DTH added 2.5 lakh pay subs in April- June 2023: TRAI

The Pay DTH has attained a total active subscriber base of around 65.50 million, according to the Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report for the Quarter ending June 30, 2023 by TRAI.  

According to the report, this is in addition to the subscribers of the DD Free Dish (free DTH services of Doordarshan). The total active subscriber base has increased by 0.38% from 65.25 million in QE Mar-23 to 65.50 million in June-23. But if compared to the same quarter of last year, the total subscriber base declined by 2.3% to 65.50 million in June’23 as compared to 67.04 million in June’22. 

The Indicator report stated that as per the reporting done by broadcasters in pursuance of the Tariff Order dated March 2017 as amended, out of 892 permitted satellite TV channels which are available for downlinking in India, there are 360 satellite pay TV channels as on 30 June 2023. Out of 360 pay channels, 256 are SD satellite pay TV channels and 104 are HD satellite pay TV channels. Apart from these channels reported to TRAI, all other channels, available for downlinking in India, are considered as Free to Air (FTA) channels. 

The total number of channels remained the same in June quarter as compared to March quarter. However, the number of FTA channels declined to 532 from 534 in the March’2023 quarter while the number of pay TV channels grew to 360 in June’23 as compared to 358 channels in March’2023. 

Meanwhile, as on 30th June 2023, there were 1737 MSOs registered with MIB. According to the data reported by MSOs and HITS operators, there were 12 MSOs and 1 HITS operator who have subscriber bases greater than one million. GTPL Hathway led the list with highest number of with over 9 million subscribers. 

On the radio, report stated that apart from the radio channels operated by All India Radio – the public broadcaster, there are 388 operational private FM Radio channels in 113 cities operated by 36 private FM Radio operators as per the data reported by FM Radio operators to TRAI, as on 30th June 2023. Compared to the previous quarter, there is no change in the number of operational private FM Radio channels, cities and FM Radio operators. 

Also, the advertisement revenue reported by FM Radio operators during the quarter ending 30th June 2023 with respect to 388 private FM Radio channels is Rs 389.97 crore as against Rs 388.97 crore with respect to 388 private FM Radio channels for the previous quarter.