Cable TV
TRAI gives smaller cable operators a break on mandatory audits
NEW DELHI: India’s telecom regulator has proposed easing compliance burdens on smaller cable television operators whilst tightening audit procedures for the rest of the industry under draft amendments released on 22 September.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) plans to make annual system audits optional for distribution platform operators (DPOs) serving fewer than 30,000 active subscribers. The move follows complaints from smaller operators about the disproportionate cost of mandatory audits, which can consume a significant share of their revenues.
The proposed draft Telecommunications (Broadcasting And Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Seventh Amendment ) Regulations, 2025 state that larger operators would still face stricter requirements. They must complete audits for the preceding financial year and share reports with broadcasters by 30 September each year, replacing the current calendar year framework.
The draft also introduces new provisions for infrastructure sharing between operators. Where multiple DPOs share encoding equipment, the infrastructure provider would insert watermark logos at the encoder level whilst individual operators add their logos through set-top boxes. However, TRAI proposes limiting screen clutter by allowing only two logos—the broadcaster’s and the last-mile distributor’s—to appear simultaneously.
The regulator has addressed longstanding industry disputes over audit challenges. Under new procedures, broadcasters questioning audit reports must cite specific discrepancies with evidence within 30 days. If unsatisfied with auditor responses, they can request special audits but must bear the costs.
“The audit of systems is necessary to ensure that the systems deployed by a DPO are addressable as per regulatory requirements,” TRAI stated in its explanatory memorandum. “Proper and accurate subscription reports are very important as the settlement of charges between service providers is based on such reports.”
The draft regulations also mandate that auditors provide independence certificates confirming they have no conflicts of interest with the entities being audited.
Industry stakeholders have until 6 October to submit comments on the proposals. The amendments are scheduled to take effect from 1st April 2026.
The move reflects TRAI’s broader effort to reduce regulatory burden on smaller operators whilst maintaining oversight of the Rs 70,000 crore broadcasting and cable services sector. The authority previously made certain compliance requirements optional for operators with fewer than 30,000 subscribers in quality-of-service regulations issued in July 2024.
However, some industry players have criticised the proposals. Broadcaster associations argue that exempting smaller operators from mandatory audits could increase under-reporting of subscriber numbers, whilst some cable operators contend that even the revised procedures remain too burdensome.
The draft comes as India’s television distribution industry grapples with declining subscriber bases and increased competition from digital platforms. Many smaller operators have struggled with compliance costs, particularly annual audit fees that can range from Rs 50,000 to several lakhs depending on system complexity.
TRAI’s proposals also address technical requirements for infrastructure sharing arrangements, mandating separate data instances for each operator using shared subscriber management and conditional access systems to prevent cross-contamination of subscriber data.
The regulator emphasised that the 30,000-subscriber threshold for audit exemptions would be reviewed periodically based on market conditions.
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.
