Cable TV
Zee upgrades transmission signals for cable ops
MUMBAI: As part of Zee’s initiative of bringing the best to their viewers the Subhash Chandra network upgraded transmission signals to cable operators yesterday.
Viewers of Zee News, Zee Music, Alpha Punjabi, Alpha Gujarati, Alpha Bangla and Alpha Marathi will find the technological upgradation reflected in crisper and sharper images with better colour resolution on their existing TV sets.
The head Siticable Jawahar Goel said, “We have completed a major exercise for upgrading our transmission quality of our six channels which were being uplinked from our Noida facility. Our investments will result in our viewers getting enhanced quality of our channels. We are happy to say that majority of our cable operators have already switched on to the upgraded format and we are expecting the others join within the next few days”.
Zee asked all its cable operators to re-tune their equipment for accessing the upgraded services. The deadline for the cable operators was yesterday at 4 pm and the upgraded services are available across Asia, Middle East and Far Eastern countries.
As reported earlier by indiantelevision.com Zee Turner switched off InCable Net in Mumbai. With this two of the major broadcasters have disappeared.
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.
