Cable TV
Kolkata MSOs to provide value added services to consumers
KOLKATA: With an aim to provide value added services (VAS) to customers in the wake of digitisation of cable television, the multi-system operators (MSOs) in the eastern region are exploring opportunities to release regional movies on cable TV before it is released in the theatres to generate more revenue.
According to Siticable director Suresh Sethia, the MSO is in discussion with producers for premiere shows of regional movies on its cable channel as part of value added services.
“These services can be implemented once the billing process is properly executed, which could take anywhere around six months to complete,” said Sethiya while addressing the audience at the Cable TV Show 2014 in Kolkata.
The service is similar to the ‘Movie-on-Demand’ platform of the direct-to-home (DTH) players.
The charges for a newly released movie will vary between Rs 50 and Rs 100 for a day, remarked Sethia. “The producers, MSOs, LCOs and the customers-all will benefit by the move,” he said.
Industry experts say that even if a MSO charges Rs 40- Rs 50 for a movie, with 50 per cent of its users booking the show, the producer can get back a substantial amount of his investment by premiering the movie on cable TV.
Siticable currently caters to around 20 lakh users in the eastern region. “The local cable operators will also have a share,” Sethia informed.
Another prominent MSO, GTPL Kolkata Cable & Broadband Pariseva Ltd (GTPL KCBPL) is also looking forward to tap this opportunity with its 7.5 lakh user base in the eastern region.
“We are actively discussing on such value added services. But it may take at least three months to execute the process,” said GTPL KCBPL managing director Bijoy K Agarwal.
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.
