Cable TV
MGM Studios fires up domestic theatrical distribution unit
MUMBAI: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) announced the revitalisation of MGM’s domestic theatrical distribution business with a new strategy that calls for the release of several high profile films this year. The company named a new senior management team that will drive the growth of the distribution business and announced its 2006-2007 slate of theatrical releases.
MGM’s theatrical distribution unit will now be overseen by MGM chief operating officer Rick Sands. He most recently served as the president and COO of DreamWorks SKG and is the former COO of Miramax Films and has built an experienced team of executives to manage MGM’s domestic distribution.
Paramount Pictures veteran Clark Woods will serve as president, domestic theatrical distribution of MGM. In his new role, Woods, a 25-year veteran of Paramount Pictures, will supervise all aspects of theatrical distribution.
During his tenure with Paramount Pictures, Woods was involved with and spearheaded the distribution of films such as Titanic, Braveheart, Forrest Gump, Ordinary People, Raider’s of the Lost Ark, Terms of Endearment, Beverly Hills Cop, Mission: Impossible and War of the Worlds.
“We have an exceptional team in place to drive the growth of MGM’s domestic theatrical distribution. We expect that re-invigorating our distribution business in North America will pave the way for MGM to regain its prominence as a major force in providing new quality filmed entertainment on a global basis. As part of this strategy, we are pleased to announce an exciting slate of theatrical releases in 2006 and in the first quarter of 2007, involving many of the best actors, producers and directors in the business,” said MGM chairman and CEO Harry E Sloan.
MGM’s next release will be Lucky Number Slevin, which is scheduled to be released on 7 April in association with The Weinstein Company..
“We are rapidly expanding MGM’s distribution business. Going forward, through partnerships with independent production companies and studios, we plan to continually build an outstanding slate of releases. Working with these independent production companies, will enable us to focus on North American distribution as well as rights management worldwide. The future is about content and we are working to freshen and bulk up our world-class library, which will further enhance the value of the company,” said Sands.
MGM’s films (with video rights) will be distributed in the home video marketplace by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and also be made available on the Blu-Ray format.
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.
