Cable TV
Karnataka cable ops-Udaya talks fail
BANGALORE: The Karnataka cable fraternity have come away disappointed after yet another attempt by them to get the Udaya Network to rethink its decision to turn pay from 1 August failed.
A delegation representing cable operators from all the districts from Karnataka today met Vijay Kumar, vice-president Udaya TV, at the network’s headquarters in Bangalore in an attempt to “resolve the impasse”. According to Karnataka State Cable TV Operators Association (KSOA) spokesperson Ponnacha, the cable operators proposed that Udaya News and Ushe go pay while Udaya continue as a free to air channel.
This was unacceptable to Vijay Kumar who according to Ponnacha had this to say: “You (cable operators) are willing to allow foreigners like Sony and Star to take away money from India, but when an Indian company wants money which will remain in India, you are refusing co-operation and creating problems.”
“The cable operators from across the state, now present in Bangalore, will decide the next course of action shortly,” Ponnacha said.
Inspite of repeated calls and a personal visit to the offices of the Sun Network by this correspondent, no response or statement was forthcoming from Vijay Kumar or any other official from Udaya/Sun.
As reported earlier, Udaya Network’s market leader Udaya TV, along with Udaya News and Ushe, became dearer by Rs 18 as of 1 August. Udaya TV became encrypted from 1 August, while the other two channels were already running as encrypted feeds.
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.
