Cable TV
NBC to launch crime cable channel in January
MUMBAI: US media firm NBC Universal Cable Entertainment will launch a crime cable network Sleuth in January 2006.
The upcoming entertainment cable channel will be dedicated to the crime, mystery and suspense genre.
NBC says that Sleuth will be the first network to offer a digital triple pack service, which features a standard definition digital channel (SD), hi-definition simulcast channel (HD), and a video-on-demand (VOD) channel offered as a digital bundle. The SD digital channel will be available with the VOD and HD offerings available later next year.
At launch the network will have more than five million subscribers through distribution deals with Time Warner Cable, the first affiliate to carry Sleuth.
The new channel will feature crime and mystery classics from NBC Universal’s extensive library of feature films, classic television shows, reality series and documentaries. Programming includes popular and cult television series like Miami Vice, The A-Team, and Knight Rider. Crime, mystery and suspense films like Scarface, The Jackal and Casino will be in the SD and HD lineups, with at least 20 hours of content from the channels offered on demand at any given time to consumers.
NBC Universal Cable Entertainment president Digital Content and Cross Network Strategy Jeff Gaspin says, “We are thrilled to offer one core channel with three digital products with Sleuth. Crime, mystery and suspense are the all time most popular television genres and Sleuth will be a network devoted exclusively to these genres. The programming on Sleuth, tapped from NBC Universal’s vast library, will appeal to a broad audience who will be able to enjoy everything from classic films and nostalgic TV shows to current documentaries and series.
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.
