Cable TV
Den Networks confirms S N Sharma appointment as CEO
MUMBAI: A few days ago Indiantelevision.com reported that S N Sharma would be re-joining Den Networks after departing from it a year and a half or so ago. The report was based on sources and it was unconfirmed. Today Den Networks informed the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) that Sharma will indeed be re-joining the national cable TV MSO Den as its chief executive officer (CEO) with immediate effect. Erstwhile CEO Pradeep Parameswaran will continue to work with the company as an advisor to the company.
A cable TV industry veteran Sharma has over 30 years of experience of which over 25 years have been in media. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communications and a Master’s degree in Business Administration.
DEN Networks chairman & managing director Sameer Manchanda said that he was happy to welcome Sharma back to the DEN family. Said he: “We are confident of Sharma’s unparalleled experience in the cable TV Industry and under his able leadership DEN will scale greater heights in time to come. DEN’s cable TV partners and associates on the ground are all geared up to work in perfect coordination to adopt new systems and technologies for better monetisation of investments.”
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.
