Cable TV
Bombay HC may hear Digicable license cancellation case next week
KOLKATA: The Bombay High Court may hear the Digicable Network license cancellation case next week most probably on Monday.
Earlier as well, the Bombay HC had granted relief to the multi-system operator (MSO) when it extended the order cancelling its permanent registration till 5 November. “The case was adjourned as the MIB counsel had sought around four weeks’ time to file replies in the matter,” says an analyst.
Jagjit Singh Kohli-promoted Digicable Network, which challenged the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s order on 13 September, had earlier got an ad interim stay against the order till 6 October.
“The hearing has been postponed for the next two to three days,” said Kohli.
The MSO had approached the court in September post which it got an ad interim stay till 6 October and subsequently till 5 November. The MSO had challenged the basis on which the security clearance was denied to the MSO.
A similar case is being heard in the Kolkata High Court on the petition filed by its JV -Digicable Comm on its licence cancellation. That case has been postponed to 28 November. The Kolkata based MSO has got a stay order on its cancellation twice and this being the third time. The court observed that when the MSO received its DAS licence in 2013, it was subject to security clearance from Home Ministry and the same has been denied in the order passed in September 2014.
In July, the ministry of information and broadcasting had cancelled the licences of Digicable Comm while in September the same was done for Digicable Network, on the basis of denial of security clearance by the Home Ministry.
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.
