Cable TV
E! Networks enters Singapore, Indonesia
MUMBAI: The Los Angeles-based producer and distributor of entertainment news and lifestyle-related programming E! Networks is aggressively pursuing its South East Asia expansion plans. The channel has inked a deal to launch its 24-hour entertainment channel in Singapore and has expanded its reach in Indonesia.
The channel will be added to StarHub CableVision’s new digital platform in Singapore. Meanwhile, E! Networks has signed DTH carriage deals with Indovision and Kabelvision in Indonesia.
StarHub senior VP of cable TV services Sandie Lee is quoted in media reports as saying, “Having one of the most avid movie going audiences in the world, we strongly believe that E! will satisfy the local viewers who are very keen to keep in touch with the very latest in Hollywood and in the scene of entertainment.”
“E! continues to be the preeminent source for celebrity and lifestyle-themed programming, a genre that travels well especially in the Asian market, and complements viewers’ fascination with movies and celebrities,” said Kevin MacLellan, the senior VP of international at E! Networks.
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.
