Cable TV
DirecTV signs deal for Viacom’s new jazz channel
MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Viacom’s subsidiary Bet is launching a jazz channel Bet J.
Bet has signed a deal with US pay-TV platform DirecTV for carriage. The broadcaster says that jazz, the purest and oldest form of American music, has both chronicled and celebrated the African-American journey. Today jazz is seen, heard and felt in a number of related genres including blues, soul, R&B, Caribbean and neo-soul music.
Bet chairman and CEO Debra L. Lee says, The African-American community looks to Bet to reflect the culture, and in doing so they have come to expect innovation and diversity in programming under our Bet Networks brand. We are happy to respond and to evolve to meet their needs.
Bet Digital Networks executive VP and GM Paxton Baker says, Our new chapter under Bet J will be even more exciting, enticing and multicultural. In fact, the J in our new network name is now more indicative of the complete musical and cultural Journey rather than only jazz.
DirecTV is launching Bet J to continue its tradition of providing the most exciting and unique programming for its customers. Bet J is available on Channel 330 on DirecTVs Total Choice Plus programming package. MTV Networks negotiated this carriage agreement as part of its affiliate sales and marketing representation of Bet Networks.
With the DirecTV launch, Bet J has built a total distribution platform that reaches approximately 21 million homes. In addition to DirecTV, other distributors already carrying Bet J, will now offer the revamped channel for viewers include Charter Communications, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable.
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.
