Cable TV
MSOs upload channel capacity & RIO, AIDCF requests b’casters too
MUMBAI: Multi-system-operators (MSOs) in India which fall under the aegis of All-India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) yesterday night uploaded their RIO, channel carrying capacity and interconnect agreements on their respective websites. AIDCF, a few days back, had advised its member-MSOs to upload the same before the deadline set by TRAI.
It is not clear when or whether broadcasters will follow TRAI guidelines and upload RIO on their respective websites.
In this digital era, MSOs are now ready to pass on the benefits of the new tariff order to 120 million viewers of TV channels.
The new set of Tariff and Interconnect Regulations issued by TRAI will help in creating a level playing field for all the stakeholders, specially the end viewers who will now have complete freedom at their disposal. It will also help in bringing more transparency and fuel growth by regulating and balancing the entire broadcasting eco-system.
AIDCF, once again requests all the Broadcasters to upload their RIO on their websites without any further ado, as the deadline for the same has already expired.
AIDCF president TS Panesar said,“To honour TRAIs deadline and pass on
the benefits of new regulations to end viewers, MSOs are fully ready as
they have already uploaded their RIO, Channel Carrying Capacity and
Interconnect Agreement on their websites. We hope that esteemed
Broadcasters would join hands with us and upload their RIO rates ASAP
in true spirit of collaboration and indulgence.”
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.
