Cable TV
Hathway launches 151 SD and 4 HD channels
MUMBAI: Hathway Cable & Datacom is doing all that is needed to enhance consumer experience. The multi system operator (MSO) has announced the launch of 151 additional Standard Definition (SD) channels and four new High Definition (HD) channels to their existing cable TV distribution network in Bengaluru and Mysore.
With this, the number of channels now offered by Hathway is 442 including 31 HD channels. “Hathway now has the largest bouquet of SD and HD channels in Bengaluru and Mysore and covers the entire spectrum of south Indian channels (both paid and free to air),” says the statement released by the MSO.
The MSO in order to enhance the regional flavour now also has a line-up of Kannada channels. “We are the only MSO in Bengaluru to offer key regional TV channels in HD and now have 31 HD channels, which is the largest HD portfolio in Bengaluru,” reveals the release.
That apart, Hathway has also introduced its new HD digital set top box, which will deliver high quality HD video with Dolby Sound technology thereby enhancing the television viewing experience for its subscribers in Bengaluru and Mysore.
“This is the single largest channel expansion in the country; more than 150 additional TV channel expansion at one go is unprecedented in India,” said Hathway Cable & Datacom MD & CEO Jagdish Kumar.
“We are the largest provider of digital TV services in Bengaluru and Mysore, thanks to the quality of our services and now with this channel expansion, we are in a position to cater to the diverse viewership demands of our subscribers in Bengaluru and Mysore,” he added.
This channel offering will be available to Hathway subscribers in Bengaluru, Bengaluru Rural and Mysore. Hathway is expanding to other cities in Karnataka and has already started services in various cities of North Karnataka.
With on-going digitisation of the Indian cable television industry, “Hathway is committed to bringing compelling content to its consumers in India.”
The MSO has launched Hathway – CCC, Hathway Entertainment and Hathway Movies. In addition to these, it will soon launch many more channels covering genres like general entertainment, kids, music, regional movies, lifestyle and adventure.
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.
