Cable TV
TCCL fails to make overdue payments for Disney Star’s channel
TCCL has failed to make overdue payments for Disney Star’s channels, despite collecting subscription fees in advance from its customers. Even after continuous discussions and multiple reminders regarding the overdue payments, TCCL has yet to settle its financial obligations
TCCL’s failure to pay outstanding dues to Disney Star, has led to a situation where Disney Star had to suspend all its channels from TCCL. This decision comes after repeated attempts to resolve the payment issue, leaving numerous viewers in Tamil Nadu unable to access their favorite Disney Star channels.
Viewers who relied on and trusted TCCL for their entertainment needs find themselves in a fix right now. Popular channels known for their engaging content, including top-rated shows and movies on leading channels like Star Vijay, Vijay Super, Vijay Takkar, Star Movies, National Geographic Channel, Star Suvarna, Star Sports 1 Tamil, Hungama TV etc. are no longer available to TCCL customers.
Disney Star hopes that TCCL acts immediately and clears its dues so that the subscribers may resume enjoying their Disney Star channels without further delay.
For those affected, it is recommended to reach out to TCCL to express concerns regarding the service disruption and ask for a reduction in subscription fees. Additionally, viewers are encouraged to switch to alternate operators allowing them access to all channels provided by Disney Star.
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.
