Cable TV
GTPL Hathway creates buzz with new services,
MUMBAI: It’s hoping that it’s new offering will get its customers buzzing. MSO GTPL Hathway has announced the launch of its customer application GTPL Buzz. The app enables subscribers to experience new GTPL offerings like TV Everywhere Cloud Gaming and Distro TV and access and manage their accounts with the cable TV MSO and broadband provider. Additional services are planned to be made available within GTPL Buzz in the near future. The app is available on the Android Play store as well as on iOS (Apple Store).
Cloud Gaming: GTPL Buzz introduces the first-ever commercial launch of Blacknut Cloud Gaming in India. Blacknut Cloud Gaming is the world’s leading pure player cloud gaming service. The subscription-based game streaming service allows GTPL to offer the largest catalogue of premium AAA games with more than 500 premium titles to its customers. With Blacknut Cloud Gaming service, gamers can now enjoy their favorite titles anytime, anywhere, without the need to invest in expensive gaming consoles. With five profiles, everybody in the family can enjoy their favourite games simultaneously across mobiles, tablets, PCs, android set Top boxes as well as smart TVs.
TV Everywhere: The GTPL Buzz app enables customers with active cable TV and/or broadband connections to view live TV content, anytime – anywhere, on their mobile devices, thus providing them the convenience of watching live TV channels anywhere for the true experience of TV Everywhere. The service, branded as GTPL Live TV, requires customers to simply login with their registered mobile number and enjoy the freedom to watch live TV channels across two additional devices simultaneously while continuing to watch all the available channels on their set top boxes.
Distro TV: GTPL Buzz has also integrated the Distro TV services, which provides online streaming channels, including a mix of news, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle content in Indian as well as international languages. This redefines GTPL’s entertainment landscape for its customers, offering seamless access to a global content library through GTPL Buzz. The TV Everywhere services and Distro TV services will also be available on the GTPL website soon.
In line with the revamp of the app, GTPL’s website (www.gtpl.net) has also been upgraded and revamped with a version which is modern, minimalistic, uncluttered and user friendly. The TV Everywhere and Distro TV services will be available to the entire customer base of GTPL soon, a massive value addition to the existing subscribed GTPL services, at no additional cost. The company services 12 million digital cable TV homes and a million broadband homes; as on June 30, 2024, it has approximately 9.60 million active digital cable TV subs and 1.03 million broadband subscribers and a broadband homepass of about 5.90 million.
GTPL’s chatbot Giva, recently upgraded and launched on WhatsApp is now available within GTPL Buzz as well as on the revamped website and is planned to be available soon on the GTPL Facebook handle. The enhanced Giva, developed by Yellow.ai, a global leader in conversational AI, offers a one-stop solution for all GTPL services with the implementation of an NLP-trained multimodal AI chatbot, enabling seamless self-service, sales, and support.
Says GTPL managing director Anirudhsinh Jadeja: “GTPL has always been at the forefront of introducing technological enhancements to serve the customers’ ever evolving preferences. The launch of GTPL Buzz App and our enhanced Website are a huge step forward in this direction and sets the pace for us to continue exceeding our customer expectations. With the introduction of TV Everywhere services as well as integration of Distro TV services, we are excited to offer customers the convenience of gaining access to a wide range of Indian and international live TV channels on their devices, thus making access to content more inclusive.”
“The India launch of Blacknut Cloud Gaming services will offer customers the best gaming titles at an economical subscription fee. The enhanced Giva offers 24X7X365 availability of self-help options across multiple modes including WhatsApp, website and GTPL Buzz, in addition to the 24X7 centralized call centre and various social media”, he adds
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.
