Cable TV
INCablenet refutes CNBC charge
MUMBAI: The following is the statement issued by INCablenet in response to CNBC India’s charges:
Indusind Media and Communications Ltd has learnt that a press release has been issued by CNBC Channel in India alleging that INCablenet its cable division has blacked out transmission of CNBC India channel in retaliation to a story put out by CNBC earlier this week.
It is unfortunate that CNBC has linked a news report to an action which is related to a request sent by INCablenet to various channels to sign an undertaking to INCablenet that the channels will comply with the provisions of the Cable Act.
INCablenet at present is expanding its channel capacity in Mumbai and has requested various channels to file such an undertaking.
The allegations about alleged assault on freedom of the press is totally false and obviously is motivated to give a different colour to the whole issue. The allegation is emphatically refuted by IMC. Any action taken by CNBC in any forum will be vigorously defended in interest of justice and fair play.
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.
