Cable TV
Conditional access gets the thumbs up in indiantelevision.com poll
The government seems to have the mandate of the people in the matter of conditional access.
The latest indiantelevision.com poll that queried if conditional access is the solution for the ills facing the Indian cable and satellite industry, had a whopping 71 per cent endorsing CAS. Those who answered in the negative were a mere 17 per cent, while 13 per cent were unable to decide either way.
Information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj does seem to be inclined to push in conditional access, a move that is likely to ring in some cheer for the cable industry. The broadcaster community has not been quite so enthusiastic though .
Star Group CEO James Murdoch, in Mumbai last month, made no bones about his displeasure with the cable op fraternity, which he blamed for the mess the industry is in. According to Murdoch, the whole call by the cable industry for CAS systems to be introduced was no more than a delaying tactics was reacting to what was potentially a major threat to his business interests in India. The government task force’s report on the introduction of conditional access has not been too helpful to the broadcaster either.
Among other recommendations, the report stipulates that CAS should be mandated under the Cable Television Networks (Regulations) Act, 1995, that a set top box be required only for pay channels (premium tier) while FTA channels continue to be receivable by subscribers in the current mode. While the government does not intend to interfere in the pricing of the pay channels or the pricing of set top boxes, leaving both to market forces, it would still retain the right to regulate the price of the ‘basic tier’ of FTA channels, the report says.
The report is also of the view that consumer interest needs to be protected by providing efficient and responsive service through a transparent and accurate billing and collection system to ensure that the revenue accruable to the government is determined in a fair manner. The report envisages that eventually the set top would permit migration by the subscriber across various delivery media – satellite, cable and terrestrial. The user will have the capability to migrate to various delivery media, simply by changing the “network interface module”.
However, even if legislation is to come in the next few months, implementation will take three to five years, according to the industry.
Although the poll result offers a clear inclination towards CAS, there is no doubt that there is a real problem on the cards for the general entertainment pay channels. This is because if the decision is left to consumers, the majority would go in for the basic tier. The resultant picking and choosing among channels will mean that the bottom will fall out of all that has been achieved in the last few years. The leader, Star naturally has the most to lose. However, all pay bouquets will take a hit, although niche channels need not be as worried by the introduction of CAS.
Some or all of these issues are likely to come up for debate at a seminar on CAS scheduled for next week in the capital. The seminar is being organised by the Swiss-based Consumer Action Network, according to Deepa Mistry of the PR firm Euro RSEG.
The government, meanwhile, has not really moved forward on this issue. Whether it is the political uncertainties prevailing that have virtually paralysed the government or whether it is due to some heavy duty behind the scenes lobbying is still to be ascertained.
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.
