broadband, Durga Digital, Asian Cable Network, GTPL Vijayaraya Network, VSN Network, Sri Srinivasa Cable Network, City Cable Network, Star Digital Services and Mak Infrapromoters
The ministry has not cancelled any registration in February 2020. A total number of MSOs registrations cancelled by MIB is 74 till 31 January 2020.
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.
