Cable TV
Q3-2016: Den revenue up 31%, reports operating profit of Rs 43 crore
BENGALURU: Den Networks Ltd reported 31 per cent YoY growth in consolidated Total Income from operations (TIO) in the quarter ended 31 December, 2015 (Q3-2016, current quarter) at Rs 352.18 crore as compared to Rs 268.81 crore. TIO increased 29.8 per cent QoQ as compared to Rs 271.29 crore. The company reported EBIDTA of Rs 42.99 crore (12.2 per cent margin) in the current quarter as compared to an operating profit of Rs 0.28 crore (0.1 per cent margin) in Q3-2015 and an operating loss of Rs 11.27 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.
Note: 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore
Den reported a lower YoY and QoQ consolidated loss of Rs 48.37 crore in the current quarter as compared to a loss of Rs 62.60 crore in Q3-2015 and a loss of Rs 75.23 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.
Segment Revenue
Three segments contribute to Den’s revenue: Cable distribution network segment (Cable); Broadband segment and Soccer segment
Cable segment reported 26.3 per cent YoY revenue growth at Rs 326.43 crore as compared to Rs 258.55 crore and 24.1 per cent QoQ growth as compared to Rs 263.06 crore. The cable segment reported an operating profit of Rs 32.64 crore, an operating loss of Rs 0.35 crore in Q3-2015 and an operating loss of Rs 32.11 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.
The company’s broadband segment revenue increased by over five times YoY (5.5 times) at Rs 11.96 crore (3.4 per cent of TIO) as compared to Rs 2.17 crore (0.8 per cent of TIO) and increased 58 per cent QoQ as compared to Rs 8.23 crore (three per cent of TIO). The segment’s YoY operating loss increased to Rs 19.57 crore as compared to Rs 12.37 crore, but reduced QoQ as compared to Rs 23.07 crore.
Den’s Soccer segment reported revenue of Rs 13.97 crore as compared to Rs 8.09 crore in Q3-2015 and nil revenue in Q2-2016. Soccer segment reported lower YoY operating loss of Rs 26.11 crore as compared to Rs 35.21 crore, but higher QoQ than the Rs 8.57 crore.
Den’s Total Expenditure in the current quarter increased 15.3 per cent YoY to Rs 365.23 crore (103.7 per cent of TIO) as compared to Rs 316.74 crore (117.8 per cent of TIO) and increased nine per cent QoQ as compared to Rs 335.04 crore (123.5 per cent).
Content cost in Q3-2016 increased 19.9 per cent YoY to Rs 131.94 crore (37.5 per cent of TIO) as compared to Rs 110.06 crore (40.9 per cent of TIO), but reduced 3.5 per cent YoY as compared to Rs 136.77 crore (50.4 per cent of TIO).
Finance costs in the current quarter reduced 15.7 per cent YoY to Rs 19.73 crore (5.6 per cent of TIO) as compared to Rs 23.41 crore (8.7 per cent of TIO) and reduced 7.2 per cent QoQ as compared to Rs 21.25 crore (7.8 per cent of TIO).
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.
