Cable TV
Cable ops divided on opposition to Rs 72 FTA rate
NEW DELHI: On one side the smiles have broadened, while on the other side the scowls have deepened.
Broadcasters, specially those managing pay channels, may have reasons to smile amidst tensions since late last week when the government finalised the rate of the basic tier of free to air cable channels at Rs 72 per month, 67 paise more than what had been recommended by task force on conditional access. Some cable operators, on the other hand, have definitely got busy with legalities to find loopholes in the relevant rules so as to move the court.
A notification to this effect is now expected soon, though till late in the evening government sources had no idea when the notification would be finally issued that would formalise the price of the basic tier. Information and broadcasting minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told journalists in Chennai late last week that his ministry has cleared the price of the basic tier at Rs 72.
Though broadcasters are tightlipped on the developments — there’s an Indian Broadcasting Foundation meeting tomorrow here after which more information may tumble out — a section of cable operators are almost up in arms.
Cable Networks Association’s Rakesh Dutta, Cable Operators Federation of India’s Roop Sharma (both members of the task force on CAS) and Vicky Chowdhry of the National Cable and Telecom Association may not have much love lost amongst them, but on one issue today they are unanimous: the price of Rs 72 for the basic tier is too low and that some legal action may have to be taken.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com from Kolkata, Sharma, one of the oldest leaders of cable ops though she is no more a cable operator herself anymore, said, “We are exploring all options, including seeking legal redressal on the issue.”
Sharma added that she has organised a symposiums and meet in Kolkata today and tomorrow after which a similar thing would be done in Mumbai too to awaken the cable ops to their fundamental right to carry on a business to earn a livelihood, which would become difficult if the government sticks to its stand on Rs 72 per month per household for the basic tier of cable service.
Both Dutta and Chowdhry also added that they are consulting lawyers to study the ground on which the pricing issue can be challenged in court. This may include the confusion that still prevails over set-top boxes and their availability, despite assertions to the contrary made by the likes of Siti Cable’s Jawahar Goel.
However, there is also a section of cable operators that feels no step should be taken that would delay the implementation of CAS, which is in “national interest.”
“Moving courts on CAS may be playing into the hands of those vested interest who are trying to delay its rollout,” AK Rastogi, an independent cable operator in Delhi, who also runs an industry cable magazine called Avishkar, said.
Meanwhile, the broadcasters would meet tomorrow under the aegis of the IBF to chalk out an action plan (related to CAS, of course) for a meeting some broadcasters have sought with a parliamentary panel day after tomorrow.
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.
