Cable TV
European MHP Middleware used for OpenCable by US Cablelabs
US based Cable Television Laboratories Inc has adopted the middleware software developed by Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB), for advanced OpenCable digital set-top boxes that are being deployed throughout North America from mid November.
CableLabs is the technology consortium for cable system operators in North and South America and is now the point organization for continuing cooperation with DVB, which has established a special middleware task force group to coordinate this effort. The DVB platform called Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) will be part of the OpenCable Application Platform (OCAP) that is the middleware software portion of OpenCable. Cable connected households will be able to access both digital broadcasting and interactive digital applications through the OpenCable box.
The DVB Project an industry-led consortium, was formed in 1993, and comprises of over 300 broadcasters, manufacturers, network operators, software developers and regulatory bodies. With members in more than 35 countries, the project is committed to designing global standards for the delivery of digital television and data services. The DVB standards cover all aspects of digital television from transmission through interfacing, conditional access, and interactivity for digital video, audio, and data and their objective is to create unity in the march towards global standardization, interoperability, and future proofing.
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.
