The ministry of data and broadcasting (MIB) noticed a dip in earnings from Direct-to-Residence (DTH) tv companies in FY25, signaling a continued decline within the pay TV person base.
Nonetheless, revenues from the non-public FM radio sector confirmed regular progress throughout the identical interval, in response to the ministry’s newest annual report.
In FY25, DTH income decreased to Rs 648.73 crore in FY25 from Rs 692 crore in FY24 and Rs 859.96 crore in FY23, displaying a 25% discount over two years.
Conversely, non-public FM radio income elevated to Rs 196.28 crore from Rs 186.80 crore in FY24 and Rs 178.99 crore in FY23.
The ministry collected Rs 1,012.39 crore in non-tax income by the Bharatkosh platform on the NTR e-portal in FY25.
The MIB gives licences to tv and radio broadcasters.
DTH operators, together with Tata Play, Airtel Digital TV, Dish TV, Solar Direct, and public broadcaster Doordarshan’s DD Free Dish, pay licence charges to the ministry. These operators ship tv content material nationwide utilizing Ku-band transponders, ET reported.
TRAI information reveals a gentle decline in lively DTH pay customers from 70.26 million in 2020 to 56.92 million in 2025.
The lower occurred progressively, with numbers falling from 69.57 million in 2021 to 66.92 million in 2022, 65.25 million in 2023, and 61.97 million in 2024.
This ongoing discount signifies altering viewer preferences, with audiences more and more selecting digital and over-the-top (OTT) platforms for his or her leisure wants.
Earlier on Could 30, ET reported that MIB issued demand notices exceeding Rs 16,000 crore to personal DTH operators for pending licence charges, including stress to an business going through income challenges and competitors from OTT platforms and DD Free Dish.
Trade estimates recommend DD Free Dish, owned by Prasar Bharati, reaches 50-60 million households, matching or surpassing the mixed attain of personal DTH platforms.
DD Free Dish operates with out subscription costs on a free-to-air foundation. Its progress doesn’t have an effect on ministry income because it neither pays licence charges nor operates throughout the non-public DTH income construction.
FM radio maintains its place, significantly in regional and semi-urban areas.
The ministry generates income by entry and migration charges, annual licences, tower leases, and processing costs from FM broadcasters.
The ministry famous FM radio’s reputation amongst youth and native advertisers. Non-public FM channels assist authorities communication initiatives, serving to promote improvement schemes in distant and border areas.
As of March 31, 2024, 388 non-public FM radio channels operated throughout 113 cities in 26 states and 5 Union territories.
New stations launched in border areas embrace Leh and Kargil in Ladakh, and Bhaderwah, Kathua and Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir.
TRAI studies present FM channels earned Rs 466.63 crore in promoting income for the quarter ended March 31, down from Rs 500.11 crore within the December quarter, demonstrating stability regardless of media business modifications.
