Cable TV
AIDCF elects Anirudhsinh Jadeja as new president
KOLKATA: All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) has appointed GTPL Hathway MD Anirudhsinh Jadeja as the new president of the apex body of digital cable television players. The change has been made as the tenure of DEN Networks CEO SN Sharma as AIDCF president ended on 31 March 2021.
Jadeja is a veteran in the cable industry and founded GTPL Hathway in 2006. His strategic vision and hands-on leadership shaped the cable business over decades.
While giving his farewell address, Sharma welcomed Jadeja as the next AIDCF president and said, “Cable industry has witnessed many challenges in the last two years, including huge operational challenges from Covid2019 pandemic, however, due to its strong roots with the public at large, it managed to sail through. We hope the coming time will be interesting and conducive for the growth of the industry.”
In his first statement as AIDCF president, Jadeja said the apex body will continue to focus on the inclusiveness of all industry players, growth of the cable industry and its stakeholders, and representing the relevant issues and requirements of the industry in different forums. “The broadcasting and cable industry is witnessing the transformation in technology and delivery and we, at AIDCF, will continue to work towards benefitting the end consumers through technological advancements,” he added.
Noting that the next two years will be a period of technological upheaval in the cable industry, AIDCF secretary general Manoj P Chhangani said the federation and its members under Jadeja’s leadership will chalk out a robust path in providing advanced services to the end consumers.
All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) is India’s apex body for digital Multi System Operators (MSOs). The federation works towards the overall growth of the sector and creates an environment for not only complete digitisation of cable TV under regulatory guidelines but also delivers the benefits of digital services including broadband and other value added services to the people of India thus fulfilling the dream of ‘True Digital India.’
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.
