Cable TV
Asianet to launch dedicated channel in Singapore on StarHub
MUMBAI: Malayalam channel Asianet is targeting the Malayalee population in Singapore with the launch of a dedicated channel on StarHub Digital Cable.
Asianet will be grouped with the specialty channels, and will be
Available to all StarHub Digital Cable customers for Sing $8 monthly in addition to their current cable service, informs a company release.
“Previously, the local Malayalee households did not have a dedicated channel showcasing programmes in their dialect, unlike the Hindi and Tamil communities in Singapore. Today, Malayalee households will be heartened to know that they will soon be able to enjoy a spectrum of Malayalam programmes on a 24×7 basis. From a corporate perspective, the launch of Asianet reflects StarHub’s continuing efforts to cater to the needs of ethnic communities in Singapore,” commented StarHub’s senior VP Cable TV Services Sandie Lee.
Lee is optimistic about the take-up for Asianet. “StarHub introduced a one-off, two-day Pay-Per-View of Malayalam programmes in conjunction with the Onam Festival in 2000, and the response was encouraging. We are confident that Asianet will garner a strong following in Singapore,” he said.
The impending launch of Asianet was met with a highly enthusiastic response from the Singapore Kerala Association. “It is definitely a dream come true!” said the president of the association, M. M. Dollah. “This is indeed a piece of terrific news that will be much welcomed by the Malayalee community in Singapore. We have launched many initiatives that have helped the Malayalee community develop closer ties with each other. The launch of Asianet by StarHub is set to become the focus of many of our future programmes to foster greater cultural understanding and closer relationships within and outside the Malayalee community in our unique multi-racial diversity.”
StarHub’s existing channels that cater to the Indian community and fans of Indian programmes are Sun TV, Zee TV, Star Plus and Sony Entertainment Television.
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.
