Cable TV
Hathway launches dedicated online portal for LCOs
MUMBAI: With an aim to redefine, transform business dynamics and further strengthen the role of the local cable operator (LCO) in the distribution chain, Hathway has launched a special initiative – Hathway Connect.
Launched in Bangalore on 28 January, Hathway Connect is designed to make the lives of LCOs easy and convenient by providing technology and support through a dedicated online portal, which will have detailed features that will allow the LCO to run his business efficiently and effectively, in turn, offering better quality and high standard customer experience.
Hathway Cable & Datacom CEO and managing director Jagdish Kumar said, “In the era of technology and digitisation, the world is shrinking and we are living technology. The C&S industry in India has seen major changes in the last 5 years and as we move forward, technology will form an integral part of how the cable industry performs and matches customer expectations. Through Hathway Connect, we aim to empower our LCO partners with technology and business tools that will upgrade the way they do business on a daily basis and transform customer experience.”
The digitisation era has raised several questions about the existence of the LCO in the cable value chain. With this disruptive move, Hathway aims to strengthen the role of the LCO even further in reaching out to its subscribers and delivering world-class entertainment with unmatched customer service levels.
Hathway Cable & Datacom president – video business TS Panesar added, “Our LCO partners have been the backbone of this industry, the heart of our business, which we truly recognise and appreciate. Through the new online portal, we aim to empower them to run their business independently and upgrade customer experience levels, thus, becoming competitive with the industry.”
Some salient features that the online portal offers are: online activation of new customer (E-CAF), pack management, balance management including integration with bill desk, customer prepaid option, sending customised notifications to subscribers, specialised LCO help desk and self-care through mobile app amongst many others.
Panesar said that these features will help LCOs scale up operations, create efficient and seamless processes with the overall objective of giving customers the best offering.
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.
