Cable TV
Nick announces first-ever Japanese development deals
MUMBAI: US kids channel Nickelodeon has announced its first-ever Japanese development projects for original content.
The new projects include a development and acquisitions deal with the Domo Production Committee, affiliates of Japan’s largest broadcaster NHK, as well as a development deal with Polygon Pictures, a Japanese 3-D animation house.
Nickelodeon and NHK’s affiliate, Domo Production Committee, will co-develop and produce, a 26 episode, two-minute short series. This will be based on NHK’s popular Domo-kun character.
The deal also includes an advance acquisition of the series by Nicktoons in the US, marking the first time a Japanese produced series will air on a Nickelodeon Network in the US. The series premiere on Nicktoons Network US will be announced at a later date. Meanwhile Nickelodeon and Polygon Pictures have agreed to co-develop a new animated series based on the Japanese graphic novel, Akihabara@Deep.
Nick Intl senior VP Steve Grieder says, “We a’re excited to be announcing these critical developments and will continue to work with local producers, both as creative and syndication partners, to establish Nickelodeon as a global platform for Japanese animation.
“We have a long-term commitment to invest in new creative content from Japan like Domo-kun and Akihabara, two stunningly original projects, and we look forward to helping expand the influence Japan has in the kids’ entertainment arena even further around the world.”
NHK senior corporate officer Tetsuo Kamemura says, “Domo-kun has been NHK’s very popular mascot since 1998 when he was born and now Domo-kun will be a new television series. The Domo-kun Production Committee is extremely proud and happy to be the first Japanese animation to air on Nicktoons Network in the US and we look forward to bringing Domo-kun, together with Nickelodeon, to the rest of the world”.
Nicktoons GM Keith Dawkins says, “Domo Kun is a cultural phenomenon in Japan. The animation is exquisite. We’re excited to partner with NHK to bring this property to a whole new audience in the states”.
Domo-kun features Domo, a strange creature born from an egg who lives in an underground cave with Usajii, a wise old rabbit, who loves to watch TV and drink tea. Domo is short, fuzzy and brown with black eyes and a large mouth with very pointy teeth. Domo also loves to watch television and listen to grunge music and Rock and Roll. He is gentle and strong and when he is nervous or in a bad mood, he breaks wind. Domo’s favourite food is seasoned beef with potatoes and he has a strong dislike for apples (an unexplained mystery in his DNA). Domo-kun has been an icon for Japanese kids, tweens and families for nearly a decade since his first appearance as NHK’s BS2 mascot.
Akihabara@Deep from Polygon Pictures is an edgy, colorful and fast-paced cyber-detective comedy/action/drama based in Akihabara, the Electric Town of Tokyo. Polygon’s Polygon Family is currently featured on Flux, MTV Networks’ mobile download 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.
