Cable TV
Hathway’s Q3 FY25: A drama of numbers, some cheers, and a few tears
MUMBAI: Numbers don’t lie, but boy, do they tell a rollercoaster of a story!
Hathway Cable and Datacom’s Q3 FY25 financial results are in, and while there’s some sizzle, there’s also some fizzle.
Let’s dive in, shall we?
For the quarter ending 31 December 2024, Hathway flexed a total income of Rs 532.13 crore. It’s a whisker down from last quarter’s Rs 543.25 crore but ekes out a win compared to last year’s Rs 535.33 crore.
Revenue from operations? Rs 511.15 crore. Not too shabby, but hey, it’s no jackpot either. Meanwhile, other income decided to take a nap, dropping to Rs 20.98 crore from Rs 30.52 crore in the previous quarter.
For the nine-month stretch, Hathway managed to pull in a total of Rs 1,599.75 crore, a teeny-tiny uptick from last year’s Rs 1,585.32 crore.
Here’s where things get interesting.
Consolidated profit before tax (PBT) took a nosedive to Rs 19.07 crore. Compare that to Q2’s Rs 39.88 crore and last year’s Rs 30.75 crore, and you’ll understand why we’re clutching our calculators in dismay. Rising pay channel costs (Rs 249.29 crore, up from Rs 244.47 crore) and higher depreciation expenses (Rs 86.98 crore, up from Rs 80.79 crore) clearly didn’t help.
Net profit for Q3 landed at Rs 13.54 crore, a far cry from the prior quarter’s Rs 25.78 crore and even last year’s Rs 22.35 crore. For the nine months, net profit dropped to Rs 57.74 crore from Rs 64.72 crore. Ouch.
Broadband vs Cable
1 Broadband Business: Revenue dipped to Rs 149.99 crore, down from Rs 151.59 crore last quarter and Rs 155.60 crore last year. Let’s just say the internet’s not as hot as we’d like it to be.
2 Cable Television: Revenue held its ground at Rs 345.79 crore, a hair better than last quarter’s Rs 344.01 crore. But losses in this segment widened to Rs 16.55 crore. Maybe it’s time for some reruns of “How to Cut Costs 101”?
The numbers tell us Hathway is juggling rising costs and a competitive market. Yet, the story isn’t all doom and gloom. Total income is up year-on-year, proving the brand has staying power. Now it just needs to flex those operational muscles a bit more.
Hathway’s next episodes will need to feature a blend of strategic moves and bold actions to maintain its plot as a major player in India’s digital landscape.
Can they level up their game while keeping the balance sheet in check? Stay tuned and watch how the story unfolds!
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.
