Cable TV
Amitabh Srivastava quits Walt Disney India
MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Television International (India) director affiliate relations Amitabh Srivastava is quitting the company in search of news challenges.
Today, was his last day in office.
A company spokesperson confirmed the same to Indiantelevision.com, citing that no replacement had been found as yet.
As director affiliate relations, Srivastava was mandated with the task of working with Disney India’s distribution partner, Star India, to manage all aspects of cable and satellite distribution and network development.
For the last couple of months however, Srivastava was working closely with Disney India director business development Shantanu Nalavadi in strategising and executing Disney’s growth initiatives for India across television, licensing and merchandising, radio, on-line gaming, mobile and broadband content, studio, home video, publishing and animation.
Srivastava joined Disney in January 2005 from the TV Today Network where he was head of distribution and network development. He was an integral part of the team at TV Today, which helped in launching Aaj Tak and Headlines Today.
Prior to his stint with TV Today, Srivastava was with BBC World’s Indian operation and has also held senior management positions at MTV and The Times of India.
On being queried as to where his next destination would be, Srivastava said, “I’m taking a break right now and have not yet decided where I am going.”
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.
