Cable TV
Fremantle Media signs deal for ‘Project Runway’ with Discovery Asia
MUMBAI: Fremantle International Distribution (FID), the distribution arm of global production outfit FremantleMedia, has announced that the hit US reality series Project Runway, has been sold in 21 territories worldwide.
The Asian channels that picked it up include Discovery Asia, Austalian channel Lifestyle, TVB in Hong Kong and Jak TV in Indonesia.
For the uninitiated the Emmy-nominated Project Runway gives talented and hungry fashion designers the opportunity of a lifetime – a chance to have their designs shown in front of the global fashion community in New York and displayed in the pages of Elle magazine.
To earn this honour they have to compete against each other in a series of challenges that will determine who has what it takes to be the next “It” designer. Through each challenge, a designer is eliminated, ultimately leaving one to claim their rightful place in fashion’s spotlight.
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.
