Cable TV
Cable operators demand scrapping of entertainment tax, threaten to black out news channels
MUMBAI: Cable operators and control room owners in the western state of Maharashtra are up in arms over what they term heavy handed treatment from the authorities on the issue of entertainment tax arrears.
They are now demanding the complete scrapping of the tax saying it is impossible to implement in a rational manner and have instead suggested that the government charge a one time tax on the purchase of new television sets.
Matters came to a head after a recent directive from the government to get tough on defaulting operators following which certain operators were arrested and control rooms seized.
The issue has been hanging fire for over six months following the doubling of entertainment tax per connection per month from Rs 15 to Rs 30 in municipal areas and from Rs 10 to Rs 20 in other parts of the state. It may be recalled that operators went on strike over the issue in August 2000 after which a committee representing operators, the government and consumers was set up to resolve the issue.
Mumbai-based Live Satellite Media promoter Atul Saraf, who is on the committee representing cable operators accused the government of putting forth unreasonable demands.
Saraf said a number of options were being considered which included blacking out all news channels or even a total shutdown similar to what was witnessed in August. If the government still refused to come around they would move the courts, he said.
Despite meetings with revenue minister Ashok Chavan and one with finance minister Jayant Patil last month, there appeared no solution in sight, Saraf said.
Saraf cited the situation prevailing in the eastern state of West Bengal to buttress his argument, where he said a one-time tax was paid on the purchase of new television sets. “West bengal charges no entertainment tax so why should there be one here?” he asks.
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.
