Cable TV
Mumbai cops raid 7 Star Dot Com for “illegal” channel distribution
MUMBAI: The heavy hand of the law is coming down on those involved in the distribution of TV signals. Last month, the cops swooped down on OTT services provider Jadoo TV’s offices in Hyderabad for allegedly pirating TV signals and streaming them over the internet illegally, following a complaint by Maa TV. Equipment was confiscated, staff arrested.
Yesterday, it was the turn of the Mumbai based independent multi system operator (MSO) 7 Star Dot Com. It was raided by a group of close to 15 police officials. Reason: illegal transmission of 10 international channels.
The channels include HBO, HBO Family, BBC America, Sky Movie and Show Beyond among others. “We had got the information about the illegal transmission of channels. We monitored the platform from 3:30 pm onwards on 14 July and then conducted the raid, late in the night,” informs DCP Mahesh Patil.
The raid was conducted by the Social Service Branch located in Crawford Market of south Mumbai. The decoders, transmitters and adaptors of the MSO have been confiscated. “We will now file a complaint with the Metropolitan Magistrate under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995. The platform was telecasting the channels without having the licence for the same,” adds Patil.
As per the procedure, a report will also be filed with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. “We will file the case and the report in a couple of days,” he says. After studying the report, a show cause notice will be issued against 7 Star.
One of the MSOs operating in Mumbai comments, “It is a good step which has been taken by the authorities. There should be a level playing field for all the platforms.”
None of the 7 Star executives were available for comment.
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.
