Cable TV
Analogue equipment may be seized, warns MIB
NEW DELHI: Stressing that the law permits seizure of equipment of defaulting cable operators. all state-level administrators have been asked to direct district magistrates (DMs) to take action against those operators who were still distributing analogue signals.
In its letter to all states, the Ministry said that Section 11 of the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act 1005 gives powers to act against the defaulters. The letter wanted the administrators to allot about half an hour time to the Ministry, in any one of the meetings held by them with DMs in near future to highlight their role/powers.
The Ministry also said it wanted to get the issue monitored by senior officers like Divisional Commissioner, Revenue Secretary or inspectors general. At the outset, the Ministry also said “hardly any compliance reports are being received” despite instructions given earlier.
At the outset, the Ministry said that it had been mandated that only digital encrypted signals can be carried on the cable television networks in the country from 1 April.
“However for its successful implementation, it is important that regular monitoring is carried out by the authorised officers {DM, SDM and CP as per Section 2 of the Cable Act to ensure that cable operators carry only digital encrypted signals, follow the provisions in the Act and the Rules framed thereunder, and prompt action is taken against the defaulters.”
The Ministry has prepared a Check List for inspection of MSOs by the Authorised Officers. Copy of the checklist is available at the MIB website.
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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.
