Cable TV
Asian TV homes in the US increase by 3.2%: Nielsen
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MUMBAI: Nielsen Media Research’s new findings revealed that the number of ethnic television homes in the US has increased significantly since last year. Because of more people migrating to the South and Western regions of the US, Nielsen is reporting many shifts in its local market rankings. Among the ethnic population, the number of Asian television homes increased the most by 3.2 per cent to 4.22 million. Last year the number stood at 4.09 million. |
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On the other hand, the number of Hispanic television homes in the US increased by 2.9 per cent to 11.23 million (against last year’s 10.91 million) and African American television homes increased by 0.8 per cent to 13.28 million (against last year’s 13.17 million).  Nielsen has estimated the total number of television households within the US (including Alaska and Hawaii) as 110.2 million now, which was an increase of 1/2 per cent over last year. These estimates, which are projected to 1 January, 2006, will be used for the entire 2005-2006 television season. |
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Nielsen’s new national universe estimates also reflect the aging of the baby boom generation. The US Census Bureau defines the baby boomers as persons born in the post-World War II period from 1946 to 1964 when the US birth rates were at record high levels. In 2006, the oldest boomers will reach age 60, while the youngest will reach age 42. While the per cent of total persons in US TV Homes increased by approximately one per cent, there were larger per cent increases in the number of persons over age 55. Also, many of the local television markets increasing in Nielsen’s Designated Market Area (DMA) rank are in the southern and western regions of the United States. This movement is attributed to many people recently migrating south and west, and is consistent with the population growth estimates recently released by the US Census Bureau. According to the most recent US Census Bureau estimates, 60 of the 100 fastest growing counties were in the southern portion of the US and 23 were in the west. The following is a list of the more notable changes at the top of Nielsen’s DMA ranking:
Nielsen Media Research annually reports television household estimates each September based on information from a variety of sources, including Claritas, the United States Census Bureau, and Nielsen Media Research’s own television samples. |
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.
