Cable TV
Zone Reality offers viewers a look at the other side of human nature
MUMBAI: Zone Reality, which focusses on real life programming will present two special day events and five new shows.
Zone Romantica and Zone Reality Asia marketing manager Flecka Picardo says, “It has always been our consistent endeavour to introduce programmes
which explore new facets of human life. Our new shows this month reiterate the fact that every situation encountered by human beings is interpreted at a subjective level.”
America’s Dumbest Criminals kicks off on 4 September. This is a light hearted show which humorously depicts the pitfalls which criminals
and offenders create for themselves and hence get trapped by law enforcement agencies. Actual surveillance camera footage is interspersed
with dramatic reactions of criminals.
Inside the Parole Board kicks off on 2 September. This tracks convicted prisoners’ desperate last grasps for freedom and the victims’ last chance to be heard. But as the offenders seize their final opportunity and plead innocent and the victims forcefully voice the grievances they suffered
what is really interesting to observe is not whether their arguments are right or wrong, but the sheer force of their conviction.
The single-minded desire for freedom and justice makes their arguments so convincing and powerful that it becomes almost difficult to believe that these same people were the perpetrators of crime. In the victim’s case it is a transformation from a powerless entity to someone who has the power to determine the fate of another individual.
Medical Mavericks premiers on 16 September. This is another serial which shows that if the subjective aspect comes into play it can cause people to drastically alter their mindset about normally accepted things. This show looks at a trauma surgeon who crusades against violence
after the gang related death of his younger brother.
Storm Stories whichyu ckicks off on 11 September features true stories of ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances. It has footage of extreme weather and is a true account of how human beings trapped in these situations have survived. The show aims to celebrate the
resilience of the human spirit.
Tthere are also three special event days scheduled this month. Each day will have a specific programme theme and will feature some of the best shows of Zone Reality under that theme. For instance Classic Cheaters Weekend on 9 and 10 September will include all the special shows on
Cheaters. Prison Nightâ on 2September will feature various shows which are either directly or indirectly involved with criminals.
Totally Outrageous Night on 3 September will bring together some of the shows which entailed very outrageous programming styles.
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.
