Cable TV
Hinduja Ventures Ltd announces reorganisation of its media & communications business
MUMBAI: The Board of Directors of Hinduja Ventures Limited ("HVL") at its meeting held today have accorded In-Principle approval for reorganization of Media and Communications undertaking of Induslnd Media & Communications Limited ("IMCL"), into HVL subject to all statutory/ regulatory approvals and approval of the shareholders.
The media business of IMCL consists of digital content distribution business carried out through multiple platforms including satellite and fibre and also the Broadband business carried out through its subsidiary.
IMCL – A handsome turnaround
IMCL, the only integrated digital platform operator ("DPO") in the country, with delivery via digital cable, satellite ("HITS" or Headend-ln-The-Sky) and fibre; has seen a handsome turnaround in the quarter due to the successful implementation of the New Tariff Order by the Company from February
2019 till date and holds very good promise for improved operating results going forward. The
Company also benefitted from successfully converting its customer base to a fully prepaid model.
"IMCL has posted a positive Operating profit and positive Profit after tax for the first quarter of the current year. We expect this positive trend to continue, buoyed by cutting-edge technology that will spawn a series of innovative products and solutions, a robust inclusive model with all our cable operator partners and a customer-centric approach"says Vynsley Fernandes, Chief Executive Officer, IMCL.
The successful implementation of the New Tariff Order by IMCL; while simultaneously ensuring that there is least disruption to customer service has been very well recognized by the industry and all stakeholders. In appreciation of this, IMCL has won two prestigious awards at the Annual BCS Ratna Awards- "Best NTO implementation by a DPO" and "Best LCO and Consumer management services."
Highlights of IMCL:
IMCL has many firsts to its credit. Some of these are listed below:
• Only MSOJDigital Platform Operator (DPO) to operate in all the states and union territories of the country.
• HITS satellite services connected to 1,500+ physical points-of-presence in India – covering
2,000+ pin codes across the country.
• Only DPO to have a dual digital delivery platform – Digital caple through fibre and HITS
through satellite.
• First DPO to introduce the prepaid collecQon model- 99.5% of the customer base on prepaid
• The Company has:
o Introduced multiple types of Set Top Boxes (STBs) ranging from low-cost Standard Definition (SD) STBs to Hybrid High Definition (HD) STBs, that allow conversion of any TV set into a "Smart" TV.
o Introduced VAS services channels – branded "NXT Services" across multiple genres and for all age groups – a bouquet which is very popular among consumers
o Became the provider of most number of channels across DPOs – offering 730+ TV
channels in key cities and 700+ TV channels via satellite on the HITS platform.
o Introduced the "Managed Services" Model whereby small MSOs and LCOs are able to operate profitably by using the infrastructure of IMCL on an opex model. IMCL has already signed up half a million subscribers on this model -only DPO providing this service as of now
o Successfully transitioned to the New Tariff order
o Is the DPO with the highest number of packages for customers to choose from in the NTO regime – 800+ packages; including specially curated packages in 11languages.
This reorganization is in line with the growth plans of IMCL – as a leading player in the digital space;
and is expected to be value accretive to all stakeholders.
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.
