Cable TV
SpeedCast casts its eye on Mainland China and Hong Kong with help from ETNS
Hong Kong company SpeedCast Ltd, which works in the area of broadband satellite, is tying up with the China-based Internet Services Provider (ISP) ET Network Services (ETNS). It has a 30,000 km plus optical fibre backbone network and SpeedCast hopes to leverage ETNS’ reach to deliver its Content Distribution Service to enterprise users.
As part of the agreement, ETNS’ Internet Exchange Centres are expected to take advantage of the benefits that SpeedCast’s Omnistream Content Distribution Network has to offer. Omnistream has proven very effective in delivering streaming technologies. ETNS, on its part, will aggressively promote SpeedCast’s streaming services in China. It will also use its strong sales and technical support staff to support this endeavour.
ETNS will be able to use Omnistream to avoid congestion of its IP networks. Omnistream distributes data to edge servers located on the fringe. Edge servers are able to deliver high quality, multimedia content directly to end-users, who can enjoy a high quality viewing experience.
Formed a couple of years ago SpeedCast is working hard to reach the goal of becoming the leading broadband Internet and multimedia service provider. It offers to customers three satellite-enabled broadband services. These are SpeedCast Broadband, SpeedCast Multimedia which provides a maximum of 30 channels of streaming multimedia video programming. Finally there is SpeedCast Broadcast which looks after content distribution.
The company will play a major role in the CASBAA 2001 Super Session on 27 November which will discuss Interactive broadband internet content distribution over satellite and cable television networks. At last month’s Broadband Content World Asia 2001 held in Singapore the company talked about the immense opportuniites present in the area of broadband and the discernible trends noticeable It also dealt with the technical aspects of transforming narrowband content into compelling broadband content. It also stressed the need for entertainment to expand itself by getting an interactive feel to it.
Additionally, it forged an alliance with Korea Telecom, the world’s largest broadband Internet company. Subscribers of the Telecom major can use their computers to enjoy SpeedCast Multimedia live streaming video and audio content. This way SpeedCast was able to reach an audience of over 3.2 million. SpeedCast’s multimedia content covers the latest happenings in the world of business, finance,entertainment, lifestyle. It’s media partners include CNN, CNBC Asia Pacific, Bloomberg Television, ChannelNewsAsia, Korea’s Arirang TV and Fashion TV.
On its part ETNS is expanding its network all over the world and harbours ambitions of setting up 18 more IXCs in strategic locations of the PRC by the end of next year.
Regarding the opportunity present in the most populated country in the world, SpeedCast CEO Thomas Choi made these comments, “We are extremely proud to be working alongside ETNS for the delivery of advanced communications solutions for the Chinese markets. Companies throughout China will now have access to the most cost efficient means of communicating corporate information to an unlimited number of end users internationally. Further, multinational companies doing business in China will benefit from this efficient web-based tool.”
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.
