Cable TV
Sun set to buy out RPG Netcom
CHENNAI: Sun Network is all set to acquire RPG Netcom, a move which will mark the company’s foray into cable TV business in the non South market.
SCV, the cable TV arm of Sun Network, is in the last lap of procedures to totally buy out the leading Kolkata-based multi system operator (MSO). The deal is being worked out by Ernst & Young.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Sun Network’s chairman and managing director Kalanithi Maran says the deal is almost through. “We are on the verge of closing the deal and expect to make an announcement within a month,” he adds.
Maran was not willing to disclose the valuation of the deal that was being worked out. The buzz in the market, though, is that SCV would be paying between Rs 350-450 million.
The acquisition of RPG’s cable network is expected to precede the launch of Sun’s Bangla entertainment channel in September. Earlier, Sun had planned to launch Surjo on 14 April. Instead, Sun will be launching Aditya, a Telugu channel on 14 April.
RPG has a 40 per cent share of the local market but, like other MSOs, has very few direct points. The ailing MSO had long been in hunt of an equity partner but the negotiations with Star India fell through a few years back.
What brought Sun and RPG into the negotiating table? “We saw an opportunity in the market while RPG may have its own reasons to exit,” says Maran.
So what is the plan ahead? “We haven’t bought the company yet. If we do, we will bring in more fibre optics into the network. The future is in digital services. Worldwide, cable has gone digital,” says Maran.
Is Sun also talking to acquire stake in Cablecom and Manthan, the two other big cable operators in Kolkata? “I am not going to comment on that. As a policy, we talk only when anything definite has been arrived at,” says Maran.
Cable TV
Siti Cable launches Crunchyroll Anime Stream channel with Sony YAY!
New partnership brings dedicated anime channel to Indian cable viewers
MUMBAI: Siti Cable has launched a new anime-focused channel, ‘Crunchyroll Anime Stream’, in partnership with Sony YAY!, marking a fresh push to expand anime access on traditional cable platforms in India.
The channel, which went live on April 21, is positioned as one of the first collaborations of its kind between a television network and a cable operator to deliver a dedicated anime service. The move reflects growing demand for Japanese animation among Indian audiences, particularly in regional language formats.
The programming lineup includes globally popular titles such as Naruto, Black Clover, and Robotan, with a focus on dubbed content to cater to local viewers. The catalogue aligns with similar anime offerings currently available across direct-to-home and cable platforms.
The launch adds momentum to a broader trend. Over the past year, several platforms have experimented with dedicated anime channels. Services linked to Crunchyroll have appeared across operators like Dish TV, Tata Play, and Airtel Digital TV, signalling steady interest in the genre.
Backed by Sony Pictures Networks India, Sony YAY! has been steadily expanding its anime footprint, and this latest partnership strengthens its distribution reach beyond digital and DTH ecosystems into cable households.
The bigger picture is clear. Anime is no longer a niche in India. With multiple platforms now investing in dedicated channels and localised content, it is quickly becoming a mainstream entertainment category.
For Siti Cable and Sony YAY!, this launch is not just about adding another channel. It is about tapping into a fast-growing fandom and turning appointment viewing into a daily habit for India’s anime audience.
