Cable TV
MTV Video Music Awards returns to New York in August
MUMBAI: The 2006 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) will return to New York City. The 23rd annual awards show will air live in the US from Radio City Music Hall on 31 August. The return of the VMAs marks the 13th time that the star studded music awards show will be held in New York and the 10th time at the Radio City Music Hall.
The show’s host, performers, nominees, and presenters for the show will be announced soon.
The 2006 VMAs will be a multi-screen experience for fans that will live and breathe on every single MTV platform — MTV, MTV2, mtvU, mtvUber, MTV.com, MTV Overdrive, wireless, and more! More details on the VMAs’ multi-screen elements will be announced shortly.
MTV US president Christine Norman says, “We will take the VMAs show to unprecedented levels with fans interacting with music and stars through every single screen of MTV.
“The 2006 VMAs will take advantage of the new ways the MTV audience is connecting with entertainment — broadband, wireless, online — these additional platforms will make this year’s show even more interactive and engaging, beaming the insanity directly to fans.
“New York is our hometown and we are really looking to showcase the music, culture, and people from every borough of this amazing city on TV, online, broadband, and wireless to fans around the globe.”
New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg says, “We are proud that MTV has made New York its home for the past 25 years, and once again has selected the Big Apple as host for the 23rd Annual MTV Video Music Awards. An event of this magnitude and cultural importance will generate tremendous media exposure and with the thousands of visitors expected will yield a positive economic impact projected in excess of $25 million.”
New York City Big Events president, Maureen J. Reidy says, “We welcome the MTV Video Music Awards back to world’s most powerful and commanding stage. With New York City’s passion and enthusiasm and our planned celebrations, this year is sure to be the best ever.”
Utilising the business model created by NYC Big Events, a series of events and promotions is being planned for the months and weeks leading up to the live telecast. Extending far beyond the walls of Radio City Music Hall, all New Yorkers and visitors alike will have the opportunity to participate in special MTV performances, exhibits, educational and sporting activities.
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.
