Cable TV
MyNetworkTV, Young Broadcasting enter affiliation agreement for Kron
MUMBAI: MyNetworkTV, the new primetime general entertainment television network, and Young Broadcasting Inc., (YBI) have entered into an affiliation agreement for Kron.
The announcement was jointly made today by Fox Television Stations CEO Jack Abernethy and YBI chairman Vincent Young.
Kron, a leading independent television station, joins a rapidly growing list of stations joining the MyNetworkTV affiliate base. Its affiliation with MyNetworkTV marks Krons return to network television. MyNetworkTV is cleared in 52 markets throughout the United States, representing 51 per cent of the country. The network will launch on 5 September 2006.
Abernethy said, “Kron, one of the great independent stations in the country, is a powerful brand and an icon in the San Francisco market which it has served for the past 50 years. The Bay Areas leading source of local news and entertainment, Krons affiliation with MyNetworkTV is a significant agreement for us and we are excited to be partnered with Young Broadcasting.”
“Kron is coming home to the network television business. We are delighted that Fox and its new network recognize the enormous value inherent in an affiliation with Kron in San Francisco. For Young Broadcasting, this represents an opportunity to grow our business with the last group to successfully launch a new national network. The partnership will link two dynamic brand names in San Francisco to provide strong entertainment programming and expanded advertising opportunities,” said Young.
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.
