MUMBAI—Move over, television executives. The inmates are about to take over the asylum—or at least, the broadcast.
Cable television multiservice operators Hathway and Den have launched an experiment that could rewrite the rulebook of broadcast media. Their new platform, Hathway/DEN Reels, is turning content creation and its broadcast on its head – viewers are creating content which is being packaged and shown on a specialised service on Hathway channel no 99 and on Den channel no 100.
Launched on 18 March, Hathway Reels and Den Reels have already captured the imagination of wannabe performers nationwide. In just five days, over 1,000 user-generated reels have flooded in—a deluge that suggests a deep hunger for democratised stardom.
“This isn’t television as we know it,” says an industry observer. “It’s television as people have always dreamed it could be”.
The concept is disarmingly simple. Aspiring performers—be they singers, dancers, comedians, or pure eccentrics—need only a smartphone and a dash of courage. No casting calls, no industry connections, no prohibitive barriers to entry.
Social media has long promised such democratisation, but often delivered only algorithmic mirages of fame. Hathway/DEN Reels promises something more tangible: actual broadcast airtime.
What sets this initiative apart is its radical inclusivity. It’s not about polished performances but raw, unfiltered talent. A call centre executive in Bengaluru, a farmer in Punjab, or a student in Mumbai can now find themselves beamed into living rooms across India.
The platform represents more than entertainment—it’s a social leveller. For every frustrated creative soul shelving dreams due to practical constraints, this is a lifeline. No need to quit the day job. No need to move to Mumbai or Delhi. The stage has come to them.
Initial response suggests the concept has struck a nerve. In an era of algorithmic content and manufactured viral moments, Hathway/DEN Reels offers something revolutionary: genuine human connection.
As television wrestles with relevance in the streaming age, this could be a blueprint for survival. Not by competing with slick productions, but by becoming a mirror—reflecting the vibrant, diverse, utterly unpredictable talent that pulses through India’s veins.
For those who’ve ever mumbled “I could do that” at their television, the time has come. The spotlight awaits.
