Cable TV
Cable truce back in Mumbai
MUMBAI: The settlement happened sooner than expected. Zee-Turner agreed late Wednesday to restore signals to Rajesh Cable, an independent operator in Mumbai. And Rajesh Cable, in turn, agreed not to poach Siticable’s subscribers nor reduce cable subscription rates to expand his network.
In a related development, Hathway Cable & Datacom and InCablenet also agreed to carry Zee-Turner on their cable networks.
The issue had unfolded after Zee-Turner switched off signals to Rajesh Cable, an independent operator in central Mumbai, due to under-reporting of subscriber declarations. But it had to do more than that: Rajesh Cable was poaching Siticable’s (a wholly owned subsidiary of Zee Telefilms) subscribers in Ghatkopar and Powai, central and western suburbs in Mumbai.
Zee’s move sparked a reaction from Cable Operators and Distributors Association (CODA), an organisation representing last mile cable operations and distributors.
Hathway Cable & Datacom and InCablenet on Tuesday switched off Zee channels in many pockets of Mumbai. However, Seven Star, an independent operator in the western suburbs, did not extend its support to CODA.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com earlier in the day, Siticable head Jawahar Goel had told: “The MSOs had decided not to poach operators from each other. Now we have to examine what is the status of this. How can MSOs and CODA support price cutting and under-declaration of subscribers? We will discuss this in our next MSO Alliance meeting.”
Siticable distributor Ravi Singh, Parab and other representatives resolved the issue later in the day at the intervention of cable TV doyen Jagjit Kohli who also heads ETC Networks, a company acquired by Zee Telefilms
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.
