Cable TV
Rediff.com launches ‘Newshound’ for Wap enabled mobile phones
MUMBAI: Web portal Rediff.com has announced the launch of Rediff Newshound service on Wap enabled mobile phones. Newshound provides a capsule of news headlines across categories such as entertainment and cricket updated every five minutes.
The Rediff Newshound service can be accessed free of charge using WAP, on any GPRS enabled phone from http://nh.rediff.com.
Rediff Newshound provides headlines, categorised by topics, regions and sources from over 1,000 news sources. This service helps to cut through information clutter and saves time. Newshound gathers news automatically from online sources every five minutes and categorizes them under headers like Business, Sports, Entertainment, Health, etc. Newshound also empowers the users to view several news sources on one single page instead of visiting multiple web sites.
Rediff.com chairman and CEO Ajit Balakrishan said, “Rediff.com has proved that it’s not just technology but relevant and innovative applications that make all the difference. Today nearly all GSM handsets are GPRS enabled and utilization of this cutting edge technology will service the need of users who want news updates at their convenience.
“That will be the new paradigm for news services among mobile users who seek convenience and speed of service. GPRS today can be used for much more than just downloading ringtones and wallpapers. Young executives today with GPRS enabled handsets can access innovative services such as Rediff Newshound that is also high in utility value.”
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.
