Cable TV
DEN Networks tops as most attractive Cable TV brand: TRA Research
DEN Networks Ltd, one of the largest cable MSOs in India, is the top cable brand according to the “Most Attractive Brands 2017” report by Trust Research Advisory (TRA), a brands insight company. S.N. Sharma, CEO, DEN Networks said, “We are delighted to be recognised as the most attractive Cable TV brand in the country by TRA. This recognition reflects our enduring efforts to fulfill customer satisfaction and quality service. As a dynamic and technologically driven company, we have been the leading innovator in the digital cable TV industry in India. From being the first national MSO to launch its own OTT app – DEN TV+ to launching premium international gaming service “DEN Playin’ TV” on our network and introducing special HD Set-top box with accessories to enjoy audio and video streaming over internet on non-smart TVs, our initiatives have been aimed at delighting our customers, attuned to their changing preferences and lifestyle needs. We hope to cement our leadership position by continually redefining and improving the industry benchmarks in TV viewing experience.”
‘Most Attractive Brands’ is an annual study conducted by TRA. The rankings are based on a primary research conducted across 16 Indian cities among 2,456 consumers. The study generated nearly 5 million data points and 5,000 unique brands mentions of which 1000 brands are listed in the list. The research is based on TRA’s proprietary 36-attribute Attractiveness Matrix.
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.
