Cable TV
LG earns Cablelabs certification for two-way interactive digital cable HDTV
MUMBAI: Paving the way to integrated digital cable-ready HDTVs with two-way interactive capability, LG Electronics recently showcased a TV platform in the US.
The LG plasma HDTV has achieved certification status as Ocap-enabled interactive digital television set, including the multi-stream CableCard (M-Card) system, from a recently concluded certification by Cablelabs.
LG’s 42-inch OpenCable plasma HDTV set (42PC1DN) was honoured with a 2007 CES Innovations Award — features built-in Ocap technology, M-Card capabilities and interactive capabilities, as well as high-definition content and interactive services like Video-on-Demand and Pay-Per-View. The LG 42PC1DN has been honoured as a 2007 CES Innovations Award recipient.
This retail device can connect directly to a local cable TV system, and receive current advanced interactive cable TV services, as well as be ready for future interactive applications –without the need for a separate digital set-top box (STB). Ultimately, a common US platform for delivering interactive cable applications would be enabled by implementing the OpenCable specification, a process in which LG is an active contributor.
The company adds that it is committed to commercialising retail interactive digital cable-ready TVs and STBs to accelerate the rollout of OpenCable and Ocap across the North American Cable industry. LG says that it has now have advanced devices capable of receiving and displaying advanced cable services such as program guides and video-on-demand (Vod) without requiring separate cable STBs.
In parallel with ongoing inter-industry standardisation efforts, it will continue working with the cable industry to commercialise this platform.
LG’s close collaboration with Cablelabs and cable TV operators has enabled the company to develop products that run cable services including an interactive programme guide, Vod and other interactive applications and services. “At the same time, LG is continuing to explore additional new features to maintain product leadership and be a market differentiator.
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.
