Cable TV
Den denies being taken over by Star India
MUMBAI: In a letter to the stock exchanges, the Sameer Manchanda led Den Network Limited (Den) has denied news item appearing in the Hindustan Times that it is being taken over by Star India.
A letter signed by the company secretary of the leading Indian MSO Jatin Mahakan to the stock exchanges in India says:
“This is with reference to the news item appearing in a leading Newspaper entitled ‘Star in News to acquire DEN on June 11, 2016. The company denies the news item and has a policy never to comment on any market speculation.
We always ensure that the appropriate intimations are provided to the Stock Exchange with respect to material events, information, etc., in terms of the Listing Agreement and as and when the same is bring approved by the Board of Directors of the Company.
You are requested to take the same on record.”
Early in May 2016, there were rumours that Siti Cable was likely to take over Den Networks Limited which both companies strongly denied.
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.
