Cable TV
Hathway files FIRs against illegal disruption in Pune
MUMBAI: One the leading MSOs in India, Hathway Cable & Datacom Limited, undertook stringent action against recent disruption of its services in Pune by lodging three FIRs in multiple police stations across the city.
In a series of incidents recently, fibre optic cables of Hathway provided by Tata tele-services were cut at multiple locations in the city by unknown parties leading to disruption of Hathway services and causing inconvenience to several Hathway customers.
Due to the fibre cuts, Hathway signals were disrupted and lost for around 4 to 6 hours during the crucial ICC World Twenty20 matches including the semi-final encounter between India and West Indies, which led to huge consumer angst and created a lot of dissatisfaction to several Hathway customers. The fibre cuts caused by certain unknown parties seemed to be a deliberate and an intentional attempt to disrupt Hathway services in Pune and tarnish the brand image of the company, especially, during a high decibel event like the ICC World Twenty20. Hathway suspects that the agenda was to destabilise Hathway in the city and cause revenue loss.
Senior Hathway officials in Pune immediately took measures to counter this act of fibre cutting by illegal means by lodging FIRs across three major police stations in the city, demanding a probe.
Once the police investigation is out, Hathway seeks to take legal measures against the culprits.
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.
