Cable TV
Ashok Amritraj looking to form JV with animation firm
MUMBAI: This is a time when foreign entertainment firms are looking at ways to get a foothold into India. American film producer Ashok Amritraj is no exception.
Hyde Park Entertainment chairman Amritraj spoke at the convention for the business of entertainment Frames this morning. The event attracted 1500 delegates from 17 countries.
He says that his firm is looking to form a joint venture (JV) with an Indian animation company.“I am also looking to make an Indian film in December. The problem though is that Indian films are not marketed properly abroad. One has drive for an hour in the US to reach a theatre showing an Indian film.
“The other issue is that we need stricter anti-piracy laws in India. In Chennai, it is a non bailable offence. The same should apply for the rest of the country. There should also be better copyright enforcement. It should not be that Indian films keep being inspired by a successful Hollywood product. I found it interesting to see a non-white Ang Lee win the Oscar for best director. Filmmakers are facing the threat not just from television channels, but also form new forms of entertainment like the iPod. Therefore it is important that we make better films and at more cost effective prices.”
Ficci president Saroj Kumar Poddar noted that Frames had evolved over the years and has added new dimensions. “It has gone from fundamental policy changes with broad brush approaches in entertainment to a deeper exploration of emerging facets in this industry. It is a matter of satisfaction for us at Ficci that having started from films, music and broadcast, we have moved into animation, gaming, visual effects, digital entertainment and this year into media. The challenge is in anticipating the technological revolution that lies ahead of us.
“In the realm of emerging technologies, it is the digital technology whether in radio, television, gaming or films that will drastically alter the face of the industry. Nine of the top 10 box office grossing films worldwide are richly endowed with special effects. Digital technology while opening up new vistas of revenue will also challenge piracy. It will also usher in a great demand for IT professionals in India. With our vast pool of software engineers and creative storytellers, India is poised to leapfrog from a mere outsourcing destination to the holders of new intellectual property.
“Ficci is humbly facilitating this process through instruments like Ficci Animation and Gaming Forum and Ficci Visual Effects Community. The Indian entertainment industry is witnessing phenomenal growth and is slated to grow at 19 per cent per annum to Rs 83,740 crores in 2010 from its current size of Rs 35,300 crores. The key driver will be technology,” said Poddar.
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.
