Cable TV
Hathway goes mobile with Hathway Connect
MUMBAI: Hathway has taken its path breaking LCO portal- Hathway Connect to the next level by launching the Mobile APP version for its local cable operators (LCOs), which will further enhance and empower the operators in strengthening their business operations while “On The Move.”
As the cable industry is paving its way through the digitization phase, technology is transcending to new platform avenues. Shifting from online to mobile gives the necessary, added tool to our LCOs to manage their business from anywhere and be more widely connected with their subscribers. They no longer need to be restricted to the confines of their offices and can easily manage their subscriber base from any location, thus, creating better efficiencies, communication and turnaround time.
Commenting on the launch of the Mobile APP of Hathway Connect, Hathway Cable and Datacom video business president Tavinderjit Panesar said, The “Hathway Connect” online portal has been a huge success as operators have benefitted by an increase in their collections from customers. Further, there was a demand from our LCOs for a mobile version which would enable them to operate from anywhere, anytime. This transformational initiative needs to be beyond traditional platforms and this mobile APP will take customer experience to the next level and improve & speed up the operational process in our distribution chain and strengthen brand ‘Hathway.’
Hathway Connects’ Mobile APP will be available for download on Android only and will provide all major functionalities of the online portal version required by the LCOs for conducting daily operations in an easy and convenient way. The mobile APP facilitates a series of features to LCOs such as Balance management including instant top-up of his online account with immediate credit, Pack management (renew pack, add new packs or change existing packs), bulk renewal and activation of packs in almost real-time, managing & monitoring of ground collections through field executives, thus, enhancing customer experience. The APP also sends SMS updates to customers for renewals done and the LCO can provide a printed payment receipt to customers via a Bluetooth-enabled printer.
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.
