Cable TV
Hathway back on growth trajectory, reports consolidated profit of Rs 68 cr in Q3
MUMBAI: After facing consecutive losses, Hathway Cable and Datacom has reported a consolidated profit of Rs 68.18 crore in the third quarter of the financial year 2019-20. The multi-system operator (MSO) had posted consolidated loss of Rs 57.87 crore in the corresponding quarter of the last financial year.
The cable network improved his revenue from operations by 12.3 per cent to Rs 450.82 crore in Q3 of FY20 as compared to Rs 401.43 crore in a corresponding quarter of last year.
Whereas, the consolidated total income for the December-ended quarter rose by 23.2 per cent to Rs 512.61 crore compared to Rs 416.07 crore in the corresponding quarter of the last financial year.
The company reported consolidated EBITDA of Rs 128.8 crore up by 52 per cent against Rs 84.5 crore in the corresponding quarter last financial year. Meanwhile, the EBITDA margin grew by 29 per cent against 8 per cent in the same quarter of FY19.
In the segment revenue, the broadband business grew by 2.8 per cent to Rs 143.2 crore and cable television grew by 15.4 per cent to Rs 307.62 crore in the December-ended quarter of FY20.
The subscription revenue grew by 18 per cent to 354.8 crore against Rs 300.8 cr whereas activation revenue shrunk by 8 per cent to Rs 14.7 crore compared to Rs 16 crore and placement revenue also slumped by 6 per cent to Rs 74.7 crore versus Rs 79.1 crore in Q3 last financial year.
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.
