Cable TV
Hathway reports improved performance
BENGALURU: Indian multi system operator (MSO) Hathway Cable and Datacom Limited (Hathway) reported 18.5 per cent growth in consolidated Total Income (Total Revenue) for the fiscal ended 31 March 2017 (FY-17, current year or fiscal) as compared to FY-16. The company’s consolidated operating profit increased 58.9 percent in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2017.
Hathway reported consolidated Total Revenue of Rs 13,682.3 million for FY-17 as compared to Rs 11,550.4 million in the previous year. Consolidated Income from Operations increased 18.9 percent in the current year to Rs 13,371.2 million from Rs 11,241.8 million in the previous year.
Consolidated simple EBIDTA including operating and other income increased to Rs 2,210.7 million (16.2 percent of Total Revenue) in the current year as compared to Rs 1,391.1 million (12 percent of Total Revenue) in fiscal 2016.
Hathway’s consolidated net loss for FY-17 reduced to Rs 1,929.4 million from Rs 2,376.8 million in FY-16.
Let us look at the other numbers reported by the company
Consolidated total expenses for the year increased 14.6 percent to Rs 15,636.6 million (114.3 percent of Total Revenue) as compared to Rs 13,646.3 million (121.4 percent of Total Revenue) in FY-16.
Pay channel cost went up by 8.8 percent in FY-17 to Rs 4,716.9 million (34.5 percent of Total Revenue) from Rs 4,335.6 million (38.6 percent of Total Revenue) in the previous year. Employee Benefits Expense increased 8.1 percent to Rs 931.5 million (6.8 percent of Total Revenue) in fiscal 2017 from Rs 862 million (7.7 percent of Total Revenue) in the previous fiscal.
Other operational expense in FY-17 increased 25.9 percent to Rs 2,564.7 million (18.7 percent of Total Revenue) from Rs 2,036.5 million (18.1 percent of Total Revenue) in the previous year. Other expenses increased 11.4 percent to Rs 3,258.5 million (23.8 percent of Total Revenue) in FY-17 from Rs 2,925.2 million (26 percent of Total Revenue) in the previous year.
Finance costs increased 23.3 percent in the current year to Rs 1,107.5 million (8.1 percent of Total Revenue) from Rs 898.4 million (8 percent of Total Revenue) in the previous year.
The company has stated in its financial results: Pursuant to the approval of the internal restructuring by the board of directors and the shareholders and after seeking in-principle prior approvals from the lenders, Hathway transferred its Cable Television business by way of slump sale to its wholly owned subsidiary Hathway Digital Private Limited (earlier known as Hathway Datacom Central Private Limited) (said Subsidiary) with effect from close of business hours as of March 31, 2017 for a total consideration of Rs. 302 crore (Rs 3,020 million). In view of the same, all assets and liabilities including borrowings attributed to the cable television business got vested in the said subsidiary.
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.
