Cable TV
Action to be taken against analogue-using MSOs / LCOs in urban areas
NEW DELHI: With the deadline for switching off analogue signals in Phase III of digitisation of cable television getting over on 31 January 2017, all nodal officers have been asked to initiate action against multi-system operators who are still continuing with analogue signals.
The information and broadcasting ministry said said that the nodal offices should immediately “ensure/confirm that the analogue signals in Phase lll areas are not transmitted with effect from 1 February 2017.
The ministry said that action against MSOs / cable operators can be initiated under Section 11 of the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 for violating Section 44. The ministry must be informed of action taken.
The deadline of 31 December 2015 for Phase III had been extended to 31 January 2017 because of the stay orders earlier granted by various high courts which were vacated by the Delhi High Court.
The Chief Secretaries of all States/UTs were requested on 17 January 2017 to ensure that the Authorised officers get acquainted with their powers and enforce them against defaulters MSOs/Cable Operators if they continue to carry analogue signals in Phase lll urban areas after 31 January 2017.
Under Section 44 of the Cable TV Act 1995, it is obligatory for every cable operator to transmit or re-transmit programmes of any channel in an encrypted form through a digital addressable system with effect from the date as may be specified/notified by the Ministry from time to time.
The Ministry claimed that the reports from many major MSOs having switched to digital signals, has been very encouraging. But, information from many MSOs are yet to be received.
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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.
