Cable TV
Mumbai cops raid 7 Star Dot Com for “illegal” channel distribution
MUMBAI: The heavy hand of the law is coming down on those involved in the distribution of TV signals. Last month, the cops swooped down on OTT services provider Jadoo TV’s offices in Hyderabad for allegedly pirating TV signals and streaming them over the internet illegally, following a complaint by Maa TV. Equipment was confiscated, staff arrested.
Yesterday, it was the turn of the Mumbai based independent multi system operator (MSO) 7 Star Dot Com. It was raided by a group of close to 15 police officials. Reason: illegal transmission of 10 international channels.
The channels include HBO, HBO Family, BBC America, Sky Movie and Show Beyond among others. “We had got the information about the illegal transmission of channels. We monitored the platform from 3:30 pm onwards on 14 July and then conducted the raid, late in the night,” informs DCP Mahesh Patil.
The raid was conducted by the Social Service Branch located in Crawford Market of south Mumbai. The decoders, transmitters and adaptors of the MSO have been confiscated. “We will now file a complaint with the Metropolitan Magistrate under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995. The platform was telecasting the channels without having the licence for the same,” adds Patil.
As per the procedure, a report will also be filed with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. “We will file the case and the report in a couple of days,” he says. After studying the report, a show cause notice will be issued against 7 Star.
One of the MSOs operating in Mumbai comments, “It is a good step which has been taken by the authorities. There should be a level playing field for all the platforms.”
None of the 7 Star executives were available for comment.
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.
