Cable TV
JAINHITS uplinks on 11.3 meter ViaSat antenna in the APAC
NEW DELHI: Headend In The Sky (HITS) operator JAINHITS has become the first service provider to uplink on 11.3 meter ViaSat antenna in the Asia-Pacific region.
The antenna is in line with the latest digitisation amendments announced by the government. This installation will allow JAINHITS to provide better signal quality which is available at all business partners downlink set-up. In addition to this, the quality of signals emitted will be uniform and will significantly eradicate interference of any kind.
On this endeavour, Noida Software Technology Park Ltd (NSTPL) head- regulatory & corporate affairs Devinder Singh said, “With the commissioning of 11.3 meter ViaSat antenna, we expect high quality of pan India based digitised TV coverage. We have got all the mandatory tests done and will start up-linking very soon. With the advent of this technology and its implementation by JAINHITS, we hope to re-invent the entire TV viewing experience for our customers by providing them with the maximum network uptime.”
From a compliance standpoint, the antenna complies with FCC and ITU regulatory standards on emissions. Apart from that, it meets INTELSAT’s Standard F-3 and B requirements with minimal satellite re-pointing time using a high speed motorised option. It even comes with 180 degree continuous azimuth coverage and features like lighting, protection and de-icing that can make it survive wind speeds in excess of 201 km/hr.
JAINHITS head Rakesh Gupta said, “With an insight into this dynamic consumer world, establishing an up-link with the 11.3m ViaSat is a part of our on-going effort to enhance the TV viewing experience for our customers. JAINHITS distribution partners across India will get to approach customers with a unique set of product USPs, one of them being BIS certified STB’s and the other of course a technologically advanced platform and uplinking facility through 11.3m ViaSat antenna for better picture quality, and with uninterrupted signals.”
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.
