Cable TV
Kolkata cable operators want cable TV GST at 5%
MUMBAI: The plea of cable TV operators in Kolkata to reduce the goods and services tax (GST) from the current 18 per cent to 5 per cent has been heard.
The West Bengal government’s state municipal affairs minister Firhad Hakim was quoted by the Cable TV Equipments Traders & Manufacturers Association (CTMA) as saying, “Cable television services are essential services and should not have 18 per cent GST, which is in effect at present.” He went on to say that he will, on behalf of the cable TV operators, present the issue to the finance minister Amit Mitra, who is a member of the GST council.
Siticable, Manthan and GTPL-KCBPL are the main players in the West Bengal market. GST is divided into various slabs right now – 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent.
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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.
