Cable TV
Cable fraternity lays it on thick in Thackerays’ honour
MUMBAI: “We cable operators are like mice and Balasaheb is our Ganesha.”
This was just one of the more sycophantic lines thrown up in a fawning demonstration of gratitude to Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray and his son Uddhav Thackeray at the CODA (Cable Operator and Distributor Association) meeting held at the Rang Sharda auditorium located in Bandra (Mumbai suburb) today.
Sena working president Uddhav Thackeray received mementoes from CODA functionaries and members such as Seven Star network’s Nadir Ali and Raja, Sai Cable representatives, Sonali Cable’s Suvarn Amonkar, others such as distributor Ganesh Naidu. The attractively designed mementoes included Ganesha idols and a dish shaped memento as well as a ship.
In fact, all the Sena officials in their speeches referred to these mementoes that were symbolic. For instance Sena functionary and cable operator Pradeep Chitre said: “We cable operators like mice and Balasaheb is our Ganesha.”
Sena leader Subhash Desai said: “Balasaheb is our vignaharta (like Lord Ganesha who removes obstacles from the path) and sukhhartha (like Lord Ganesha who has given us happiness and peace). He also said that Balasaheb will ferry the cable operator’s boat across rough waters.”
CODA had ensured that all the necessary arrangements were made to give a warm welcome to top Sena leaders. The roads leading to the venue had orange flags. Specially dressed in Peshwa (Maratha kings) style attires, musicians played the tutari (a musical instrument of the Peshwa age) and greeted Uddhav Thackeray when he arrived.
CODA asked Uddhav Thackeray to garland a bust of Peshwa king Shivaji Raje and a photograph of the late Meenatai Thackeray (Balasaheb’s wife).
When asked about this ‘almost sychophantic” approach, a CODA official later said: “And why not, the Sena is the only political party to support the last mile operators when no one else did – not even the ruling NCP-Congress alliance government.”
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.
