Cable TV
NBC to launch crime cable channel in January
MUMBAI: US media firm NBC Universal Cable Entertainment will launch a crime cable network Sleuth in January 2006.
The upcoming entertainment cable channel will be dedicated to the crime, mystery and suspense genre.
NBC says that Sleuth will be the first network to offer a digital triple pack service, which features a standard definition digital channel (SD), hi-definition simulcast channel (HD), and a video-on-demand (VOD) channel offered as a digital bundle. The SD digital channel will be available with the VOD and HD offerings available later next year.
At launch the network will have more than five million subscribers through distribution deals with Time Warner Cable, the first affiliate to carry Sleuth.
The new channel will feature crime and mystery classics from NBC Universal’s extensive library of feature films, classic television shows, reality series and documentaries. Programming includes popular and cult television series like Miami Vice, The A-Team, and Knight Rider. Crime, mystery and suspense films like Scarface, The Jackal and Casino will be in the SD and HD lineups, with at least 20 hours of content from the channels offered on demand at any given time to consumers.
NBC Universal Cable Entertainment president Digital Content and Cross Network Strategy Jeff Gaspin says, “We are thrilled to offer one core channel with three digital products with Sleuth. Crime, mystery and suspense are the all time most popular television genres and Sleuth will be a network devoted exclusively to these genres. The programming on Sleuth, tapped from NBC Universal’s vast library, will appeal to a broad audience who will be able to enjoy everything from classic films and nostalgic TV shows to current documentaries and series.
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.
