Cable TV
Star switches off signals to Asianet Satellite
MUMBAI: Star India has discontinued services of its bouquet of channels to Asianet Satellite Communications, the largest cable TV network in Kerala.
The signals were switched off on 7 May due to non payment of dues. “We gave them a month’s notice as per the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) requirement,” says a Star India spokesperson.
Star had earlier moved the Telecom Dispute Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) against Asianet. The case is posted for further hearing on 16 May. The multi system operator (MSO) in Kerala has already paid Star Rs 60 million after the TDSAT directive to pay up at Rs 50 lakh a month.
“The TDSAT asked us to pay Rs 50 lakh a month. We have paid Rs 60 million on 22 April as per the directive of the Tdsat. The case is set for further hearing on 16 May,” says Asianet chief executive officer Mahesh Kumar.
Star admits it has received payment from Asianet, but says there is still an outstanding amount which is yet to be cleared. “Asianet has not paid us the full amount. So we decided to switch off signals,” says the Star spokesperson.
Star and Asianet have been engaged in conflict over the outstandings for the last six months. “The TDSAT has not been functioning after chairperson Justice DP Wadhava completed his term on 4 May. We are waiting for the final verdict,” says Kumar.
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.
