Cable TV
Channel7 to be renamed IBN-7; Aaj Tak’s Ashutosh to head
MUMBAI: Global Broadcast News (GBN) and Jagran TV partnered Channel7 is to be rechristened. From 1 April onwards, the Hindi news channel will be called IBN-7.
The channel has also roped in Aaj Tak deputy executive producer Ashutosh as managing editor. One of the most experienced hands of Aaj Tak, Ashutosh is slated to join Channel7 within the next few weeks.
CNN-IBN editor-in-chief Rajdeep Sardesai and Channel7 editorial head Ajit Sahi could not be reached for comment at the time of filing this report. Sahi has already put in his papers, sources close to the developments aver.
According to information available with Indiantelevision.com, the editorial team of Channel7 (IBN-7) will see further restructuring in the coming days.
Last month, TV18’s GBN and Jargan TV entered into an agreement of an equal joint venture. The process of the complete amalgamation of the venture is likely to be accomplished by June-July. Although the JTL chairman Mahendra Gupta leads the board of the JV, while the editorial, production, distribution and other operations of Channel7 rest with the TV18 Group.
Channel7, which launched in March 2005, is now part of the TV18 Group’s bouquet of channels that include CNBC TV18, Awaaz and newly launched English language CNN IBN.
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.
