DTH active subscribers fall to 64.18 mn in Sept 2023 from 65.50 mn in June'23: TRAI

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recently released the ‘Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report’ for the quarter ending September 30, 2023. This Report provides a broad perspective of the Telecom Services in India and presents the key parameters and growth trends of the Telecom Services as well as Cable TV, DTH & Radio Broadcasting services in India for the period covering July 1, 2023 to September 30, 2023, compiled mainly on the basis of information furnished by the service providers.

Direct-to-Home (DTH) Sector

Since its introduction in the year 2003, Indian Direct-to-home (DTH) services have displayed a phenomenal growth. However, the total active subscriber base has decreased from 65.50 million in June 2023 to 64.18 million in September 2023, as per TRAI’s Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report for the quarter ending September 30, 2023. Pay DTH has attained total active subscriber base of around 64.18 million. This is in addition to the subscribers of the DD Free Dish, the free DTH services of Doordarshan.

There are four pay DTH service providers:

• Tata Play
• Bharti Telemedia
• Dish TV India
• Sun Direct TV

Pay TV Channels

As per the reporting done by broadcasters in pursuance of the Tariff Order dated March 3, 2017 as amended, out of 904 permitted satellite TV channels which are available for downlinking in India, there are 361 satellite pay TV channels as on September 30, 2023. Out of 361 pay channels, 257 are SD satellite pay TV channels and 104 are HD satellite pay TV channels.

Apart from these pay channels reported to TRAI, all other channels, available for downlinking in India, are considered as Free to Air (FTA) channels.

Satellite TV Channels

A total of approximately 915 private satellite TV channels have been permitted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) for uplinking only/ downlinking only/ both uplinking & downlinking. Out of 915 permitted satellite TV channels, 904 channels are available for downlinking in India.

Cable TV Sector

As on September 30, 2023, there are 995 MSOs registered with MIB. As per the data reported by MSOs and HITS operator, as on September 2023, there are 11 MSOs and 1 HITS operator who have subscriber base greater than one million.

IPTV

As per information provided by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), as on September 30, 2023, there are 26 IPTV Operators.

FM Radio Services

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 30th September 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 September 30, 2023 in respect of 388 private FM Radio channels is Rs 408.37 crore as against Rs 389.97 crore in respect of 388 private FM Radio channels for the previous quarter.

Community Radio

As on September 30, 2023, 465 Community Radio stations are operational, up from 446 Community Radio stations as of June 30, 2023.