Cable TV
MSOs may use single control room for DAS & analogue with separate IRDs from broadcasters
NEW DELHI: Multi-system operators (MSOs) must take separate IRDs for digital signals for Digital Addressable System (DAS) Phase III areas and analogue signals for Phase IV areas from broadcasters to enable transmission of DAS in Phase III areas while not affecting the final phase areas.
In an advisory, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry said however that MSOs are permitted to use a single control room for transmitting digital for Phase III s well as analogue signals for Phase IV.
It was pointed out that according to Section 4A of the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act 1995, it is obligatory for every cable operator to transmit or re-transmit programmes of any channels in an encrypted form through a digital addressable system from such date as may be notified for any area.
While the cut-off for implementation of DAS for Phase III areas is 31 December 2015, it is exactly a year later for Phase IV.
The clarification came as the Ministry said it “is learnt that some MSOs are having a single control room for feeding Phase III & IV areas. In this connection a confirmation has been sought by some MSOs that Phase III & IV areas can be fed from the same control room.”
The Ministry also cautioned that while taking up such arrangement, MSOs must ensure that only DAS signals are transmitted in Phase III areas.
However, voluntary digitisation in Phase IV areas is advisable, the note by Joint Secretary (Broadcasting) R Jaya said.
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.
