Cable TV
Nat Geo Kids appoints Vermeulen as head of sales
MUMBAI: National Geographic Television International (NGTI) has appointed Karen Vermeulen as its first dedicated kids sales person. Vermeulen will be based in London in the new role of head of kids’ sales but will also work closely with National Geographic Kids’ programming and production president Donna Friedman Meir – along with her US-based team – to drive the development of this growing area of National Geographic’s business.
Vermeulen joins from Entertainment Rights where she was territory manager UK, Ireland and German-speaking Europe, responsible for maximising TV, new media and DVD sales for a range of properties including Postman Pat, Basil Brush, Little Red Tractor and Barbie. In addition, she managed the strategic rollout of licensing and merchandising for core brands in Germany.
At National Geographic, Vermeulen will build on this experience, undertaking the key sales role for National Geographic Kids’ programming, but she will also have responsibility for managing the growing stable of brand franchises and developing properties for maximum benefit.
Current programmes in production from National Geographic Kids include Mama Mirabelle’s Home Movies, a mix of animation and live-action wildlife footage for preschoolers, produced in partnership with King Rollo Films; Iggy Aruckle, an animated comedy adventure for kids 6 – 11, produced with Blueprint Entertainment; Toot & Puddle: I’ll Be Home For Christmas based on the award-winning book by Holly Hobbie and being animated by Grand Slamm Children’s Films; and the first global reality adventure series for little kids, Are We There Yet?, produced in partnership with Cellar Door and Sinking Ship Productions.
Friedman Meir said, “We are thrilled to welcome Karen to the team and to have someone in London who can work more closely with our European partners on a regular basis. She brings a wealth of very valuable experience to our developing business and has a real feel for integrated property management. She joins National Geographic at a pivotal time; in addition to those shows already in production we have a large number of unique and outstanding properties in development, targeting pre-schoolers, school-age kids and tweens with our hallmark approach – entertaining programmes that excite kids to explore their world.”
NGTI president Ian Jones added, “The addition of Karen to our team, along with the kids programming to the NGTI catalogue, marks a new era for our business and a natural extension for our brand. Donna and her team in the US have already done a fantastic job in establishing National Geographic as a player in the kids market, particularly in Europe, and I have every confidence that Karen is the ideal person to consolidate and build on that activity going forward.”
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.
