Cable TV
DAS cases put off to 23 Nov as legal processes incomplete
NEW DELHI: All legal cases related to third phase of Digital Addressable System (DAS), listed before a division bench headed by Justice G Rohini of Delhi High Court, have been adjourned to 23 November 2016.
The bench comprising Justice G Rohini and Sangita Dhingra Sehgal did not hear the various cases as it was informed that some legal processes relating to the cases had not been completed. Earlier on 18 October 2016, the division bench had taken cognisance of all cases that challenged any constitutional norms.
Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva had issued notice in September on two more petitions — filed by Om Systems of Mumbai and Digiana— related to Phase III of DAS. The cases also include an application by the Indian Broadcasting Foundation for being impleaded in the case.
Earlier, on 26 September 2016, the division bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal had held that two matters, filed by Indusind Media & Communication Ltd and Bhima Riddhi Digital Services, were challenging the constitutional validity of certain provisions of Maharashtra Entertainment Duty Act, 1923 as amended by Maharashtra Entertainment Duty (Amendment and Continuance) Act, 2014 and not the validity of the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable Services) Interconnection (Digital Addressable Cable Television Systems) Regulations 2012.
The Supreme Court had on 1 April 2016 this year accepted the plea of the Central Government that “it would be just and proper” to transfer to Delhi High Court all cases pending in different High Courts, many of which had given injunction orders.
A total of 62 cases had been filed by some multi-system operators (MSOs) in various courts in the country for extension in the deadline of Phase lll. Out of these 62 cases, 12 cases had been disposed of by respective courts and three cases had been withdrawn by the petitioners.
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Two more DAS cases put off to Oct. in Delhi HC
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.
