Cable TV
Banff to focus on digital media with sister event nextMedia
MUMBAI: Recognising that new media platforms is an invaluable part of todays television industry, the Banff World Television Festival in Canada has ramped-up the programme for its lead-in, sister conference, nextMedia 2006.
The aim is to offer delegates an all-encompassing experience. nextMedia from 9 to 11 June will deliver the latest information on cutting-edge multi-platform distribution and content. This will be followed by Banff 2006 from 11 to 14 June.
Set amid the Canadian Rockies at the Fairmont Banff Springs in Banff, Alberta, this years nextMedia is a three-day event, featuring keynotes, international panels, best practices, case studies, as well as pitching and networking events. All these will focus on the future of digital content.
This years theme focusses on digital content that is seamlessly integrated into our lives and distributed across multiple media platforms. nextMedia will also offer attendees an insight into the future of television, providing an essential companion to the Banff World Television Festival.
Achilles Media CEO Robert Montgomery who is producing the event says, “nextMedia is on the pulse of emerging technologies and the future of digital content on such mobile channels as mobile internet, videophones and other handheld devices. The nextMedia/ Banff 2006 coupling is a must-attend for all television industry executives interested in staying up-to-date on such advanced media distribution platforms and their expanding markets and audiences.”
nextMedia 2006, now in its second year, has bolstered its offerings to include these new highlights:
– Digital Delivery Briefings with content aggregators
– Interactive Exchange Sessions with broadcasters, CEs and TV executives
– The Digital Deli a working lunch for content creators, where delegates learn how to repurpose and sell their content
– The Market Place a delegate lounge with screening facilities and market kiosks.
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.
