DTH
Airtel Digital TV sub base expands, even as ARPUs dip
MUMBAI: Q1 2018 ended 30 June 2017 has been a bit of a mixed bag for the Sunil Mittal headed Bharati Airtel’s DTH biz – Airtel Digital TV. Its subscriber base expanded by nine per cent to 13.3 million as compared to 12.14 million in Q1 FY 2017 ended 30 June 2016. Net customer additions were hence around 499,000. The average revenue for the quarter however dropped to Rs 228 as compared to Rs 233 in the corresponding quarter last year.
Revenues from the DTH segment grew at a slower pace of seven per cent in Q1 FY 2018 to touch Rs 897.4 crore (Rs 836.9 crore in Q1 FY 2017). EBIDTA in the latest quarter grew 10 per cent over the previous corresponding period to Rs 330 crore, even as its capex went up 31 per cent to Rs 266.1 crore (Rs 203 crore). Its operating free cash flow was down 35 per cent from Rs 98.1 crore to Rs 63.9 crore.
Bharati Airtel’s cumulative investment to date in Airtel Digital TV has spurted to Rs 7225.3 crore as compared to Rs 6693.6 crore in the previous corresponding quarter.
Cumulatively, the DTH service is contributing five per cent revenues to the telecom behemoth’s top line even as investments in the segment are at three per cent.
Says an industry observer: “Airtel Digital TV is among the three to four players who are offering a world class service at very reasonable prices to consumers. The quality of customers who may have signed on in the last quarter could be coming in from Phase III and phase IV areas of cable TV digitization (where customers have a lower propensity to pay for the premium services) or it could be that the competition is forcing it to cut its prices. But overall it has done reasonably well in a difficult year. “
Airtel Digital TV offers both standard and high definition (HD) digital TV services with 3D capabilities and Dolby surround sound. It offers a total of 590 channels including 67 HD channels, five international channels and four interactive services.
DTH
DD Free Dish e-auction revenue dips to Rs 642 crore as slot sales fall
Revenue dips as revised norms reshape bidding in 94th round
NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati’s DD Free Dish has closed its 8th annual, and 94th overall, e-auction for MPEG-2 slots with total collections of Rs 642 crore for the period April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
That is lower than last year’s Rs 780 crore haul, with 55 slots sold compared with 61 in FY25–26. The softer topline reflects both a slimmer inventory and a recalibrated auction framework.
This was the first auction conducted after amendments to the e-auction methodology, including tighter eligibility norms and a revised reserve price structure for MPEG-2 slots. The stated aim was greater transparency and more serious participation. The immediate outcome appears to be more measured bidding in certain categories.
Day one set the tone. Eight slots were sold, six in the premium Bucket A+ and two in Bucket A. The strong early action in A+, which typically houses Hindi GECs and movie channels, reaffirmed the enduring appeal of mass Hindi programming on the platform.
Among the broadcasters securing slots in the initial rounds were Zee Entertainment Enterprises, Sony Pictures Networks India, Viacom18’s Colors network, Sun Network and Shemaroo Entertainment. Their continued presence signals that, despite the pull of digital platforms, Free Dish remains a strategic must have for legacy networks chasing scale in price sensitive markets.
The final bouquet of 55 channels leans heavily towards Hindi news, movies, devotional fare, Bhojpuri and regional programming.
In Hindi news, familiar heavyweights such as Aaj Tak, ABP News, India TV, News18 India, Republic Bharat and Zee News made the cut. Entertainment and movie offerings include Colors Rishtey, Star Utsav, Dangal TV, Sony Pal, Shemaroo TV, Goldmines, B4U Movies and Zee Biskope. Devotional viewers will find Aastha, Sanskar and Sadhna Gold among the selected channels.
Regional representation includes Sun Marathi, Fakt Marathi, PTC Punjabi and GTC Punjabi.
Equally telling were the absences. Broadcasters such as Big Magic, Filamchi Bhojpuri, India News, Bharat Express, Movieplex Maithili, TV9 Marathi, Shemaroo Marathibana, Zee Chitra Mandir and Satsang did not participate. The pullback is particularly visible across Marathi, Bhojpuri, Maithili and spiritual programming. Industry observers point to the revised reserve prices, tighter eligibility norms and a reassessment of commercial viability as possible factors.
DD Free Dish continues to beam into over 40 million homes, largely in rural and semi urban India. For advertisers and broadcasters alike, it offers efficient access to Bharat markets where pay TV penetration remains uneven and OTT subscriptions are limited.
The moderation in revenue this year may be read as a pause rather than a retreat. Fewer slots, a reworked auction playbook and evolving broadcaster strategies have clearly shaped outcomes. Yet premium Hindi entertainment retains its pull, and the platform’s mass reach remains hard to ignore.
As the FY26–27 line-up settles in, the mix of winners and walkaways will define the private satellite channel landscape on DD Free Dish for the year ahead.
