Cable TV
Smart STB: Videocon d2h partners SonyLiv
MUMBAI: Videocon d2h, one of the fastest growing DTH service provider in India, has signed a deal with SonyLIV for its HD Smart Connect Set Top Box. This partnership will enable Videocon d2h’s HD Smart Connect Set Top Box customers to access a seamless broad selection of content available on SonyLIV app.
SonyLIV, which is the first premium Video On Demand (VOD) service by Sony Pictures Networks’ (SPN), will enrich Videocon d2h’s customers with an array of movies, strong line-up of events across all sports, shows, music, TV Shows and much more.
SonyLIV can be accessed through all Web Apps button on Videocon d2h’s HD Smart Connect Set Top Box. The Smart Connect Set Top Box works on connectivity management platform to deliver a variety of connected services that leaves the customer with wide choice for entertainment.
HD SMART Set top Box (Connected Set top box) converts any existing TV into a Smart TV besides showing you 650 Channels & services in High Definition and Standard Definition. The DTH service allows one to watch their favourite channels in SD and HD, the Connected set top box allows one to browse content from applications residing on STB. These Applications will enhance the pleasure of accessing content on a bigger screen thus making it a family event rather than solo watching on a smaller screen. HD Smart Set Top Box will work as a tool for personalization, engagement and new customer experiences and with internet connectivity, one can convert one’s TV into a smart TV using it.
Videocon d2h executive chairman Saurabh Dhoot said, “This collaboration would strengthen the entertainment apps available on our HD Smart Connect and provide our customers with a large range of entertainment.’’
Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera said, “Our partnership with Sony LIV is yet another step towards creating the highest-quality consumer experience. Innovative products like HD Smart Connect and rich entertainment content available delights next generation users. Our focused approach strives for delivering exceptional content and customer delight.’’
Sony Pictures Networks India EVP and Head – Digital Business Uday Sodhi said, “Through this synergistic association, we will be entertaining and engaging the audience with the rich content portfolio that SonyLIV showcases. The partnership allows us to deliver a superior entertainment experience to Indian audiences across genres and multiple screens, and live up to our brand promise of ‘We LIV to Entertain’.”
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.
