Cable TV
Kolkata LMOs CVNO project likely to rollout from 15 December
KOLKATA: The year seems to be ending on a good note for the Kolkata based last mile owners (LMOs), who post digitisation, have been wondering if they would still have ownership of their customers. The LMOs can now breathe a sigh of relief as the cable virtual network operator (CVNO) is taking shape and should be up and running by 15 December 2014.
As reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, the LMOs apart from uniting to set up their own control room and headend have also tied-up with existing DAS license holders. This apart, in order to speed up the launch, the LMOs are now also talking to the Set Top Box (STB) and headend suppliers and other vendors in India and abroad.
The LMOs have already signed an agreement with a DAS license holder, who will levy a minimum price against every STB. If sources are to be believed, more than 150 LMOs have signed and given consent with an entry fee.
Not revealing much on the operation model Cable Operators Sangram Committee general secretary Apurba Bhattacharya says, “It would be affordable to subscribers.”
Tying up with existing license holders ensures LMOs the power of billing subscribers, distribution of package according to the choice of viewers, share of carriage fee and ownership of STBs, further explains Bhattacharya.
There are some DAS license holders who might go ahead and increase their topline and bottomline by strengthening their presence in the market.
When asked if the LMOs are setting up the headends, other LMOs, who are part of this initiative inform, “The concept is very clear, to either set up our own headend or to partner with MSOs. The investment for every LMO will be according to how much they can afford. In fact some financiers are also ready to invest.”
He further explains that the investment would be based on the size of the LMO’s network and requirement of STBs.
LMOs are the founder of this business. “It can be assured that the quality as well as performance will be competitive with the existing MSOs,” he points out.
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.
