Cable TV
Animal Planet teams with WWF for eco-reality series ‘Planet Action’
MUMBAI: Around the globe, pollution, global warming, deforestation, fishing practices, all play a part in endangering the world’s wildlife. Most often, the danger comes as a result of human behaviour. In a mission to show viewers how they can help the conservation cause, Animal Planet and WWF, the global conservation organisation, present Planet Action – an eco-reality series which takes on these crises in a brand new way.
Starting 2 April, the six-episode series Planet Action will air on Animal Planet every Sunday at 9 pm. The series will premiere globally on Animal Planet.
The series takes an unique approach in addressing some of the current
issues facing wildlife and eco-systems today. The series follows an
international team of seven enthusiastic amateur environmentalists as they are immersed in six different conservation projects. Working under the pressure of strict deadlines and tight budgets in remote locations, the team must work together to accomplish each mission.
Over six weeks, we see conservation in action as the team tackles projects to make a real difference. The journeys range from saving endangered leatherback turtles in Panama to planting 100 trees in the heart of Borneo’s rainforest to help the orangutans fight for survival.
Animal Planet Brand Director Raja Balasubramanian said, “Animal Planet has presented many entertaining programmes, both from India and abroad, to increase the understanding on wildlife extinction and environment deterioration. Planet Action is an eco-reality programme that, besides informing, will entertain viewers by presenting them all the emotion and drama of a group of amateur environmentalists tasked with real-life challenges.”
The diverse group of participants from Venezuela, Vietnam, Sweden,
Australia, Brazil, UK and USA came together to pursue a common cause. WWF experts are on hand as ‘mentors’ during each challenge, as the team learns firsthand about the realities of conservation while at the same time coping with extreme conditions, unfamiliar cultures and the pressures of protecting wildlife.
Can the team put personal issues aside and cooperate as a group to undertake these important challenges? Planet Action captures all the emotion and drama as tempers fray and moods swing while the team works together towards their ultimate goal – protecting the future of the animals with whom we share the planet.
WWF-India SG and CEO Ravi Singh said, “Planet Action is a great example of active media partnership to showcase the tough work of conservation to the world. I am hopeful that more and more people will be sensitised about the threats to the environment and to it’s species and the urgent need to conserve the same.”
WWF-India is the largest and one of the most experienced conservation organizations in the country. And, with almost five million supporters distributed throughout five continents, WWF has a global network active in over 90 countries and has played a major role in the evolution of the international conservation movement. Their mission is to stop the degradation of the planet and to help people live in harmony with nature.
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.
