Cable TV
Prasar Bharati, RailTel, and PlayboxTV launch the affordable ‘Freedom Plan’
Mumbai: In a groundbreaking collaboration, Prasar Bharati, RailTel Corporation of India, and PlayboxTV unveiled the Freedom Plan under RailWire broadband. This OTT bundled internet service aims to deliver high-speed connectivity and premium entertainment to underserved regions across India.
At an event attended by PlayboxTV, founder & CEO, Aamir Mulani; RailTel, CMD, Sanjai Kumar; and Prasar Bharati, CEO, Gaurav Dwivedi, the Freedom Plan was announced as an affordable and accessible solution tailored for Tier 2, Tier 3 cities, and rural areas.
For just Rs 299 monthly, subscribers will enjoy 30 Mbps internet speed, access to 10 premium OTT platforms, including Prasar Bharati’s Waves, over 400 live TV channels, and 200+ games. This collaboration marks RailTel as the first telecom provider to integrate Prasar Bharati’s Waves OTT platform, developed to showcase India’s rich cultural and entertainment legacy.
The Freedom Plan underscores India’s mission to bridge the digital divide. RailWire’s extensive reach will empower rural households with a unique combination of connectivity and entertainment. The partnership also focuses on engaging millions of daily commuters, ensuring seamless on-the-go access to top-tier content.
Mulani expressed, “It is very exciting to see Prasar Bharati, India’s premier entertainment and Infotainment hub, launch its very own OTT platform Waves. I feel proud to be the first OTT aggregation platform to onboard them and offer it to our customers. The Freedom Plan being launched by RailTel under RailWire broadband is packed with rich content including Waves. Priced at Rs. 299 monthly I feel it is the perfect entertainment plan for every household in India.”
Waves, Prasar Bharati’s OTT platform, delivers a curated blend of nostalgic classics like Mahabharat, Ramayan, and Shaktiman, along with live TV, movies, podcasts, and games. The platform is available on Android, iOS, connected TVs, Firestick, and Chromecast.
Dwivedi remarked, “Waves OTT platform represents a transformative leap for Prasar Bharati as we embrace the digital revolution to connect with India’s vast and diverse audience like never before. RailTel through Freedom Plan under Railwire broadband with its wider reach in 2/3 tier towns including rural & remote areas along with capabilities of OTT aggregator PlayboxTV will help us reach a newer and wider audience through their vast network of ISPs and LCOs. This collaboration with RailTel Corporation of India and PlayboxTV reflects our vision of making high-quality, culturally rich, and family entertainers accessible to every corner of the nation. Together, we aim to redefine digital engagement and bridge the gap between traditional broadcasting and modern streaming, empowering millions across India with seamless connectivity and premium entertainment”
Kumar highlighted the transformative potential of this initiative, saying, “Our Home internet service RailWire aims to bring affordable internet to underserved parts of the country. This collaboration aligns with India’s vision of becoming a knowledge economy by promoting digital literacy and ensuring every household can participate in the country’s digital transformation. The Freedom Plan delivers content for all age groups including children, youth, adults, and senior citizens by making it a perfect fit for family consumption. The Freedom Plan is a step toward achieving a digitally empowered society by connecting even the remotest parts of India with high-quality internet and entertainment,”
RailTel, known for its pan-India optical fiber network, partners with PlayboxTV to extend the Freedom Plan to regions overlooked by mainstream providers. The initiative will connect remote areas with seamless browsing and rich digital content, driving India closer to becoming a digitally empowered society.
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.
