Cable TV
MCOF to organise 2 day event ‘NAFDI’
MUMBAI: Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation (MCOF) is set to unfold its two day special event named NAFDI (National Agenda for Digital India). The event will see Last Mile Operators (LMOs) participating from across the region.
“With this event we are trying to chalk out a plan for the upcoming days. I know 31 December is knocking at the door but there are still few options that we can discuss and that’s what the event is all about” said MCOF president Arvind Prabhoo.
The two day event commences on 28 November and will conclude the next day on 29 November. The organisers are also trying rope in executives form the regulatory bodies.
“LMOS’ from all over the country have shown their keenness to attend this event to carry forward the Prime Ministers dream of Digital India” informed MCOF
The Agenda
Agenda for NAFDI (National Agenda For Digital India).
Day 1
9am- tea and breakfast
9:20 a.m. : Welcome speech.
9:40 to 11:00 a.m. : DAS DEADLINE – A THREAT OR OPPURTUNITY
(Discussion on analogue sunset 31st December 2015 , action required for smooth implementation and maximum penetration of digital boxes)
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. : LESSONS FROM PHASE 1 AND 2
(Analysis on past mistakes done in phase 1and 2, its pros and cons faced by LMOs and where they stand now. Changes in MSO Strategies and their impact/B2B prepaid and STB sales)
1:00 to 2:00 p.m. :lunch break.
2:00 to 3:00 p.m. : RIGHT TIME TO SHAPE THE FUTURE
Impact of FDI in Cable, pro consumer regulation and ICA.
3:00 to 4:00 p.m.CONVERGENCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES.
(Role of Telcos and PSUs in Digital India)
4:00 to 5:00 p.m.OUTSOURCING, THE NEXT BIG LEAP
(Resource sharing, profiting from outsourcing)
5:00 to 6:00 p.m. question and answers / tea break.
Day two 29th Nov.
9:00 to 9:30 a.m. : Tea and breakfast
9:30 to 11:30 a.m. : BROADBAND – THE FUTURE : Monetising the Pipe.
11:30 to 1:00 p.m.Infrastructure development and F.D.I push…role of existing M.S.O affiliated LMOs .Changing Regulations, their impact and imposing GST…100% FDI approved.
1:00 to 2:00 p.m. : lunch break.
2.00pm onwards. National Alliance requirements on one India and one solution for digital India LMOs , suitable platform required.
Tea break and summit curtain falls.
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.
