DTH
Dishtv launches movie-on-demand service
MUMBAI: Dishtv, Subhash Chandra’s Essel Group-promoted DTH platform, has announced the launch of its movie-on-demand (MoD) service. The feature will offer two movies per week, allowing viewers to control the choice and timing of the movie.
Dishtv subscribers can order the movie through IVR/Phone, SMS, or by logging onto www.dishtvindia.com. The subscriber is authorised to view the movie within 24 hours for Rs 40.
According to Dishtv India managing director Sunil Gupta, the company is in dialogue with filmmakers and producers to secure rights to distribute as well as release their films via its newly offered MoD platform. “Our goal is to provide a balance of offbeat and independent movies, in addition to a wide selection of mainstream movies. Dishtv views VoD as an opportunity for filmmakers to reach a large audience.”
Speaking on the service, he adds further, “Unlike traditional pay-per-view, the consumer can watch the film of his choice at any time. In the current broadcasting environment, programme timing and selection is the exclusive prerogative of the broadcaster. With MoD, the consumer has complete control over the content.”
A research conducted by the company indicates that movies shown on a schedule doesn’t interest consumers much because of their daily chores and routine. “Moreover, they will go to a nearby shop at any time to get VCD’s on rent. This service will allow consumers to view their choice of movie in true DVD format at more convenience, also reducing the damage caused by video piracy,” says Gupta.
DTH
GTPL Hathway posts FY26 revenue growth, Q4 slips into loss
Annual profit at Rs 5.88 crore; Q4 loss at Rs 5.90 crore
MUMBAI: A strong year met a shaky finish as GTPL Hathway closed FY26 on a high note only to stumble at the final hurdle. The company’s latest financials reveal a tale of two timelines: steady annual growth alongside a fourth-quarter dip that nudged it into the red. GTPL Hathway Limited reported total income of Rs 2,472.46 crore for the year ended March 31, 2026, marking a clear rise from Rs 2,223.00 crore in FY25. Revenue from operations stood at Rs 2,450.78 crore, up from Rs 2,193.38 crore a year ago, signalling consistent traction in its core cable TV and broadband business.
Yet, beneath the annual growth narrative, the March quarter told a different story. The company posted a net loss of Rs 5.90 crore in Q4 FY26, a sharp reversal from a profit of Rs 0.91 crore in the preceding quarter and Rs 8.15 crore in the same period last year. Total income for the quarter came in at Rs 618.46 crore, largely flat sequentially but higher than Rs 569.33 crore reported a year earlier.
The pressure was visible across the cost structure. Total expenses for the quarter rose to Rs 620.64 crore, marginally exceeding income and tipping the company into a loss before tax of Rs 7.87 crore. This compares with a profit before tax of Rs 1.22 crore in the December quarter and Rs 11.32 crore in Q4 FY25.
For the full year, however, profitability held firm. GTPL reported a net profit of Rs 5.88 crore in FY26, significantly lower than Rs 47.80 crore in FY25, but still in positive territory despite higher finance costs and operating expenses. Operating expenses alone climbed to Rs 1,884.53 crore for the year, up from Rs 1,603.53 crore, reflecting the increasing cost of running and scaling network infrastructure.
Finance costs also rose notably to Rs 33.57 crore in FY26 from Rs 22.19 crore in FY25, while depreciation and amortisation expenses stood at Rs 189.19 crore, underlining continued investments in assets and technology. Employee benefit expenses, however, declined to Rs 63.42 crore from Rs 77.08 crore, offering some relief on the cost front.
An exceptional item of Rs 5.69 crore during the year also weighed on profitability, compared with Rs 3.79 crore in the previous year. Meanwhile, tax adjustments, including deferred tax movements and prior-year adjustments, played a role in shaping the final earnings outcome.
Despite the quarterly wobble, the broader picture suggests a company still expanding its top line while grappling with margin pressures. With paid-up equity share capital unchanged at Rs 112.46 crore, the focus now shifts to whether GTPL can convert its revenue momentum into more stable, sustainable profitability in the coming quarters.
In short, FY26 may have delivered growth on paper but the closing chapter serves as a reminder that in business, as in broadband, consistency is everything.
