Private DTH ops added 1.04 mn net active pay subs in Oct-Dec 2018 quarter

The five private direct to home (DTH) operators added 1.04 million net active pay subscribers in the October-December 2018 quarter, according to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicators report for Q3 FY19.

The private DTH operators attained net pay active subscriber base of around 70.49 million as on 31st December, 2018. In the July-September 2018 quarter, the net pay active subscriber base stood at 69.45 million.

In Q3 FY19, Dish TV had added 142,000 net subscribers while Airtel Digital TV’s net subscriber additions stood at 222,000.

Dish TV saw its subscriber base dip by 1% compared to the previous quarter ended 30th September. Sun Direct, on the other hand, witnessed a 1% gain in its subscriber base.

The market share of the top 5 DTH operators stood at Dish TV (40%) followed by Tata Sky (25%), Airtel Digital TV (22%), Sun Direct (12%), and Independent TV (1%).

The TRAI report also stated that a total of 880 private satellite TV channels have been permitted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) for uplinking only/downlinking only/uplinking and downloading both, as on 31st December, 2018.

As per the reporting done by broadcaster in pursuance of the Tariff Order dated 3rd March 2017, there are 330 pay channels, as on 31st December 2018, which include 231 SD pay TV channels and 99 HD Pay TV channels.

Apart from the radio stations operated by All India Radio- the public broadcaster, as on 31st December 2018, there are 355 operational private FM Radio stations in 97 cities with operational 33 Private FM Radio broadcaster as compared to 349 private FM Radio Stations in 94 cities with operational 33 FM Radio broadcasters in the previous quarter.

The reported advertisement revenue during the quarter ending 31st December 2018 in respect of 354 private FM Radio stations is Rs 706.72 crore as against Rs 546.83 crore in respect of 349 private FM Radio stations for the quarter ended 30th September 2018.

One FM Radio Broadcaster, Gwalior Firm Private Limited, operating in the city of Guwahati, has not submitted the advertisement revenue.