Cable TV
CVNO model to spread wings in north India by Feb 2015
MUMBAI: It was an initiative of Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation (MCOF), thoroughly supported by multi system operator (MSO) BR Cable Network, which helped a new model to make in-roads into the cable TV industry in Mumbai.
It was in May 2014 that the first Cable Virtual Network Operator (CVNO) was launched in the city. It was modeled in a way that the last mile owners (LMOs) could borrow the infrastructure from the MSO, seed set top boxes (STBs) and manage their own subscribers. The CVNO model came up as a response from the LMOs to the MSOs, who were feeling disempowered post digitisation.
While the LMOs across the nation took time to understand the model, seems like CVNO is finally gaining momentum. What started with Mumbai, has already spread its wings in Kolkata, where the LMOs have come together and have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with multi system operator (MSO) Meghbela Cable in order take its infrastructure.
Now, if sources from the cable TV industry are to be believed, the model could be launched in a couple of more states. “And this will be as early as January-February 2015,” the source says. He further adds that states like Bengaluru, Gujarat, Delhi and even Punjab could follow in the steps of LMOs in Mumbai and Kolkata.
“Delhi could lead the way in northern India for the CVNO model, and if things work out as planned, Fastway Network too could face some challenges from the new model,” concludes the industry source.
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.
