Pay DTH subscriber base declines 1% in quarter ending Dec 2023

The total active subscriber base of Pay DTH services experienced a decline of 1.03%, dropping to 63.52 million in December 2023 from 64.18 million in September 2023, according to a report from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The report is titled Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report for the Quarter ending December, 2023.

If we look at the subscriber base from June 2023 to December 2023, the pay DTH has lost 1.98 million subscribers. If we compare from the quarter ending December 2022 till the quarter ending December 2023, pay DTH has lost 3.1 million subscribers. 

In terms of market share, Tata Play's share was 32.71% for the quarter. Bharti Telemedia's (Airtel DTH) market share was 27.76%, Dish TV had 20.81% market share during the quarter and Sun TV Direct TV had 18.72% market share.

Cable TV sector 

As on 31st December 2023, there were 998 MSOs registered with MIB. As per the data reported by MSOs and HITS operator, as on 31st December 2023, there are 11 MSOs & 1 HITS operator who have subscriber base greater than 1 million. GTPL Hathway had the highest subscriber base of over 8 million subscribers. 

Pay TV channels 

As per the information provided by broadcasters in pursuance of the tariff order dated 3rd March 2017 as amended, out of 910 permitted satellite TV channels which are available for downlinking in India, there are 363 satellite pay TV channels as on 31st December 2023. Out of 363 pay channels, 259 are SD satellite pay TV channels and 104 are HD satellite pay TV channels.

FM Radio 

The advertisement revenue of FM Radio operators during the quarter ending 31st December 2023 grew 18.88%.  In respect of 388 private FM Radio channels, the revenue stood at Rs 485.47 crore as against Rs 408.37 crore for the previous quarter i.e. 30th September.