Cable TV
BBC Worldwide to co-produce a show in China for the first time
MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide, the BBC’s commercial arm has announced its first ever co-production in China. The natural history series Wild China will see a partnership between the BBC’s Natural History Unit and China Television Media (CTV), the production arm of Chinese state broadcaster, CCTV.
Delivering in March 2008 to coincide with the Beijing Olympics, Wild China explores the natural history of one of the world’s most mysterious and diverse countries. The six-part series will mark the culmination of the BBC Natural History Unit’s Continents Series.
CTV’s partnership with the BBC Worldwide gives the joint production team access to some of the China’s remotest reaches and most visually stunning scenery. Shot entirely in High Definition, Wild China will take viewers on a journey through the diverse landscapes of China, including the ancient Han kingdom, the Mongol steppes and Uygur desert, the Silk Road, and the Tibetan Plateau.
BBC Worldwide MD global television sales Mark Young said, “We are excited and honoured to be working so closely with China Television Media on this landmark partnership. The Wild China production team’s unparalleled access throughout China during this production will provide a unique window into some of the planet’s most captivating terrains.”
CTV GM Gao Xiaoping said, “The BBC is world renowned for its leadership in natural history production. We are delighted to work together and bring the world a new view of China’s beautiful landscapes and fascinating wildlife before the 2008 Olympic Games.”
The show’s executive producer Brian Leith said, “China is one of the last great frontiers for wildlife television: a more or less unknown – yet vast – country. We’re very excited to be filming in some of the most remote regions of this wonderful country – and we think Wild China will bring some fabulous and dramatic revelations. I’ve learned that China is never what you expect it to be.”
Wild China is a BBC / CTV / Travel Channel co-production in association with Canal+.
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.
