Cable TV
Distraction Formats is bringing comedies to MIPTV
MUMBAI: Two new scripted comedies from international format distributor Distraction Formats will make their debut at the television marketplace MipTV next month.
MIPTV takes place in Cannes, France from 2-6 April.
Aimed at the 15 to 35 age group, The Invincibles and Radio Sex are thoroughly modern vehicles that get maximum laugh mileage out age-old and ever-popular topics. At the same time, Distraction is exploiting the strength of its flagship comedy Love Bugs and the burgeoning popularity of new technologies with the development of interactive elements.
The Invincibles provides a look at the lives of four buddies facing imminent maturity. As their 30th birthdays approach, they ask the questions all young men must ask: Have we partied enough? Have we had our fair share of women, of thrills – of fun? There’s only one way to be sure, which provides the basis for the wild times that make up this outrageous 60-minute comedy.
Distraction’s second new scripted format comes in 100 quick 5-minute episodes, each one a burst of insight into sex, love, relationships and the baggage that accompanies them. Radio Sex focusses on a late-night radio show whose mission it is to create a communication channel between men and women. In a case of life imitating art, secrets are exchanged, plots are hatched, and the sexes “communicate” in the broadcast studio, the production office and the radio station bathroom.
Distraction CEO, Michel Rodrigue says, “We are very pleased to bring these shows to MipTV. Both are very clever and extremely funny, which makes them a natural fit within our formats catalogue.”
Working with Interactive Rights Management (IRM), Distraction has already developed a range of interactive services from fixed line telephony brand extensions to MMS comic strips and mobile video downloads for Love Bugs in Russia. Interactive elements have also been introduced into the format in Italy, and services will soon launch in Ukraine and the Middle-East.
IRM’s Valérie Bozzetto says, “The strong format brands that Distraction represents provide excellent launch pads for interactive services. We enjoy working with Distraction’s clients to implement these and to help them fully realize interactive potential.”
Another Distraction property, Sins of Love, has recently sold in France, and development of interactive applications around the format is under way. Sins of Love was launched at Mipcom last October.
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.
