Cable TV
Amritsar MSO files complaint against Taj TV, alleging TDSAT orders violation
NEW DELHI: Amritsar based multi-system operator (MSO) Godfather Communications has filed a complaint with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) alleging that Taj Television was denying it Zee TV signals despite an audit by Broadcast Engineering Company (India) Ltd (BECIL) as directed by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal.
It was stated in the complaint that a representative of Taj TV in Chandigarh had raised a demand of Rs 3 lakh per month in a meeting yesterday.
The audit by the BECIL was conducted in compliance with the directions of TDSAT in a case filed by Godfather last year.
Accordingly, Indiacast executed the interconnection agreement for Amritsar Phase II city on 29 May this year with effect from 1 June, 2015 to 31 March, 2016 in compliance with the order dated 27 May, 2015.
However Taj TV was not entering into any agreement.
When contacted, a TRAI source said that it would look into the complaint and then decide whether the matter should go back to TDSAT or it could take action directly.
The source said that if it decides to proceed directly, then it can file a complaint in a Delhi Court.
Meanwhile, a Nashik Court recently issued an injunction to Den Networks restraining it from deactivating the set top boxes and cable services of the Nashik City Cable Network and its associates.
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.
