DTH
DTH growing, but cable TV to hold sway in India: MPA
NEW DELHI: Cable TV is to remain the core advertising and distribution platform for TV channels for some more time to come in India though DTH is expected to generate advertising for various niche channels, including new channels programmed for DTH by Zee and Star, according to an international broadcast industry report.
According to a new survey released by the Hong Kong-based Media Partners Asia (MPA), Indian cable TV advertising is poised to generate $2.3 billion per annum by 2015, DTH $120 million (about 9 per cent of total DTH industry revenue by 2015) and IPTV $21 million.
As digital DTH satellite pay TV services — yet to compete directly with cable due to various content and distribution issues — evolve in India, the scenario is likely to change from this year onward.
MPA expects C&S channels’ subscription to climb from $353 million in 2005 to $1.2 billion by 2010, driven by rate deregulation after 2008, significant DTH growth and investment in content, cable digitisation and IPTV deployment.
The C&S channels are expected to increase their share of the cable TV distribution pie from 14 per cent in 2005 to 16 per cent by 2010 and 19 per cent by 2015, while their share of the total multichannel video subscription pie could grow to more than 21 per cent by 2010 and 25 per cent by 2015.
India’s market for multichannel video (cable, DTH, IPTV) could grow from approximately 65 million in 2005 to 104 million by 2010 and 125 million by 2015.
This implies that multichannel video penetration of TVHH (TV households) could grow from 57 per cent in 2005 to 67 per cent by 2010 and 71 per cent by 2015.
“Driven by DTH pay TV competition and potential deregulation, we expect cable to gradually consolidate last mile ownership, ramp-up deployment of bundled digital video and broadband Internet, and corporatise industry practices,” MPA states in its industry survey 2006.
DTH growth is likely to accelerate after 2006, driven principally by Subhash Chandra promoted Dish TV and Tata Sky, followed by Reliance and Sun TV.
The competition is likely to intensify between 2006 – 2010, led by aggressive retail pricing, promotions, packaging, STB subsidies and increased investment in programming.
Most of Dish TV’s 750,000 pay TV subscribers have come from “cable dark” areas. Once it obtains access to content from Star and Sony, Dish TV subscriber base likely further accelerate and compete directly with cable.
While cable’s low monthly price is a competitive deterrent to DTH, aggressive deployers such as Tata Sky will likely match cable’s low monthly fees and subsidize upfront charges, the survey says.
Digital DTH pay TV subscribers, according to MPA, could grow from 750,000 in 2005 to 9.8 million by 2010 and 15.7 million by 2015, implying a 13 per cent share of the multichannel video market by 2015, 69 per cent of the digital pay-TV market, and 9 per cent of total TV homes.
“India remains the most significant and accessible cable & satellite (C&S) opportunity in the Asia Pacific region. However, the regulatory framework, especially with respect to retail and wholesale cable TV rates, foreign investment, broadband competition, and programme distribution has become increasingly uneven,” MPA observes.
According to estimates, India’s C&S industry turnover grew 18.5 per cent in 2005 to reach $3.6 billion. Out of this, $2.54 billion came from subscription and $1.02 billion from advertising.
MPA estimates indicate a total of 855,000 broadband subscribers as of year ending December 2005, representing 0.4 per cent household penetration. ADSL had a 73 per cent share of the market with cable at 27 per cent.
According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), broadband subscribers passed one million in January 2006, but this is significantly below the “Broadband Policy” target of three million.
Driven by long-term last mile cable consolidation and increased investment in broadband and digital, India’s broadband cable TV industry is projected to generate $5.1 billion in subscription by 2010 and $7.1 billion by 2015.
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.
