Cable TV
Mukesh Ambani 20 billion investment plans in television and telecom
MUMBAI: Mukesh Ambani’s recent focus in the telecom sector hasn’t gone unnoticed, where he has spent at least $18 billion ($1,800 crore) on 4G telecom brand RJio. Industry insiders observe that Mukesh Ambani’s aggressive take on the telecom and television sector may also pit him against his brother Anil Ambani and his company.
Now reports are out that he intends to spend another $2 billion ($200 crore) over three years to capture TV sets as he eyes an opportunity to use his financial clout in what is a highly fragmented sector. To put matters into perspective, Mukesh Ambani’s television unit has been aggressively signing up deals with hundreds of small players in a street-by-street effort to root out any final hurdle in its cable TV drive, reported Reuters.
Industry observers note that this could also snap up rival operators as part of that push, those sources and analysts said, driving tie-ups in a crowded sector that includes Hathway Cable, Den Networks and Siti Cable.
Industry sources quoting un-named Reliance officials say that Reliance’s mid-year goal of 1 million (10 lakh) subscribers would rise to 5 million (50 lakh) homes in the medium-term. Within three years, the aim is 20 million (2 crore).
With only 20 million (2 crore) homes in India having a broadband or another Internet connection, it goes without saying that there is a huge growth potential in a country with a population of some 1.3 billion (130 crore).
“Once the company manages to crack the last mile… it will be a formidable player,” Den Satellite Network MD Rajev Gavi shared with Reuters.
Reliance executives say it will offer a bundled package with hundreds of channels and video-on-demand in high definition, along with broadband Internet, a landline phone and home surveillance. It will also offer Jio Play, its version of the Netflix movie and TV series streaming service.
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.
