Cable TV
Firestone zeroes in on Intelsat to expand cable programming distribution
MUMBAI: Intelsat announced that Firestone Communications has expanded its use of the Intelsat Americas fleet for distribution of cable programming in North America.
The long-term contract, to utilise a full transponder on IA-13, will give Firestone Communications and its cable programming customers access to the satellite’s prime cable arc location at 121° W, and connectivity to over 3,000 digital cable head-ends in the US.
Firestone Communications is a rapidly growing media and communications company offering a new, fully-digital, state-of-the-art network operations facility for programmers and producers around the world.
Accessing the IA-13 satellite allows Firestone Communications to leverage the prime cable distribution neighborhood on the satellite and significantly expand its customers viewing audiences.
“As we’ve grown our business, Intelsat’s flexibility has provided us with more bandwidth within its cable programmer community, enabling us to better accommodate our customers needs. Intelsat now provides us with a full transponder’s capacity and power allowing us to cost-effectively offer a full multiplex of cable channels,” said Firestone Communications president Michael G Fletcher.
Intelsat COO Ramu Potarazu said, “Intelsat is actively committed to growing our video distribution community in the cable arc where IA-13 is located. Customers such as Firestone Communications help us achieve that growth as new cable channels are added to its customer lineup. Emerging cable programmers find immediate value in the cost-effective, turnkey program distribution services provided by Firestone Communications and Intelsat, which effectively lower market entry barriers and get channels up and running quickly.”
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.
