Cable TV
Cable ops push Star One out of prime band
MUMBAI: Cable operators in Mumbai have pushed Star One into a higher frequency, forcing the channel to move out of its prime band location in all networks across the city.
The reason on offer: Star India has been forcing the second bouquet on cable operators. Also, Tata Sky, in which Star is a 20 per cent joint venture partner, is approaching housing societies with the proposal of offering residents a central dish antenna through which it can connect individual installations and offer direct-to-home (DTH) service.
The decision was taken by Cable Operators and Distributors Association (CODA). “Star has been bundling channels and forcing the second bouquet on us. Besides, through Tata Sky it is taking a direct-to-society approach to harm the interest of cable TV operators. We should be offered standalone channels,” says CODA president Ganesh Naidu.
Star India distribution head Tony D’Silva rubbishes such arguments. “We haven’t been given any reasons. And why are we singled out? Besides, Tata Sky is an independent company. Such actions can harass consumers. If they had grievances, they could have taken methods like approaching the regulatory body,” he says.
CODA, which met on 27 January, is particularly concerned about the threat that DTH could pose after Tata Sky launches its service. Cable operators do not want pay TV broadcasters to put pressure on rates. “We are against bundling of channels, particularly the second bouquet which consumers don’t want to pay for. We have started with Star One. We may take similar action against the other bouquets,” says Anil Parab of CODA.
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.
