Cable TV
Video and Broadband Summit 2021: The 5G genie & the future of legacy distribution systems
NEW DELHI: The video ecosystem has never had it better. Consumption, which skyrocketed during the early days of the Covid2019 pandemic, has found its level and that is much higher than it's ever been before. Cable TV, DTH, FTA, streaming services, wireless broadband and wired fixed broadband have all seen unimaginable uptake as digitisation has been accelerated with viewers and consumers being asked to be homebound for their safety.
But in this period key questions have arisen: What is the future for legacy distribution systems for TV like cable TV, DTH, and FTA? With 5G knocking on our doors, will the traditional modes of delivery have the same relevance? How to capitalise on the booming user generated content space? These are some of the themes which will be discussed at the Video and Broadband Summit 2021.
Running in its seventeenth year, the summit is going virtual this time and will bring together stalwarts from television, broadcasting, internet and distribution sectors to take a deep dive into the dynamic trends and vital issues prevalent in the sector at present.
Over the last one-and-a-half-decades, VBS (earlier IDOS) has grown to become India’s definitive pat-TV and video distribution get together. However, this year’s summit is critical given that 2020 has witnessed some of the most fundamental changes in the industry – from the NTO 2.0 directive, a resurgent FTA segment, to the rise and rise of the over-the-top platforms.
Key sessions in the summit will be:
· 2:30 – 2:40 pm: Introduction
· 2:40- 2:50 pm: Welcome Note by Anil Wanvari, founder, CEO & editor-in-chief of Indiantelevision.com
· 2:50 – 03:50 pm: The leaders peak laying out a profitable future
· 3:50 – 04:35 pm: Future proofing DPOs on video delivery solutions
· 4:35 – 4:55 pm: Virtual fireside chat with Anuj Jain, president – Jio Fiber
· 4:55 – 05:45 pm: Customer First!
· 05:45 – 05:50 pm: Closing Remarks
To discuss all these relevant subjects, the summit has also lined up a distinguished panel of speakers. Among them are:
· Amit Arora, President – Indiacast Media Distribution
· Anuj Jain, President – Jio Fiber
· Anil Malhotra, Chief Executive Officer- SITI Networks Pvt Ltd
· Anil Wanwari, Founder, CEO & Editor-in-chief- IndianTelevision.com
· Anurag Nigam, DGM Strategy- SITI Networks Pvt Ltd
· Gurjeev Singh Kapoor, President TV Distribution -India & International – Star and Disney India
· MN Vyas, Founder Director- Planetcast Media Services
· Prem Ojha, Group Chief Executive Officer- Fastway Transmissions Pvt Ltd & Netplus Broadband
· Prashant Chothani, Founder and Chief Executive Officer -Travelxp 4K
· Raman Kalra, Partner- PwC India
· RU Ediriwira, Group Chief Technology Officer- NXTDigital
· Salil Thomas, Vice President & Head Technology- Asianet Satellite Communications Ltd
· Sandeep Gupta, COO – Broadcasting Business-Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd.
· Vynsley Fernandes, Media Group Chief Executive Officer, NXTDIGITAL Limited
· Xavier Leclercq, Vice President Business Development- Broadpeak
· Yatin Gupta, Senior Vice President – GTPL Hathway Ltd.
Come join us for stimulating conversations, incisive insights and deliberations on the future roadmap of the industry at the Video and Broadband Summit 2021 on 5 March at 2:30 pm. Register now at https://www.indiantelevision.com/micro/vbsnew/index.html#
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.
