Cable TV
Sushil Kumar Das leaps up the ladder at converged media solutions provider ABV to chief commercial officer
MUMBAI: After nearly 12 years with the company, Sushil Kumaar Das has landed the top commercial job at ABV International, taking the reins as chief commercial officer for south Asia.
The promotion caps a lengthy tenure with the convergent media solutions provider, where Das previously served as country manager since November 2013. In his new role, he’ll oversee sales, account management and business development across Indian and international markets.
“I am deeply grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me by the leadership at ABV International,” Das announced on social media. “I look forward to contributing to the company’s growth, navigating new challenges, and driving impactful strategies across the region.”
A seasoned hand in the media technology sector, Das brings over 24 years of experience to his new position, with particular expertise in pay TV, digital rights management, conditional access systems, IPTV and OTT platforms. Before joining ABV, he cut his teeth at MagnaQuest Technology, Kale Consultant and Softline Software Services.
With a master’s degree in business administration specialising in marketing and telecom management, plus LinkedIn certification in executive leadership, Das describes himself as “passionate about finding openings and opportunities, delivering results, and building long-term relationships with clients and partners.”
As streaming wars heat up across South Asia and traditional broadcasting models continue their digital transformation, ABV’s new commercial chief will have his work cut out maintaining the company’s position in this rapidly evolving landscape.
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.
