Cable TV
From Couch Potatoes to Content Creators: Hathway & Den reel it in
MUMBAI—Move over, television executives. The inmates are about to take over the asylum—or at least, the broadcast.
Cable television multiservice operators Hathway and Den have launched an experiment that could rewrite the rulebook of broadcast media. Their new platform, Hathway/DEN Reels, is turning content creation and its broadcast on its head – viewers are creating content which is being packaged and shown on a specialised service on Hathway channel no 99 and on Den channel no 100.
Launched on 18 March, Hathway Reels and Den Reels have already captured the imagination of wannabe performers nationwide. In just five days, over 1,000 user-generated reels have flooded in—a deluge that suggests a deep hunger for democratised stardom.
“This isn’t television as we know it,” says an industry observer. “It’s television as people have always dreamed it could be”.
The concept is disarmingly simple. Aspiring performers—be they singers, dancers, comedians, or pure eccentrics—need only a smartphone and a dash of courage. No casting calls, no industry connections, no prohibitive barriers to entry.
Social media has long promised such democratisation, but often delivered only algorithmic mirages of fame. Hathway/DEN Reels promises something more tangible: actual broadcast airtime.
What sets this initiative apart is its radical inclusivity. It’s not about polished performances but raw, unfiltered talent. A call centre executive in Bengaluru, a farmer in Punjab, or a student in Mumbai can now find themselves beamed into living rooms across India.
The platform represents more than entertainment—it’s a social leveller. For every frustrated creative soul shelving dreams due to practical constraints, this is a lifeline. No need to quit the day job. No need to move to Mumbai or Delhi. The stage has come to them.
Initial response suggests the concept has struck a nerve. In an era of algorithmic content and manufactured viral moments, Hathway/DEN Reels offers something revolutionary: genuine human connection.
As television wrestles with relevance in the streaming age, this could be a blueprint for survival. Not by competing with slick productions, but by becoming a mirror—reflecting the vibrant, diverse, utterly unpredictable talent that pulses through India’s veins.
For those who’ve ever mumbled “I could do that” at their television, the time has come. The spotlight awaits.
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.
