Cable TV
Hathway back in black in Q3 2019
BENGALURU: Broadband internet services provider Hathway Cable & Datacom Limited reported a standalone profit after tax and standalone net comprehensive income of Rs 6.44 crore and Rs 6.27 crore respectively for the quarter ended 31 December 2018 (Q3-2019, quarter or period under review). The company had reported a loss of Rs 5.90 crore in the previous quarter (Q2-2019) due to higher other expenses and foreign exchange loss. In Q3-2019, Hathway has reported a foreign exchange gain of Rs 3.07 crore as compared to a forex gain of Rs 4.32 crore in Q3 2018 and a forex loss of Rs 7.21 crore in Q2 2019.
Hathway’s standalone operational revenue for the period under review declined 2.7 per cent y-o-y to Rs 134.85 crore from Rs 138.65 crore, but was 3.3 per cent higher q-o-q than the Rs 130.55 crore in Q2-2019. Standalone total income in Q3-2019 was slightly lower y-o-y (lower by 0.8 per cent) at Rs 143.41 crore as compared to Rs 144.57 crore in Q3 2018. Though the company’s standalone operating profit EBITDA) for Q3 2019 declined 14.6 per cent y-o-y to Rs 51.30 crore (38 per cent of operating revenue) from Rs 60.06 crore (43.3 per cent of operating revenue), it increased 10.1 per cent q-o-q from Rs 46.58 crore (35.7 per cent of operating revenue).
Let us look at the other numbers reported by Hathway
Standalone total expenditure in Q3 2019 was Rs 139.67 crore or 101.6 per cent of operational revenue as compared to Rs 120.70 crore or 87.1 per cent of operational revenue in Q3 2018 and Rs 144.08 crore or 110.4 per cent of total income in Q2 2019. Standalone operating expenses in Q3 2019 was 0.6 per cent higher y-o-y at Rs 33.27 crore as compared to Rs 33.06 crore and was 7 per cent higher q-o-q than Rs 31.10 crore.
Standalone employee benefits expense for the quarter was 19.6 per cent higher y-o-y at Rs 13.55 crore as compared to Rs 11.33 crore and was 20.0 per cent higher q-0-q than Rs 11.29 crore. Standalone finance costs in Q3 2019 at Rs 20.57 crore were 17.3 per cent higher y-o-y than Rs 17.54 crore but were 36.2 per cent lower q-o-q than Rs 32.22 crore. Other expenses at in Q3 2019 at Rs 36.73 crore were 7.4 per cent higher y-o-y than Rs 34.20 crore, but were 11.7 per cent lower q-o-q than the Rs 41.48 crores.
Takeover by Jio
Two days ago, Hathway had informed the Stock Exchange – “Further to our intimations dated 17 October 2018 and 14 November 2018 with respect to boards' and shareholders' approval for raising of funds up to Rs 2940,00,03,500 (Rupees two thousand nine hundred and forty crores three thousand and five hundred only) through preferential allotment to Jio Content Distribution Holdings Pvt Ltd, Jio Internet Distribution Holdings Pvt Ltd and Jio Cable and Broadband Holdings Pvt Ltd (the "Proposed Investors"), please be informed that the proposed investors have received the approval from the Competition Commission of India on January 21 2019.”
Hathway had also submitted a copy of the Letter of Offer dated 21 January 2019 to the Stock exchanges.
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.
