Cable TV
VITEC and ATX join hands for distribution of IPTV content
MUMBAI: VITEC, a worldwide leader in advanced video encoding and streaming solutions, and ATX Networks, a technology leader of optical and media access platforms, has announced a strategic partnership to provide a fully secure architecture for distribution of IPTV content throughout the enterprise network.
ATX’s UCrypt family of cable gateways enables MSOs and service providers to secure and convert content for a variety of applications, including the secure delivery of content to commercial and hospitality locations. UCrypt’s any-to-any capabilities extend across all formats, including analog, IP, and QAM
ATX chief product officer Ian Lerner said, “The addition of AES output encryption support allows partners like VITEC to have a more practical and cost-effective way to ensure encrypted streams from the UCrypt IP video gateway can only be viewed by authorized users.” He added that together with VITEC’s EZ TV Platform for managing DRM workflows, it is able to offer a secure, enterprise-grade, multiscreen experience with AES decryption for desktop users via a browser player, for TV and signage displays utilising EZ TV end-points, and for Android and iOS users using EZ TV’s mobile app.
VITEC VP Eli Garten said, “IP-based video distribution of live cable and satellite TV content brings a broad range of advantages for any organisation seeking to cost-effectively and securely deliver high-quality content to any screen and any user in the organisation.” He added that this latest integration enables customers to achieve maximum protection with a simple, reliable setup that is approved by leading service providers.
IPTV, digital signage, and advanced video solution, VITEC’s EZ TV IPTV and digital signage platform automates video streaming workflows and campaigns over existing IP networks, allowing any organisation to centrally manage IPTV and content from a single interface. With easy-to-use tools for signage authoring, administration, and analytics, the future-proof platform supports both H.264 and H.265 (HEVC) formats in resolutions up to 4K.
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.
