Cable TV
Thailand’s largest pay-TV operator TrueVisions extends partnership with Synamedia
LONDON and SINGAPORE, 15 January 2019 – Synamedia, the largest independent video software provider, today announced it has extended its seven-year partnership with TrueVisions, Thailand’s leading pay-TV operator.
As part of the new multi-year contract, Synamedia VideoGuard will protect and secure TrueVisions’ investments in live sports, news, entertainment and other premium content delivered to its 3.9 million cable and satellite subscribers. The deal ensures that TrueVisions can deliver new premium, blended broadcast/IP services to customers without compromising on security. In 2019, TrueVisions will roll out an Android TV set-top box which will also be protected by VideoGuard.
Synamedia is the market leader in video security solutions with the industry’s longest and strongest track record safeguarding pay-TV operators’ revenues against pay-TV piracy. Drawing on its 30-year heritage, Synamedia’s continuing relationship with TrueVisions will involve working on new security solutions to fight piracy and protect revenue streams.
Dr. Jen, Procurement Director of True Group of Companies, said, “We have benefitted from VideoGuard’s industry-leading security since 2011 to secure our investments in premium content. By extending our partnership with Synamedia we are protecting our brand with the world’s leading set-top box security solution and safeguarding subsequent potential revenues as we look to enhance and enrich our subscribers’ viewing experiences with new blended broadcast/IP services.”
Sue Couto, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Asia Pacific for Synamedia, added, “Being the market-leader in Thailand, it is vital that TrueVisions’ video content and services are secured against all types of threats. Synamedia is committed to stamping out piracy and will continue to work closely with TrueVisions to maximise their current revenues while also developing new solutions and services that will delight their customers and open up additional revenue streams.”
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.
