Cable TV
MediaPro issues notice against DEN Networks
MUMBAI: Public notices seem to have become a norm in the present time. Facing the ire this time is the multi system-operator – DEN Networks, which has got a public notice from the content aggregator – MediaPro. MediaPro, in its notice published in newspapers, has informed the consumers that the 74 channels in the bouquet of the aggregator will go off air in three weeks from today.
The reasons cited for deactivation of channels is: non-payment of subscription fee and/or outstanding arrears and non-submission of subscriber reports. “All the areas serviced by the cable operator(s) and its franchisees in the DAS areas will be affected,” states the notice.
The channels that can go off air in case the requirements are not met include: Zee 24 Gantalu, 24 Ghanta, Zee 24 Taas, Cartoon Network, CNN, ETC, Zee ETC Punjabi, HBO, Pogo, Warner Brothers, Zee Action, Zee Bangla, Zee Business, Zee Café, Zee Cinema, Zee Classic, Zee Jagran, Zee Kannada, Zee Marathi, Zing, Zee News, Zee UP UK, Zee Premier, Zee Punjabi Haryana Himachal Pradesh, Zee Salaam, Zee Smile, Zee Studio, Zee Talkies, Zee Tamil, Zee Telugu, Zee Trendz, Zee TV, Star Movies, Star Plus, Star World, Star World, Star Gold, National Geographic Channel, Fox Traveller, Life OK, Star Vijay, Channel V, MGM, ABP Ananda, Star Jalsa, FX, Fox Crime, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Adventure, Nat Geo Music, Baby TV, NDTV 24X7, NDTV Profit, NDTV Good Times, NDTV India, Suvarna, Star Utsav, ABP News, Zee Khana Khazana, Movies OK, Star Pravah, ABP Majha, Asianet, Asianet Plus, Star Movies Action, Zee Bangla Cinema, ZeeQ, Star Jalsa Movies, 9X, Asianet Movies, Zee Madhya Pradesh Chhatisgarh, Suvarna Plus, Zee Marudhara, & Pictures and Zee Anmol.
However, the two parties will be meeting for resolving the issues. “I am still to collect the details for the public notice. These things keep happening between the broadcaster and the distributor. We will resolve the issue. We have invested heavily in digitisation. Once we collect the money from the ground, we will clear the payments,” says a DEN Networks official.
MediaPro is a joint venture between Zee Turner and Star DEN.
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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.
