Cable TV
Den Networks & Snapdeal ink 50:50 JV for TV Commerce channel
MUMBAI: After inking a joint-venture with Jasper Infotech, the entity that owns and operates the digital commerce platform – Snapdeal.com, multi system operator (MSO) Den Networks has now launched a ‘TV Commerce’ channel with an aim to create a multi-nodal electronic shopping avenue for customers.
The channel is currently available for viewers on channel number 132 on Den and will be extended to other cable and DTH networks over the next six months.
With Den Networks’ reach into about 13 million households in over 200 cities across 13 states in the country, Snapdeal.com can leverage the robust distribution to provide customers easy access to products across home, lifestyle and electronics categories.
Snapdeal.com co-founder and CEO Kunal Bahl said, “Innovation lies at the heart of Snapdeal.com and with this initiative we are taking yet another step to fulfill our promise of providing accessibility to the best products at best prices to consumers across India. We are delighted to partner with a likeminded brand like Den Networks, which enjoys massive reach and brand loyalty across the entire country and especially in smaller towns of India. India is a country with many heterogeneous segments of consumers, and we believe that by reaching 150 million households with 600 million people that have a TV, we can create another revolution through 7V Commerce.”
Den Snapdeal TV shop will benefit customers who have limited access to internet services particularly in tier 2 and 3 cities.
Den Networks CMD Sameer Manchanda added, “We are extremely thrilled to partner with Snapdeal.com on this game-changing initiative. By leveraging Snapdeal and Den’s nationwide distribution network will now be able to engage with a much larger audience, which is still not exposed to the benefits of online shopping and internet access. Together, we aim to offer the customers a wide assortment of products and provide them with a hassle free buying experience. The response to the pilot has been extremely encouraging and we are sure Den-Snapdeal TV Shop will be well received by our viewers.”
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.
