Cable TV
Siti Cable buys time, may have face-off with b’casters
NEW DELHI: Siti Cable’s franchisee cable operators in Delhi have expressed their initial inability to cough up additional subscription money for new channels and have sought more time to gauge consumers’ feedback, hinting that another round of face-off with broadcasters may be round the corner.
At a meeting held here yesterday, Zee Telefilms’ cable arm conveyed to its franchisees or joint venture partners that, amongst several issues, the one relating to increased outflow of subscription money (approximately Rs 71 per month per household) because of the launch of new channels and some existing ones turning pay needs to be addressed immediately.
As if on cue, the gaggle of cable operators said it would be “very difficult” to convince the consumer to shell out any additional sum, irrespective of the fact whether new channels are being served or not.
They also sought clarification that if, for example, 100 persons avail a particular pay channel, whether the MSO and broadcaster concerned would accept payment for those 100 households only or not.
Since such a system does not exist yet in India, Siti Cable executives, led by senior vice-president (operations) Subhash Grover, clarified as per “indications received” from broadcasters that such “flexibility” is non-existent. Subscription agreements have to be signed with broadcasters on the basis of existing connectivity of the bouquet as a whole, the cable ops were told.
It is a fact that in the year of price freeze, most broadcasters have managed to squeeze small cable ops to increase their subscription revenue and insisting either on minimum guarantee deals or payments based on an enhanced subscription base.
How has Siti Cable calculated the increased outflow to RS 71?
Zoom Channel (Times Group) Rs 7.50 – One channel
MTV and Nickelodeon (One Alliance) – Rs 6 – Two channels
Star One Rs 10 x 2= Rs 20 (based on existing connectivity) – One channel
Hungama TV Rs 6×2 = Rs 12 (based on existing connectivity) – One channel
Break Free Cinema (Zee Turner) Rs 25 – Four channels*
Total Financial Impact on operators – Rs 70.50
*These four channels are the movie channels being put on the cable network by Dish TV from its DTH platform.
What can cause a wee bit worry for the broadcasters is the fact that the Siti Cable franchisees have requested for some more time to “explore the ground situation and intention of subscribers” to avail these (new) channels.
It has also been pointed out that the pricing structure of the new channels has not been properly communicated to the consumer as also the financial impact on the monthly outgo.
Despite several initiatives of the sector regulator the cable ops also stated that there is no clarity about the distribution margin available to the distribution chain and emphasized the issue needs to be sorted out with respective broadcasters by ascertaining the MRP (maximum retail price) of a pay channel.
The issue of service tax and the draft interconnection regulations too were discussed at yesterday’s meeting.
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.
