Cable TV
MSOs, LCOs alerted to get ready for Phase IV DAS, applications for registration by 30 April
New Delhi, 29 March: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has urged multi-system operators to apply by 30 April in case they want to supply signals in the areas falling under Phase IV of digital addressable system.
In an advertisement also addressed to cable operators who want to become MSOs, the Ministry has said this is necessary as adequate time is needed for registration, and for the MSOs to be ready by 31 December this year when analogue is expected to be switched off all over the country.
It has also been pointed out that Section 11A of Cable Television Rules 1994 is clear that any stakeholder desirous of providing television DAS signals in a notified area have to be registered as MSO with the Ministry.
Attention has also been drawn to the notification of 11 September 2014 which gave the final deadline for the various phases and stated that digitization in IV Phase has to be completed by 31 December this year.
The advertisement has also been placed on the website digitalindiamib.com whch can also be accessed through the main mib.nic.in.
Stakeholders have been asked to get full details from these websites, and also have the option of calling toll-free number 1800-180-4343.
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.
