DTH
Airtel Digital TV hits back at Star India
MUMBAI: “Liar.” That’s what DTH platform Airtel Digital TV has called India’s leading TV network Star India. In a statement put out earlier yesterday, Airtel said that it was shocked by the “malicious, misleading, defamatory campaign based on blatant lies being run by Star India. There is no truth whatsoever in Star TV’s assertion that Airtel Digital TV is unilaterally increasing prices of Star TV’s channels across its packs.”
Airtel has further clarified that it is Star TV, which is asking for an unreasonable hike in rates and passing on such a steep hike in charges to customers in the form of higher pack rates is not an option for the DTH company. “Since Star TV has taken such an unreasonable stand, Airtel has been forced to take Star channels on a reference interconnect order (RIO) basis at a high cost.”
The operator has added that all key Star standard definition channels will continue to be available to existing customers as part of their existing packs with no increase in price. The DTH platform has further said it will continue to provide Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 Hindi to all eligible customers. Finally, it has stated that all popular Star high definition channels (HD) will be available as part of select packs with other Star HD channels being offered on an a la carte basis at the price charged by the broadcaster.
The two have been sparring over content pricing that Star India has been asking from Airtel. Last week, Star India ran a campaign exhorting Airtel Digital’s subscribers to switch to other platforms following which the latter posted its riposte.
It’s quite likely we have not seen the last of this fracas. Keep reading indiantelevision.com
Also Read :
Star India urges Airtel Digital subscribers to switch
Airtel Digital TV disconnects Star India channels
DTH
Den Networks reports Rs 1,227 million FY26 profit growth
Revenue crosses Rs 10,009 million as margins improve and costs ease
MUMBAI: Not all signals are on screen some are buried in the balance sheet. Den Networks has reported a steady financial performance for FY26, with profit after tax rising to Rs 1,227.53 million, reflecting improved operational discipline despite a relatively flat top line. For the year ended March 31, 2026, the company posted revenue from operations of Rs 10,009.17 million, marginally higher than Rs 9,891.45 million in FY25. Total income stood almost unchanged at Rs 12,282.10 million compared to Rs 12,279.77 million a year earlier, signalling stability rather than aggressive expansion.
The real story, however, lies beneath the surface. Total expenses declined to Rs 10,648.32 million from Rs 10,691.30 million, driven by tighter cost controls across key heads. Employee benefit expenses dropped to Rs 548.64 million from Rs 651.52 million, while depreciation and amortisation expenses also eased to Rs 652.01 million from Rs 723.06 million, indicating a leaner operational structure.
As a result, profit before tax rose to Rs 1,633.78 million from Rs 1,588.47 million, while profit after tax improved to Rs 1,227.53 million, up from Rs 1,173.96 million in the previous year. Earnings per share stood at Rs 2.57, compared to Rs 2.46 in FY25, underlining incremental shareholder value creation.
On the balance sheet front, the company’s total assets expanded to Rs 43,416.76 million from Rs 42,496.64 million, supported by a sharp rise in bank balances to Rs 30,628.71 million. Equity also strengthened to Rs 38,532.74 million, reflecting accumulated profits and a growing financial cushion.
Cash flow dynamics, however, present a more nuanced picture. While investing activities generated a net inflow of Rs 632.80 million, operating activities saw an outflow of Rs 553.50 million, largely due to tax payments and working capital adjustments. The company ended the year with cash and cash equivalents of Rs 151.70 million, up from Rs 106.11 million.
Taken together, the numbers suggest a business that is prioritising efficiency over expansion holding revenue steady while tightening costs and strengthening its balance sheet. In an industry where growth often grabs headlines, Den Networks appears to be making a quieter statement: sometimes, resilience is the real signal.
