DTH
Tata Sky’s Pallavi Puri says TRAI tariff order has no impact on VAS portfolio
MUMBAI: DTH operator Tata Sky has been banking on value-added services (VAS) for a long time to differentiate itself from competitors. Its newly launched Tata Sky Theatre has emerged as one of the fastest growing services. While there have been speculations on the new tariff order’s impact on such services, Tata Sky chief commercial officer Pallavi Puri said the new price regime has not affected its VAS portfolio at all.
“Tata Sky Theatre is priced at Rs 75 and Rs 99 depending on whether you take SD or HD. At Rs 75, subscribers get four new plays every month; one new play every week plus there are other plays. There is no comparison. The new tariff order has no impact on it. It’s a big value offering for consumers,” she commented.
Tata Sky launched the subscription-based service for theatre enthusiasts in collaboration with Zee Theatre last September. According to Puri, customer insights revealed a need for access to theatrical content which led them to the ideation of this service. Puri said that while the company was identifying need gaps for launching more services, theatre came across as one.
“It’s been one of our fastest services. We launched over 30 services. What we found very unique about Tata Sky Theatre is that we have seen consumers actually calling us and say what they want more. So, the engagement has been higher. They love the plays and they want more regional plays,” Puri commented on the traction of the service.
In the initial phase, more traction has come from the Northern and Western part of India because primarily the plays are in Hindi. However, Puri revealed plans to expand the service in other regional languages. The company is currently discussing what would be the right plays or languages to add on.
DTH
GTPL Hathway posts FY26 revenue growth, Q4 slips into loss
Annual profit at Rs 5.88 crore; Q4 loss at Rs 5.90 crore
MUMBAI: A strong year met a shaky finish as GTPL Hathway closed FY26 on a high note only to stumble at the final hurdle. The company’s latest financials reveal a tale of two timelines: steady annual growth alongside a fourth-quarter dip that nudged it into the red. GTPL Hathway Limited reported total income of Rs 2,472.46 crore for the year ended March 31, 2026, marking a clear rise from Rs 2,223.00 crore in FY25. Revenue from operations stood at Rs 2,450.78 crore, up from Rs 2,193.38 crore a year ago, signalling consistent traction in its core cable TV and broadband business.
Yet, beneath the annual growth narrative, the March quarter told a different story. The company posted a net loss of Rs 5.90 crore in Q4 FY26, a sharp reversal from a profit of Rs 0.91 crore in the preceding quarter and Rs 8.15 crore in the same period last year. Total income for the quarter came in at Rs 618.46 crore, largely flat sequentially but higher than Rs 569.33 crore reported a year earlier.
The pressure was visible across the cost structure. Total expenses for the quarter rose to Rs 620.64 crore, marginally exceeding income and tipping the company into a loss before tax of Rs 7.87 crore. This compares with a profit before tax of Rs 1.22 crore in the December quarter and Rs 11.32 crore in Q4 FY25.
For the full year, however, profitability held firm. GTPL reported a net profit of Rs 5.88 crore in FY26, significantly lower than Rs 47.80 crore in FY25, but still in positive territory despite higher finance costs and operating expenses. Operating expenses alone climbed to Rs 1,884.53 crore for the year, up from Rs 1,603.53 crore, reflecting the increasing cost of running and scaling network infrastructure.
Finance costs also rose notably to Rs 33.57 crore in FY26 from Rs 22.19 crore in FY25, while depreciation and amortisation expenses stood at Rs 189.19 crore, underlining continued investments in assets and technology. Employee benefit expenses, however, declined to Rs 63.42 crore from Rs 77.08 crore, offering some relief on the cost front.
An exceptional item of Rs 5.69 crore during the year also weighed on profitability, compared with Rs 3.79 crore in the previous year. Meanwhile, tax adjustments, including deferred tax movements and prior-year adjustments, played a role in shaping the final earnings outcome.
Despite the quarterly wobble, the broader picture suggests a company still expanding its top line while grappling with margin pressures. With paid-up equity share capital unchanged at Rs 112.46 crore, the focus now shifts to whether GTPL can convert its revenue momentum into more stable, sustainable profitability in the coming quarters.
In short, FY26 may have delivered growth on paper but the closing chapter serves as a reminder that in business, as in broadband, consistency is everything.
