Cable TV
DEN Networks CEO SN Sharma resigns
MUMBAI: DEN Networks CEO SN Sharma has decided to quit from his current position. Sharma, one of the founding members of DEN, resigned today, which was accepted with immediate effect.
The announcement was made on the BSE, which read: “Den Networks Ltd has informed BSE that Mr. S. N. Sharma, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Company, has resigned due to personal reasons with immediate effect.”
Confirms DEN Networks COO MG Azhar to indiantelevision.com, “He has resigned for personal reasons. We have accepted his resignation with immediate effect.”
On the next CEO, Azhar says, “As they say, watch this space for more.”
Sharma’s vision of growth through consolidation and digitisation had laid the foundation for the company. He has also spearheaded the company’s rapid growth with his visionary leadership and unparalleled execution abilities. He has also been the driving force behind taking the company into the digital era.
He has nearly three decades of experience during which he has been associated with the electronic media industry for over 20 years.
Prior to DEN, Sharma has held key positions in Hathway Cable & Datacom.
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.
