Cable TV
NCTA to honour US cable leaders next month
MUMBAI: Insight Communications president and CEO Michael Willner and Cablevision Systems’ executive VP Sheila Mahony will be recognised with top 2004 Vanguard Awards for distinguished leadership in the US cable industry.
The awards will be handed out on 4 May by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA).
Inaugurated in 1965, the Vanguard Awards are presented annually to individuals who excel in both business and personal commitment to their colleagues, and whose accomplishments merit the recognition of the entire cable industry.
A company release adds that Willner will be honoured not only for his role in building Insight Communications, a highly successful and innovative cable operator, but also for his leadership in numerous industry organisations. Last year Willner completed two consecutive terms as chairman of the NCTA board of directors, and continues to serve on its executive committee. He also serves on the executive committee of Cablelabs and on the board of C-Span
Mahony has spent 24 years at Cablevision. She helped to develop the modern regulatory framework not only for Cablevision but also for the industry at-large. In addition to overseeing all aspects of government and media efforts at Cablevision, she also helped to establish the company as a community leader through its editorial and education initiatives.
HBO executive VP technology operations and CTO Robert Zitter will be given a Vanguard in the science and technology category. At HBO Zitter is responsible for the company’s technology interest worldwide, overseeing distribution, origination, production, operations and engineering. Zitter has been working with the industry to bring about important technological developments such as scrambling, digital compression, multiplexing, HDTV, and subscription on demand.
The award for cable operations management will go to Comcast’s regional senior VP Ann Montgomery.This award recognises the efforts of cable’s system managers, who work under intensely competitive conditions in today’s dynamic telecommunications environment, and are key to the cable industry’s success at the local level.
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.
