Cable TV
NXT Digital signs RIO deal with Taj Television
MUMBAI: The Hinduja Group’s Headend In The Sky (HITS) service under the brand name NXT Digital has finally struck a reference interconnect offer (RIO) deal with Zee Entertainment’s distribution subsidiary Taj Television India, by virtue of which it will be able to include Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) and Turner International India’s channels in its bouquet of offerings.
As was reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, the matter was with the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) and the two companies informed the Tribunal that Taj Television will provide its signals to Hinduja Group’s Grant Investrade as soon as an inter-connect agreement was signed.
Zeel and Turner International were the only major broadcasting networks that were missing from the service’s bouquet. This deal will see NXT Digital, the rapidly growing platform in phase III areas, having a wholesome catalogue to offer to the operators, as well as reach a larger audience.
Speaking on the signing of the new deal, a source from close to development told Indiantelevision.com, “The channels will be available on an ? la carte basis. And we are certain that this deal will help NXT Digital garner an enhanced reach.”
This gives a definite edge to NXT Digital, which is the second HITS player in the country, the first being Jain HITS NXT Digital was launched earlier this year with state of art technology. On the other hand, Jain HITS is currently in the process of upgrading its technology.
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Taj TV to supply signals to Grant Investrade after signing ICA
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.
