Cable TV
Karnataka cable ops association opposes NGN migration
BANGALORE: Several cable operators in Karnataka are against migration to Next Generation Networks (NGN) as they fear it will threaten their business.
According to Karnataka State Cable Operators Association (KSCOA) spokesperson MVM Srikanta Dutta, the government had other important isues like healthcare and road facilities to look at than migration to NGN. Issuing a statement on behalf of the KSCOA at the TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) open house today on its consultation paper pertaining to NGN, Dutta said the association was opposed to the migration.
NGN is essentially an IP based network that enables any category of customers (residential, corporate or wholesale) to receive a wide range of services (voice, video, data etc.) over the same network. IP access is enabled across a wide range of broadband technologies, both wireless (3G, WiFi, WiMax etc.) and wireline (copper DSL, cable, fibre, power lines etc.). In NGN, the service layer is independent of the underlying network. A whole range of third party service providers, thus, can offer services to customers and the customer is not bound to take all services from only the access provider.
The Trai panel, consisting of Dr. Devendra P S Seth, Satya N Gupta, Dr. S K Haleja and Rakesh Kacker, spoke of the benefits that NGN would bring in to the rural areas, adding that probably some sections had probably not understood the significance of it. They cited an example of a cable operator who had adopted NGN and benefited greatly in Andhra Pradesh.
Karnataka Consumer Care Society spokesperson Gundu Rao (ex- acting CMD of VSNL) echoed these views, suggesting that efforts should be made to educate the concerned parties and the consumers to understand the benefits of such issues.
Many cable operators were not convinced. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a cable operator said the sector was feeling insecured from new technologies such as direct-to-home (DTH), IPTV and mobile TV.
The other major issues discussed on NGN were (1) The relevance and timing for transition (2) Regulatory approaches (3) Migration and (4) Technical issues.
Cable TV
Hathway Cable appoints Gurjeev Singh Kapoor as CEO
Leadership change comes as cable TV faces shrinking subscriber base and modest earnings pressure
MUMBAI: Hathway Cable and Datacom has tapped industry veteran Gurjeev Singh Kapoor as chief executive officer, marking a leadership pivot at a time when India’s cable television business is under mounting strain.
Kapoor will take over from Tavinderjit Singh Panesar, who is set to retire in August after a long innings with the company. Panesar, chief executive since 2023, has held multiple leadership roles at Hathway, including his latest stint beginning in 2022.
Kapoor brings more than three decades of experience in media and entertainment. He most recently led distribution at The Walt Disney Company’s Star India business, now part of JioStar. His career spans television distribution and affiliate partnerships, with stints at Sony Pictures Networks India, Discovery Communications and Zee Entertainment.
Panesar, with over three decades in the industry, has worked across strategic planning, distribution and business development in media, broadcasting and manufacturing. His past associations include ESPN Star Sports, Star India, Apollo Tyres and JK Industries.
The transition lands as the cable sector grapples with structural disruption. Traditional operators are losing ground to streaming platforms, while telecom and broadband players tighten the squeeze with bundled offerings.
An EY report estimates India’s pay-TV base could shrink by a further 30 to 40 million households by 2030, taking the total down to 71 to 81 million. The slide follows a loss of nearly 40 million homes between 2018 and 2024, a contraction that has already wiped out more than 37,000 jobs in the local cable operator ecosystem.
Hathway’s numbers reflect the strain. The company reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 93 crore for FY25, down from Rs 99 crore a year earlier. Revenue inched up to Rs 2,040 crore from Rs 1,981 crore. As of December 2025, it had about 4.7 million cable TV subscribers and roughly 1.02 million broadband users.
Kapoor steps in with a familiar brief but a shrinking playbook. In a market where viewers are cutting cords faster than companies can reinvent them, the new chief executive inherits a business fighting to stay plugged in.
