Cable TV
Dish TV launches ‘Own Your Customer’ initiative
Mumbai: Dish TV India, a leading DTH service provider, has launched its marquee and unique ‘Own Your Customer’ (OYC) as part of its partnership with Local Cable Operators (LCOs). This collaboration with Dish TV will deliver a superior TV viewing experience to customers in a simplified manner eliminating the need for extensive infrastructure such as optical fiber, transmitters, nodes, and amplifiers. This partnership will ensure robust connectivity while enhancing the overall reliability of the network.
After COVID-19, while OTT platforms and DTH services continued to grow, traditional cable TV services suffered a minor setback. In such a situation, the ‘Own Your Customer’ (OYC) initiative launched by Dish TV will prove helpful to cable operators in strengthening their customer base. Cable operators were concerned about their declining customer base as they wanted to shift to DTH to avoid interruptions in their TV viewing experience. This Dish TV’s initiative will not only provide a perfect solution but will also help them retain their customer base without additional overhead costs.
With this OYC initiative, LCOs and MSOs (Multisystem Operations) will enjoy complete control over their networks and act as distributors of Dish TV in their respective areas such as recharge and activation through their self-operated portal, eliminating dependence on external entities. Consumers will now experience better technology with the assistance of their cable operators. Moreover, LCOs will have the opportunity to install broadband, enabling customers to utilize new digital technologies like the Dish TV Android Box from the comfort of their homes, not only further strengthening the broadband connection provided by LCOs but also providing end-to-end solution to customers.
Commenting on the initiative, Dish TV India Ltd CEO Manoj Dobhal, stated, “We are delighted to introduce the ‘Own Your Customer’ campaign, a first-of-its-kind and unique initiative in media distribution. It marks a major change in cable TV distribution. This initiative by Dish TV will not only empower LCOs and MSOs but will also enable them to expand their customer base and reduce operating costs, while Dish TV will gain access to new customers and reduce servicing overheads. This relationship ensures that both parties are committed to driving industry-wide change while providing unmatched value and services to customers.”
Through OYC, Dish TV reaffirms its commitment to supporting the growth of LCO businesses. Its primary objective is to revitalize the cable TV industry with the combined strength of both DTH and cable networks. Dish TV is fostering the growth of LCOs and MSOs by enhancing their customer relationships and introducing a customer-centric approach to TV distribution.
This unique initiative by Dish TV has garnered significant attention and interest from customers in the television distribution sector. It is expected to play a pivotal role in reshaping the future of entertainment distribution.
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.
