GECs
Sony, Hathway look to end payment impasse
Sony Entertainment Television and the Rajan Raheja-owned Hathway Cable & Datacom are hopeful that their ongoing dispute over dues will be resolved within the next two to three days. Sony has switched off its pay channel service of SetMax, AXN and CNBC to Hathway since 2 January on account of what it says is nonpayment of dues worth around Rs1.5 million for the period from June 2000.
Besides, Sony wants Hathway to increase the declared connectivity of paid subscribers from November 2000. Sony’s distribution head Hitesh Sabarwal said they were only asking that what they were paid should have a reasonable correlation to what was being charged for other pay channels. He, however, expressed confidence that some sort of agreement would be reached within the next two days.
According to cable industry sources, Hathway has a declared paid connectivity of around 10,000 for SetMax in Mumbai, 20,000 for CNBC, and 40,000 for AXN, the Financial Express reported on Tuesday.
Hathway’s argument, according to sources, is that Sony unilaterally made new demands going against what had earlier been agreed upon. Also, they say Sony was demanding payment based on connectivity calculations similar to that enjoyed by the Sony’s main Sony Entertainment Television channel which was way too high. Another argumant put forth by Hathway is that since most of their subscriber base was in upmarket localities, Sony’s “adamance” was losing it a very influential audience.
While SetMax and AXN are off the Hathway network in Mumbai, Pune and Nashik, the business channel CNBC is available in some pockets, the Financial Express reported.
GECs
&TV brings Women’s Day shine to Lucknow mall
Shilpa Shinde joins “Selfie Lo. Shine Karo. Star Ban Jaao!” activation on 8 March.
MUMBAI: This Women’s Day, &TV is handing women the mirror and the spotlight because sometimes the best reflection is the one that finally says “star”. &TV is taking its celebration of strong, confident women off-screen with a lively on-ground initiative at a prominent mall in Lucknow on 7–8 March 2026. The activation, titled “Selfie Lo. Shine Karo. Star Ban Jaao!”, invites women to click empowering selfies at a specially designed mirror installation framed with a symbolic crown and bold messages such as Women & Confident, Women & Boss, Women & Independent, and Women & Carefree. The crown carries the core emotion, “She is her own hero. Her own cheerleader. Her own power.”
Adding star power to the event, beloved actress Shilpa Shinde (popularly known as Angoori Bhabi from Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! 2.0) will attend on 8 March, interacting with participants. Select women will get the chance to meet her, and one lucky winner will be featured in an upcoming episode on &TV turning a simple selfie into a real on-screen star moment.
The initiative is rooted in the belief that women often celebrate others but rarely pause to acknowledge themselves. By creating a joyful space for self-recognition and confidence, &TV is extending its on-air narratives of empowered women into real life.
Shilpa Shinde said, “I truly believe confidence begins with how we see ourselves. I am very happy that &TV is creating a platform where women are not just celebrated but also given a chance to be seen and recognised.”
&TV chief channel officer and Zee5, business head for hindi Kaveri Das added, “At &TV, we don’t just tell stories of strong women, we actively create platforms for them. This Women’s Day initiative is our way of moving beyond celebration and enabling real visibility.”
In a world quick to spotlight others, &TV is flipping the script reminding every woman that the most powerful story she can star in is her own, one confident selfie at a time.
