Cable TV
Kashmir cable TV operators ordered to take off five TV channels
MUMBAI: Five channels operating in Kashmir have been ordered to go off the air on account of their content which is apparently leading to a law and order problem in the state. The district magistrate (Srinagar) has issued a warning to cable TV operators to stop retransmitting KBC, Gulistan TV, Munsiff TV, JK Channel and Insaaf TV, failing which they will be punisheable under the the Cable Television Networks (Regulation Act, 1995).
“Cable operators in Srinagar are transmitting various programmes which have created law and order problem in the Valley and Srinagar, as they transmit programmes which promote hatred, ill-will, disharmony and a feeling of enmity against the sovereignty of the State…
programmes which have the potential of causing mental and physical harm to particular functionaries of the government,” said the magistrate’s order.
It’s quite likely the cable TV trade in the Valley will comply. But policing and punitive action will have to follow, if the order has to yield results, say industry observers.
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.
