Cable TV
DEN Networks ties up with Visiware, launches premium gaming service
MUMBAI: DEN Networks, one of the largest cable TV service providers in India, has launched Playin’TV, a premium interactive gaming service that will usher in rich gaming experience for its subscribers.
The company has partnered with France-based Visiware International, the world leader in interactive games for television to offer these services. This is Visiware International’s first association with a CATV company in India.
– Partners with France-based Visiware International to launch Playin’TV
– Offers Playin’TV to subscribers for free until 31 May
Type of Games on Playin’TV
– Arcade / Adventure – Carrot Mania or Zombie Market
– Brain teasers – Incan-Tatris or Match 3 type of games;
– Board and Cards – Solitaire Club
– Sports – Bowling or Cricket and much moreThe company has partnered with France-based Visiware International, the world leader in interactive games for television to offer these services. This is Visiware International’s first association with a CATV company in India.
Commenting on the launch of Playin’TV, DEN Networks CEO S.N. Sharma said, “We are excited to partner with Visiware International and launch Playin’ TV on our cable TV and broadband networks. Playin’ TV is an internationally-renowned interactive gaming channel and we always strive to provide world class entertainment to our customers.
He further added, “The launch coincides with the arrival of Indian summers, a time when most people prefer indoor entertainment. Playin’ TV’s comprehensive suite of games ranging from board and card games to adventure and sports will provide the ideal indoor recreation to DEN subscribers across all ages. With DEN Networks’ 13 million plus subscriber base spread across 400+ cities, Visiware International is set to gain a massive entry into the Indian market while our subscribers will enjoy premium games of international repute.”
The company is offering these games to its cable TV subscribers for free until 31st May. Post that, it will provide membership subscription at a promotional price of Rs 35 per month till September 2017. The launch of Playin’TV on DEN Boomband, the company’s broadband service is to follow soon.
Exclusive to DEN Cable subscribers, Playin’TV is accessible 24/7 on Channel No. 444. Subscribers need no other accessories other than their set top box and remote control to start playing on the TV. Some of the popular genres of games that will be available to Playin’TV subscribers include Adventure, Board & Cards, Brain Teasers, and Sports. DEN will offer 6 games at the launch in May, with 1 new game added every month until September 2017. Post that, the games will be refreshed each month with favorite games staying on air for longer duration.
Visiware International COO Frederic Fellague said, “Visiware International being one of the pioneers and market leader is proud to partner with one of India’s largest cable distribution companies. We believe that gaming is one of the key to increase ARPU on cable. Partnering with DEN Networks will allow us to demonstrate in the future our capability to develop new forms of gaming interactions with the evolution of the set top box market.”
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.
