5 DTH players accounted for 72 mn subscriber base in Q4FY19: TRAI

The 5 pay DTH players in the country have attained net active subscriber base of around 72.44 million in the quarter ending March 31, 2019. This is in addition the subscribers of free DTH services of Doordarshan. The number stood at 70.49 million in the preceding quarter ended December 31, 2018. 

Since its introduction in the year 2003, DTH (direct-to-home) service has displayed a phenomenal growth. During the quarter ending December 31, 2018, there were 5 pay DTH service providers in the country. 

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As per a TRAI report, a total number of 902 private satellite TV channels have been permitted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) for uplinking only/ downlinking only/ uplinking and downlinking both, as on March 31, 2019. 

As per the reporting done by broadcasters in pursuance of the Tariff Order dated March 3, 2017, there are 328 pay channels in India, as on March 31, 2019, which include 229 SD (standard definition) pay TV channels and 99 HD (high definition) Pay TV channels. 

TRAI further stated that digitisation, with addressability, of cable TV sector has been completed and the country has achieved 100 per cent digitisation of Cable TV network. As on March 31, 2019, there are 1,469 Multi System Operators (MSOs) registered with the MIB.