Cable TV
Den receives Law Tribunal nod for restructuring
BENGALURU: Indian multi system operator (MSO) Den Network Limited (Den) and wired broadband internet services provider has informed the bourses today (Friday) that the National Company Law Tribunal has approved a composite a composite scheme of arrangement for merger of 23 subsidiaries and demerger of one subsidiary.
On 16 February 2017, the board of directors of Den had informed the stock exchanges that its board had mooted merger of 23 of its subsidiaries in the cable business into one wholly owned subsidiary. The merger would lead to the strengthening of the single brand leading to a stronger market presence, providing customers with a seamless on-board experience and remove any other brand perceptions/distinctions in the consumers’ minds. The merger would also result in economics of scale and reduce administrative and regulatory compliances; would help in more focused operational efforts, realizing synergies in terms of compliance, governance, administrative and cost synergies explained the company.
Den said that the broadband demerger would enable a focused attention on the ISP business and achieve structural and operational efficiency, enhanced competitiveness and greater accountability besides accelerating value creation for shareholders. The company felt that the separation would allow the company to aggressively focus on significant growth potential for high speed data and related services in India; and that Den intended in taking the lead in driving wireline broadband penetration in India.
This was followed up with further details about the merger / demerger that were submitted to the stock exchanges on 5 September 2016.
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.
