Pay DTH active subscriber base down 2% in Q4: TRAI

The total active subscriber base in pay direct to home (DTH) has decreased by 2.06% from 66.62 million in December 2022 to 65.25 million in March 2023.  According to the latest Performance Indicator Report (PIR) from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Pay DTH has lost around 1.37 million subscriber base in one quarter.

In terms of market share, Tata Play's share was 32.65% for the quarter. Bharti Telemedia's (Airtel DTH) market share was 26.77%, Dish TV had 21.78% market share during the quarter and Sun TV Direct TV had 18.81% market share.

Cable TV

According to the TRAI report, as on March 31, 2023, there are 1748 MSOs registered with MIB (as on 28.02.2023). As per the data reported by MSOs and HITS operator, there are 12 MSOs and 1 HITS operator who have a subscriber base greater than one million.

GTPL Hathway had the highest subscriber base of over 9 million followed by Siti Networks Ltd with over 6 million and Hathway Digital with over 5 million subscribers.

FM Radio Service

Apart from the radio channels operated by All India Radio – the public broadcaster, as per the data reported by FM Radio operators to TRAI, as on 31st March 2023, there are 388 operational private FM Radio channels in 113 cities operated by 36 private FM Radio operators. As compared to the previous quarter, there is no change in the number of operational private FM Radio channels, cities and FM Radio operators.  

The advertisement revenue reported by FM Radio operators during the quarter ending 31st March 2023 in respect of 388 private FM Radio channels declined by 8.94% to Rs.388.97 crore as against Rs.427.18 crore in respect of 388 private FM Radio channels for the previous quarter.