Cable TV
Rahul Johri promoted as senior VP ad sales at Discovery Networks India
MUMBAI: Discovery Networks India has promoted Rahul Johri to senior VP advertising sales.
In his role, Johri will partake in the company’s overall growth strategy and new ventures in the region. He will continue to lead the company’s national sales team.
In addition, he will also spearhead the public relations department. Johri will continue to report to Discovery Networks India managing networks Deepak Shourie, with whom he has worked for many years at Outlook, Hindustan Times, Zee and now at Discovery, informs an official statement.
Johri joined Discovery Networks India as director-advertising sales in 2001. Promoted to vice president – advertising sales in 2003, he led a strong and motivated sales team and brought the country’s leading brands to advertise on the company’s three channels in India – Discovery Channel, Discovery Travel & Living and Animal Planet.
Shourie says, “Rahul has significantly contributed to the success of the India growth strategy. He has led a highly motivated team that has firmly established the three channels in the minds of the advertising community.”
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.
