Cable TV
MSOs move Madras HC seeking relief on inter-connect pacts
MUMBAI: The All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) had filed a petition in the Madras High Court few days back pleading a directive to broadcasters to maintain a status quo on renegotiating agreements between TV channels and MSOs till a final judicial call was taken on TRAI’s new tariff regime announced in 2016.
The tariff order, along with guidelines on quality of services, was stayed by the Supreme Court pending a final directive from the Madras High Court.
Pleading that renegotiating inter-connect agreements on expiry at this point of time could lead to losses to the MSOs and subscribers, in general, the apex body of digital MSOs in India has sought judicial relief.
Telecoms and broadcast regulator TRAI, Star India and its affiliate Vijay TV have been made respondents in the case that, according to industry sources, has not yet been listed for an initial hearing at Tamil Nadu’s top court.
Madras HC, which was hearing a case pertaining to TRAI’s validity to have jurisdiction over matters relating to copyrights, is yet to announce its final verdict. The petition was filed by Star India and Vijay TV in late 2016, which effectively put a stop to the implementation of a new tariff regime announced by TRAI in October 2016 for the broadcast sector and distribution platforms.
Apart from the tariff order, originally issued on 10 October 2016, the regulator had also issued the DAS interconnect regulations and the standards of quality of service and consumer protection regulations. These guidelines, after being debated and allowed by Chennai and Delhi courts initially were finally stayed by the Supreme Court earlier this year till Madras High Court disposed off the Star India-Vijay TV case questioning TRAI’s jurisdiction over certain matters relating to copyrights and freedom to carry on business.
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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.
