DTH
Dish TV adds 3.32 lakh net subscribers in Q1-2015; maintains FY-2014 ARPU of Rs 170
Updated: 05:45 PM
BENGALURU: In its earnings release today, India’s largest DTH operator, Dish TV Limited (Dish TV) informed the bourses that its net subscriber base in Q1-2015 has gone up to 1.17 crore, the company says that it has added a net of 3.32 lakh subscribers in this quarter. The company says further that its average revenue per user (ARPU) is Rs 170, same as the ARPU reported for FY-2014.
Note: 100,00,000=100 lakh = 1 crore = 10 million
Dish TV’s total income from operations (TIO) has gone up marginally by 0.6 per cent in Q1-2015 to Rs 640.69 crore from Rs 636.91 crore in Q1-2014 but was 1 per cent lower than Rs 647.38 crore in Q1-2014. The company has reported a lower loss of Rs 16.5 crore in Q1-2015 as compared to a loss of Rs 149.05 crore in Q4-2014 and a profit of Rs 31.73 crore in Q1-2014. It may be noted that Dish TV’s Q4-2014 loss was impacted by a prior period adjustment of Rs 116.4 crore.
The company reported subscription revenue for the quarter were Rs 588.6 crore while total standalone operating revenues stood at Rs 640.7 crore.
Let us look at the other Q1-2015 numbers reported by Dish TV
Dish TV’s Total expenditure (TE) in Q1-2015 at Rs 628.88 crore (98.2 per cent of TIO) was 4.3 per cent lower than the Rs 657.05 crore (103.2 per cent of TIO) in Q4-2014 and 3.4 per cent more than the Rs 607.94 crore (93.9 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2014.
The company’s programming content and other costs (programming cost) in Q1-2015 at Rs 66.44 crore (10.4 per cent of TIO) was 0.8 per cent lower than the Rs 66.98 crore (10.5 per cent of TIO) in Q4-2014 and 0.9 per cent less than the Rs 67.04 crore (10.4 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2014.
Dish TV paid 16 per cent lower licence fees at Rs 69.24 crore (10.8 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2015 as compared to the Rs 82.38 crore (12.9 per cent of TIO) in the immediate trailing quarter and 10 per cent more than the Rs 62.92 crore (9.7 per cent of TIO) in the year ago quarter Q1-2014.
The company’s commission expense at Rs 54.12 crore (8.5 per cent of TIO) was 6.9 per cent higher than the Rs 50.65 crore (8 per cent of TIO) in Q4-2014 and 36.4 per cent more than the Rs 39.69 crore (6.1 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2014.
Dish TV’s other selling and distribution expense for Q1-2015 at Rs 37.86 crore (5.9 per cent of TIO) was 15.9 per cent more than the Rs 32.66 crore (5.1 per cent of TIO) in Q4-2014 and 24.8 per cent lower than the Rs 50.32 crore (7.8 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2014.
Dish TV’s finance cost in Q1-2015 at Rs 39.48 crore (6.2 per cent of TIO) was 8.4 per cent more than the Rs 32.3 crore (5.1 per cent of TIO) in Q4-2014 and 5 per cent lower than the Rs 35.44 crore (5.5 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2014.
Dish TV chairman Subhash Chandra said, “Going by the first quarter run-rate, the Indian DTH industry seems to have set ground for a 25 per cent growth in subscriber additions this year. Factoring in the opportunities ahead Dish TV is optimistic about outgrowing the industry growth rate. The company delivered in line with expectations during the first quarter and reclaimed its position as the fastest growing DTH player in the country”.
Dish TV managing director Jawahar Goel said, “Post a mediocre 2014, fiscal 2015 had a promising start for the DTH industry. Dish TV, supported by a debt light balance sheet and a more willing consumer market, put the pedal to the metal and led the industry growth by garnering the highest incremental share during the quarter.”
“In line with our objective of growth with profitability, we took a price hike of 5-7 per cent across the middle and top level packs with effect from the first week of June. ARPU increased to Rs. 170 per month in the first quarter with churn also increasing marginally to reach 0.7 per cent per month. There have been efforts to implement last mile billing by the MSO’s however, a full-fledged roll-out is key to a step jump in ARPU’s across the category,” added Goel. In Q4-2014, the company had reported a churn of 0.6 per cent.
“We continued to expand ‘Zing’, our innovative offering for vernacular content across regional markets. The ‘Zing’ service is now available across Odisha, West Bengal, Tripura, parts of Assam and most parts of Maharashtra. A powerful sub-brand, ‘Zing’ has also propelled the sales of the main brand through a wider reach and top of the mind recall. Moving closer towards Phase III and IV of digitisation we remain optimistic about our strategy to capture leading share in these markets,” further added Goel.
Click here to read the financial result
DTH
Dish TV launches ‘Kuch chhota sa’ campaign for TV flexibilit
New campaign highlights 190+ channels, Always-On service, Rs 99 Freedom Pack.
MUMBAI- Sometimes, the smallest remote click can fix the biggest daily friction and Dish TV is betting on exactly that insight. The company has rolled out a new campaign built around the thought ‘Kuch chhota sa karne par, life hogi behtar’, turning everyday viewing annoyances into a case for simpler, more reliable television access.
The campaign taps into a familiar household reality: millions of viewers continue to rely on free-to-air channels but increasingly want the flexibility of premium content, often ending up with a patchy and inconsistent viewing experience. Dish TV positions itself as the middle path—a structured yet flexible alternative that promises continuity without complexity. At its core is the pitch of an “Always-On” service, designed to keep content accessible even when recharge timelines slip, effectively reducing one of the most common friction points in DTH consumption.
To strengthen this proposition, the platform is offering access to over 190 channels, alongside a flexible pricing hook through its Freedom Pack, starting at Rs 99. The pack is positioned as a seasonal companion particularly relevant during high-engagement periods such as cricket tournaments, school holidays and festive windows, when content consumption spikes but users may not want long-term commitments.
Conceptualised by Enormous, the campaign unfolds through two master films and three short edits rooted in slice-of-life storytelling. From a husband quietly navigating around his sleeping wife to siblings striking a compromise over a coveted window seat, the narratives lean into humour and relatability rather than heavy messaging. The underlying idea remains consistent: small adjustments can meaningfully improve everyday experiences.
The rollout spans a full 360-degree media mix, including television, digital platforms, on-ground activations, point-of-sale visibility, Google Display Network placements and influencer-led content, signalling a push for both scale and contextual engagement.
As viewing habits continue to evolve in a hybrid ecosystem of free and paid content, Dish TV’s latest play reflects a broader industry shift where reliability and flexibility are increasingly positioned as differentiators, not just add-ons. In a market crowded with choice, the brand’s wager is simple: sometimes, it’s the smallest tweak that keeps audiences tuned in.
