GECs
Discovery US looks to boost brand further through airport stores
MUMBAI: Discovery US is looking to expand its brand presence further through airport stores.
For this purpose it has tied up with transportation retail specialist Hudson Group to open and operate Discovery Channel Airport Stores in airports across the US and Canada.
The partnership leverages Hudsons expertise as an airport retailer to build awareness for Discoverys brands and networks, and expands the reach of Discoverys award-winning product lines to millions of travellers who pass through North American airports every day.
Discovery Commerce president Frank Rosales says, Hudsons successful track record in airport retailing speaks for itself the company has been a driving force in changing the face of airport concessions. We are excited to partner with Hudson to help build on the success our retail business enjoyed in 2005, and give even more consumers access to our high-quality, award-winning products.
Hudson group executive VP and COO Joseph DiDomizio said, Discoverys programming themes have inspired a wide range of high-quality lifestyle merchandise. Their most successful lines, innovative products for kids, leading edge technology and gadgets, health and wellness products, and compelling content for home entertainment, resonate strongly with frequent travelers.
“Through their merchandise and brand-focussed presentation, the new airport stores will create a virtual Discovery experience and enable our customers to conveniently obtain items suggested by their favourite Discovery Channel programmes, says DiDomizio.
The Discovery Channel Stores merchandise selection is inspired by the programming genres found in the Discovery family of networks. The assortment is anchored by an award-winning line of Discovery-designed childrens products sold under the Discovery Kids, Ready Set Learn! and Discovery Grow Toys brands.
Adult-oriented merchandise is offered as well, including state-of-the-art consumer electronics, health and wellness products, cycling gear inspired by the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team, and an array of fan-focused merchandise from Monster Garage, Miami Ink and American Chopper.
With its vast library of compelling real-world content, Discovery is a leading provider of DVDs in core genres, including current series and network specials produced by Discovery Networks.
Discovery Channel Airport Stores will present a look and feel very similar to Discoverys mall-based stores, and will feature a merchandise assortment drawn from Discoverys existing product lines.
GECs
Sahara One reports financial results, notes director exit and business realignment
Muted revenues, steady expenses and strategic adjustments shape company’s current phase
MUMBAI: In a tale where the sands seem to be slipping faster than they can be gathered, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited has reported another quarter of wafer-thin income and widening losses, even as a boardroom exit adds to the unease.
The company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that its board, in a meeting held on April 4, approved its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. The numbers paint a stark picture. Total income for the quarter stood at just Rs 0.13 lakh, unchanged sequentially and sharply down from Rs 0.26 lakh a year earlier.
Losses, meanwhile, deepened. The company posted a net loss of Rs 24.16 lakh for the quarter, compared to Rs 18.81 lakh in the June quarter and Rs 39.69 lakh in the same period last year. For the six months ended September 2025, the cumulative loss stood at Rs 39.69 lakh, while the full-year loss for FY25 was reported at Rs 60.72 lakh.
Expenses continued to outweigh income by a wide margin. Total expenses for the quarter came in at Rs 24.30 lakh, led by employee benefit costs of Rs 6.51 lakh and other expenses of Rs 17.78 lakh. Earnings per share remained in the red at Rs (0.11) for the quarter.
The balance sheet reflects a company with significant assets on paper but limited operational momentum. Total assets stood at Rs 23,065.57 lakh as of September 30, 2025, broadly unchanged from March 2025. Equity share capital remained steady at Rs 2,152.50 lakh, while total equity was reported at Rs 18,004.85 lakh.
Cash and cash equivalents saw a modest uptick to Rs 6.75 lakh from Rs 4.68 lakh earlier, supported by a positive operating cash flow of Rs 180.01 lakh for the period.
Yet, beneath these numbers lies a more complex narrative. The company’s auditors flagged their inability to obtain sufficient evidence to form a conclusion on the financial statements, citing lack of access to records. They also raised concerns over the company’s ability to continue as a going concern, pointing to insufficient funds, delayed recoveries, and stalled content investments.
Adding to the governance overhang, the company disclosed that Rana Zia has resigned as whole-time director, effective October 16, 2025, citing other professional commitments. The resignation, noted and accepted by the board, also brings an end to her role across company committees.
Regulatory pressures continue to loom large. The Securities and Exchange Board of India has already initiated penal actions for non-compliance with listing norms, with trading in the company’s shares remaining suspended. There is also a risk of promoter demat accounts being frozen.
Legacy legal issues remain unresolved. A substantial deposit of Rs 694,027.88 thousand linked to the long-running OFCD dispute involving Sahara group entities is still under the purview of the Supreme Court of India. Restrictions on asset disposal continue to weigh on the company’s financial flexibility.
Operationally, challenges persist across multiple fronts. Advances worth Rs 1,92,916 thousand given for film content remain stuck, with delays in project completion and uncertain recoverability. The company’s YouTube channel, despite being operational, has generated no revenue for over three years due to compliance lapses. In a further twist, management has indicated that revenues may have been fraudulently diverted through unauthorised changes to its AdSense account, with a police complaint in the works.
There are also missed revenue opportunities. Television content rights continue to be used by a related party despite the expiry of the licence agreement, with fresh negotiations still underway.
For now, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited appears caught between legacy disputes and present-day operational hurdles. As losses linger and governance questions mount, the road to recovery looks less like a sprint and more like a slow trudge through shifting sands.
