Pay DTH subscriber base fell by 2.02% to 64.18 million in Q3 2023

In the latest quarter, the pay Direct-to-Home (DTH) subscriber base in India witnessed a notable decline. According to the Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the pay DTH subscriber base decreased by 2.02%, falling from 65.50 million in the quarter ended June 2023 to 64.18 million in the quarter ended September 2023.

This decrease is a significant development in an industry that has historically seen robust growth since its inception in 2003. TRAI attributes this shift to various factors, including evolving consumer preferences, technological advancements, and competitive pressures within the sector.

As of September 30, 2023, Tata Play emerged as the leader with a 32.43% share, followed closely by Bharti Telemedia at 27.01% and Dish TV India at 21.54%. Sun Direct TV rounded off the list with a 19.02% share.

The report also sheds light on the state of pay TV channels in the country. Out of the 904 permitted satellite TV channels available for downlinking in India, 361 are designated as satellite pay TV channels. Among these, 257 are standard definition (SD) channels, while 104 are high definition (HD) channels, catering to the diverse preferences of viewers.

In addition to the pay DTH services, the report also highlights the status of the cable TV sector. As of September 30, 2023, there are 995 Multiple System Operators (MSOs) registered with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB). Notably, 11 MSOs and one Headend-in-the-Sky (HITS) operator have subscriber bases exceeding one million. GTPL Hathway leads this segment with over 9 million subscribers.

Additionally, the report delves into the financial performance of FM Radio operators for the quarter ending September 30, 2023. It revealed that advertising revenue, encompassing 388 private FM Radio channels, surged to Rs 408.37 crore. This marks a noteworthy 4.72% uptick from the preceding quarter, where revenue stood at Rs 389.97 crore.