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Louis Boswell appointed CASBAA CEO
MUMBAI: CASBAA Association has appointed Louis Boswell, senior media and digital business leader in Asia, as the chief executive officer (CEO). Boswell will begin his tenure on 1 January 2018, succeeding outgoing CEO Christopher Slaughter.
As CEO for CASBAA, Boswell will serve as the content distribution industry’s leading advocate with industry leaders and policymakers throughout Asia-Pacific. In addition to driving the programs and initiatives of the association, Boswell will work with business heads of the member organisations to shape the increasingly rapid evolution of the industry in the region.
“Louis is one of the most well respected senior commercial executives in the content distribution industry in Asia. We are proud to have him leading our association. Louis’s track record of leadership and insight make him an ideal fit to work strategically with in-country business and government leaders to address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead as the industry continues to invest, innovate and evolve at an unprecedented pace”, said Chair of the CASBAA board of directors and 21st Century Fox senior vice president Joe Welch.
“I am thrilled to be joining CASBAA”, Boswell commented. “The industry is changing and it is paramount that its representative body keeps up and is reflective of those changes. I believe the need for CASBAA is greater now than it ever has been and I look forward to making sure that we lead the industry from the front as we confront those changes.”
“Louis is a true professional, able to listen, rationalise differing viewpoints and then drive execution”, said Henry Tan of ASTRO who worked closely with Boswell on the AETN All Asia Networks joint venture. “He will make an excellent head of the association.”
Boswell’s background in Asia includes senior positions at Discovery, ESPN Star Sports, BBC, AETN All Asia Networks and, most recently, as the general manager, Asia for Da Vinci. His experience includes leading businesses in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and all of the major markets in Southeast Asia.
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.
