Cable TV
Hathway’s Q3 FY25: A drama of numbers, some cheers, and a few tears
MUMBAI: Numbers don’t lie, but boy, do they tell a rollercoaster of a story!
Hathway Cable and Datacom’s Q3 FY25 financial results are in, and while there’s some sizzle, there’s also some fizzle.
Let’s dive in, shall we?
For the quarter ending 31 December 2024, Hathway flexed a total income of Rs 532.13 crore. It’s a whisker down from last quarter’s Rs 543.25 crore but ekes out a win compared to last year’s Rs 535.33 crore.
Revenue from operations? Rs 511.15 crore. Not too shabby, but hey, it’s no jackpot either. Meanwhile, other income decided to take a nap, dropping to Rs 20.98 crore from Rs 30.52 crore in the previous quarter.
For the nine-month stretch, Hathway managed to pull in a total of Rs 1,599.75 crore, a teeny-tiny uptick from last year’s Rs 1,585.32 crore.
Here’s where things get interesting.
Consolidated profit before tax (PBT) took a nosedive to Rs 19.07 crore. Compare that to Q2’s Rs 39.88 crore and last year’s Rs 30.75 crore, and you’ll understand why we’re clutching our calculators in dismay. Rising pay channel costs (Rs 249.29 crore, up from Rs 244.47 crore) and higher depreciation expenses (Rs 86.98 crore, up from Rs 80.79 crore) clearly didn’t help.
Net profit for Q3 landed at Rs 13.54 crore, a far cry from the prior quarter’s Rs 25.78 crore and even last year’s Rs 22.35 crore. For the nine months, net profit dropped to Rs 57.74 crore from Rs 64.72 crore. Ouch.
Broadband vs Cable
1 Broadband Business: Revenue dipped to Rs 149.99 crore, down from Rs 151.59 crore last quarter and Rs 155.60 crore last year. Let’s just say the internet’s not as hot as we’d like it to be.
2 Cable Television: Revenue held its ground at Rs 345.79 crore, a hair better than last quarter’s Rs 344.01 crore. But losses in this segment widened to Rs 16.55 crore. Maybe it’s time for some reruns of “How to Cut Costs 101”?
The numbers tell us Hathway is juggling rising costs and a competitive market. Yet, the story isn’t all doom and gloom. Total income is up year-on-year, proving the brand has staying power. Now it just needs to flex those operational muscles a bit more.
Hathway’s next episodes will need to feature a blend of strategic moves and bold actions to maintain its plot as a major player in India’s digital landscape.
Can they level up their game while keeping the balance sheet in check? Stay tuned and watch how the story unfolds!
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.
