Cable TV
Jigalova-Ozkan appointed as Walt Disney Russia managing director
MUMBAI: Marina Jigalova-Ozkan has been named Managing Director for The Walt Disney Company (Russia). The announcement was made by Walt Disney International president Andy Bird.
In this capacity, Jigalova-Ozkan will be responsible for driving the company’s growth strategy and coordinating all of Disney’s business efforts in Russia, which will include overseeing Disney’s global brands in the market; expanding existing businesses; and seeking out new business opportunities.
With Jigalova-Ozkan’s appointment, Disney will now have its existing businesses in Russia managed locally, with all business segments reporting in to Jigalova-Ozkan, as well as their respective business units. Jigalova-Ozkan will be based in Moscow and will assume her new post on 1 April, 2006.
“We are delighted to bring Marina’s knowledge of the Russian media sector and her expertise in building businesses in Russia to Disney as we increase our presence throughout the country. All economic and business indicators point to impressive growth potential for Disney in Russia and Marina’s experience will be invaluable as we continue to exploit new business opportunities and contribute to Disney’s long term growth,” said Bird.
Jigalova-Ozkan joins Disney from Prof Media Moscow, where she served as first deputy general director. Prof Media Holding is the largest private diversified media holding in Russia and whilst there, Jigalova-Ozkan led the management of the group in their launch of new businesses and acquisitions of new media assets, the development and implementation of restructuring programs in both the publishing and radio segments, as well as day-to-day operations.
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.
