Cable TV
Home Ministry devises simplified format to get details for security clearance of MSOs
NEW DELHI: With various multi-system operators (MSOs) failing to get licences because of failure to get security clearance from the Home Ministry, that Ministry has devised a new format for streamlining the procedure.
This includes furnishing details in respect of applicant MSO companies and directors/key executives of their companies for providing the requisite security clearance.
Since the final grant of permission to MSO applicants by the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry for operation in digital addressable system (DAS) notified areas is based on the security clearance from the Home Ministry, all MSO applicants, including those who are yet to get the necessary permission, have been asked to furnish the requisite details according to the revised format prescribed by the Home Ministry.
The Ministry also said that as per the Home Ministry guidelines the approval/permission/license granted will also be liable to be cancelled in the event of withdrawal of security clearance.
To clarify all doubts in this connection, the applicant MSOs have been requested to participate/ attend the open house meetings being organised by the I&B Ministry every Tuesday morning.
The Home Ministry has devised a form to give details of the MSO whether it is Indian or foreign, its directors etc, and any shareholders having a stake of more than 10 per cent.
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.
