Cable TV
Hathway – MSM Media Distribution resolve differences, end dispute
MUMBAI: Multi system operator (MSO) Hathway Cable & Datacom and Multi Screen Media’s distribution arm MSM Media Distribution (MSMMD) have finally put an end to their very public dispute.
Hathway subscribers in phase I and II were greeted with a scrolling message on their screens, which informed them about restoration of MSM channels.
Commenting on the development, a senior Hathway spokesperson told Indiantelevision.com, “We have mutually agreed to renew our deal with MSM in DAS and analogue markets post a meeting yesterday. The MSM bouquet channels have been reinstated in our packages.”
It all started on 14 August when Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) had directed Hathway to pay Rs 14.56 crore towards subscription dues to MSMMD for DAS Phase I till the expiry of the agreement i.e. 31 October, 2015 in three instalments.
Hathway in reply to that said that it will not renew the contract with MSMMD for DAS phase II. It may be recalled that this contract between the two expired on 31 March, 2015 and was not renewed by Hathway then.
Commenting on the entire development a senior media observer said, “It’s good that both Hathway and MSM Media have kept the interests of cable TV subscribers in mind and ironed out their differences. A lesson to be learnt from their dispute and the resolution thereafter is that MSOs, DTH players and broadcast networks need to refrain from washing their dirty linen in public. Commercial disputes between two parties need to be resolved behind closed doors and not in the public glare of the media. Using the media for one’s own ends only sends out a bad signal that the industry has yet to mature to government, the regulator and potential investors in India’s video and broadband distribution sector.”
Speaking to this website, Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation (MCOF) president Arvind Prabhu said, “It’s a great move firstly for consumers and secondly for the ecosystem. We are glad that they sorted it out amongst themselves. Having said so, we are now waiting to see how Sony or Hathway compensate the mental and commercial losses of last mile operators (LMOs). Huge number of cable subscribers have shifted to DTH during the dispute. We have given a representation to Hathway from the Aurangabad association but if they don’t do anything, we will go to TDSAT. The ecosystem needs mutual understandings, stakeholders should not let the subscribers suffer because of their individual benefits.”
At the time of filing this report, MSMMD spokesperson was unavailable for comment.
For the time being Hathway subscribers who missed out Messi and Ronaldo dribbling their way through to the nets can enjoy the highlights and wait for the weekend to catch some live LA Liga and Italian Serie A action on Sony Six and Kix for the first time this season. The sports expertise of MSM acquired the broadcasting rights of the two flagship football tournaments this year but before the commencement of the season the two stakeholders landed into dispute which resulted in fans missing the matches.
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.
