DTH
Sony Pictures' channels back in Tata Play's DTH packages
Sony Pictures Networks India's channels have returned to Tata Play's packages after resolving their differences. Tata Play had recently removed SPNI channels due to declining market share. The channels are now reinstated. SPNI had earlier sought an audit of Tata Play's subscriber management system, citing discrepancies.
CCI tunes in to RIL-Disney merger show, raises query
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has raised antitrust concerns about Reliance Industries and Walt Disney's $8.5-billion merger of their media assets. The proposed merger could create a dominant entity in India's entertainment sector, holding significant cricket broadcasting rights. To ease concerns, Reliance and Disney have proposed shutting certain channels and await regulatory approval.
Industry wants open discussion on fresh Broadcast Bill draft
The media industry anticipates the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) to conduct an open and transparent consultation process before releasing a new draft of the Broadcast Services Regulation Bill. This expectation follows criticism towards the MIB for its opaque handling of the second draft circulated to certain stakeholders at the end of July.
TRAI begins consultation process on TV broadcast audits
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) conducted a consultation to decide if the annual DPO-caused subscriber management system audits should be retained or modified. Despite regulatory measures, many DPOs delayed audits, leading broadcasters to advocate for broadcaster-caused audits. TRAI also considered extending audit deadlines and defining small DPOs to address manpower and financial constraints.
Tata Play removes Sony channels from curated packs due to low viewership
Tata Play, an Indian subscription-based satellite television service provider, announced on Thursday that it will be removing Sony Entertainment channels from its specially curated subscriber packs. This decision stems from the low viewership of these channels.
Sony, Tata Play spar over removal of TV channels from DTH packs
Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) and Tata Play were in conflict over the removal of SPNI channels from consumer packs. Tata Play cited declining popularity and cost savings for customers as reasons. SPNI claimed retaliation after requesting an audit of Tata Play's subscriber management system. SPNI is considering legal action due to an existing contract. Tata Play's CEO assured the move complied with regulations and allowed individual subscriptions. This dispute highlights industry challenges with competition from streaming services. The controversy mirrors a similar issue involving SonyLIV's removal from Tata Play's OTT service over payout disagreements.
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DTH, teleport company expect new policy to lower satellite costs
The Indian government’s new policy, effective April 2025, requires foreign satellite operators to establish local units to offer satellite capacity to Indian companies. This change is expected to reduce satellite capacity costs for Direct-to-Home (DTH) and teleport operators by allowing them to negotiate long-term contracts in Indian rupees rather than foreign currencies.
Tata Play FY24 results: Net loss widens to Rs 353.9 crore, revenue dips 4.3%
Tata Play, previously known as Tata Sky, reported a widened loss of Rs 353.9 crore with a 4.32% decline in revenue. Plans for an IPO were delayed due to regulatory issues. The company's financial performance in FY24 shows a challenging year.
Broadcasters may move court against Trai ruling on pay channels
TV broadcasters are preparing to challenge the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (Trai) directive legally. The directive mandates that pay channels available on DD Free Dish must be free to other distributors. Sources familiar with the situation revealed this information.
Flipkart expands bill payment suite in partnership with BillDesk
Users now have access to services like Fastag and DTH recharge, landline, broadband bill payments and mobile phone bill payments on the Flipkart platform, the company said on Wednesday. Flipkart has partnered with BillDesk to bring bill payment services for its users.
DTH companies lose over 3 million users in FY24
Despite the Indian Premier League and the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in 2023, four private direct-to-home (DTH) operators in India lost 3.28 million active subscribers in the fiscal year ending March 2024. Free streaming of the events by JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar, along with price hikes by broadcasters, led to the decline. Competition from OTT platforms and Prasar Bharati-owned DD Free Dish also contributed to the drop in subscribers.
Tata Play’s loss widens 3-fold as DTH takes a hit
Tata Play’s net loss for fiscal 2024 surged more than threefold due to heightened competition in its direct-to-home (DTH) TV distribution business. The company reported a net loss of Rs 354 crore for the fiscal year ended March 31, compared to Rs 105 crore the previous year. Revenue from operations fell by over 4% to Rs 4,304 crore, while expenses rose 1.47% to Rs 4,761 crore. The DTH segment posted a net loss of Rs 247 crore, while the broadband business saw a narrower net loss and a 27% revenue increase.
Dish TV shareholders reject director appointments once again
Dish TV shareholders rejected the appointment of Mukesh Chand and Manish Khandelwal as independent directors but approved the appointment of CEO Manoj Dobhal as a whole-time director. Chand and Khandelwal vacated their positions, leading to the immediate appointment of Garima Bharadwaj and Azeezuddin Mohammad as independent directors.
Tata Play will now give Amazon Prime benefits & liberty to choose your own OTT bundles
Tata Play has partnered with Amazon Prime to provide Tata Play DTH and Tata Play Binge customers with various options to access Prime's content and perks, including same-day delivery. Tata Play CEO Harit Nagpal stated the goal is to enhance user convenience and introduce a new bundled apps category. The collaboration offers different subscription packs, starting from Rs 199 per month, with access to Prime Lite on Tata Play. Binge subscribers can choose from multiple popular apps at different price points. Customers can subscribe to six or all 33 OTT apps, including Prime Video. The partnership aims to offer comprehensive value, combining video, shipping, and shopping benefits.
CCI approves Airtel's buyout of Warburg Pincus affiliate's stake in DTH arm
In October 2023, the telecom company sought the competition watchdog’s approval for the transaction that also involved Lion Meadow Investment, an affiliate of Warburg Pincus, acquiring a stake in Bharti Airtel, one of the persons cited above said. The CCI approved the transaction recently.
Temasek sells 10% stake in Tata Play to Tata Sons for Rs 835 crore
Tata Play, India's largest DTH firm with 21 million subscribers, has intimated the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) about the change in shareholding, according to one of the persons, who did not wish to be identified. Under the DTH rules, licence holders are required to inform the ministry about a change in shareholding or partnership or foreign direct investment pattern.
Pay DTH operators lost 0.66 million subscribers in festive quarter
According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's Performance Indicator Report for the quarter ending December 31, the pay DTH base of the four private DTH operators declined to 63.52 million from 64.18 million in the trailing quarter.
DishTV jumps on the built-in OTT services bandwagon alongside Jio, Airtel
Dish TV has launched 'Dish TV Smart+', offering customers access to both TV and Over-the-Top (OTT) content. The service allows customers to access OTT apps alongside their TV subscription pack, offering a flexible 'on any screen, anywhere, and anytime' option. Dish TV is also collaborating with top TV and Mobile Original Equipment Manufacturers to integrate their services into devices, enriching the user experience.
TV distributors bet on bundling to arrest churn
TV distribution companies are bundling services to prevent churn, with players like Airtel and Jio offering diverse packages. This strategy aims to retain subscribers amid industry churn, improve customer stickiness, and reduce acquisition costs. For years, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio have been offering bundled data and content services to their customers. In the realm of standalone providers, DTH company Tata Play has been bundling linear TV and OTT services, allowing subscribers to access both through a unified billing system.
Broadband, OTT may keep Tata Play in good stead amid DTH dip
Tata Play's revenue from its core direct-to-home (DTH) business is expected to decline in the medium term due to a slowdown in its subscriber base. However, this decrease is anticipated to be balanced by growth in broadband and over-the-top (OTT) businesses. Operating margins may face pressure in FY24 and FY25 due to the subscriber base moderation, although partly offset by improved metrics from Tata Play Binge and expected breakeven from Tata Play Broadband.
User Additions: It's a mixed bag for DTH companies
The pay Direct-to-Home (DTH) industry experienced mixed results in the third quarter, with strong subscriber additions during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in October and November, but losses in December as subscribers shifted to alternative platforms like OTT and DD Free Dish. The industry gained an estimated 1 million+ subscribers in October and November but lost an equal number in December, resulting in no net gain for the quarter. Bharti Airtel's DTH unit, Airtel Digital TV, achieved its highest net additions in 12 quarters, while Dish TV reported its best Q3 since FY19 in terms of new subscriber additions.
Dish TV airs plan to grow its user base
Once India's largest DTH platform, Dish TV has been steadily losing ground due to competition in the market and a tussle between promoters led by Jawahar Goel and other investors including Yes Bank, which has now transferred its 24% shareholding to JC Flowers. Dish TV promoters own a 4% stake in the company.
Reliance Jio subscribes to keeping DTH licence fee
In August, Trai recommended to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) that the government abolish the licence fee for DTH operators after the end of FY27 to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector. Trai argued that DTH platforms be treated similar to other regulated and unregulated distribution platforms, such as cable TV, headend in the sky (HITS), Internet protocol television (IPTV), and over-the-top (OTT) services.
Dish TV appoints Sunil Khanna, Ravi Bhushan Puri as directors
The appointments will become effective on the date of receipt of the approval of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) or the date on which the number of directors on the board falls below the statutory minimum number of three directors, whichever is earlier.
DTH industry revenue falls 10% to Rs 11,000 crore in FY23
The combined operating revenue of four private direct-to-home (DTH) companies in India, including Tata Play, Bharti Telemedia, Dish TV, and Sun Direct, declined nearly 10% in FY23 to Rs 11,072 crore, compared to Rs 12,284 crore the previous fiscal year. The four DTH companies incurred a net loss of Rs 2143 crore cumulatively, with Dish TV posting the biggest loss of Rs 1684 crore.
I&B Ministry proposes to bring OTT, digital news under new legislation
The ministry intends to establish self-regulation through content evaluation committees and a broadcast advisory council. It also aims to provide programme and advertisement codes for various broadcasting network providers, as well as accessible measures for people with disabilities and statutory penalties.
Information and Broadcasting Ministry working on new Broadcasting Services Bill
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) plans to introduce the Broadcasting Services Regulation (BSR) Bill 2023, which will replace the current Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995. The new bill will have a wider scope, regulating over-the-top (OTT), cable TV, direct-to-home (DTH), headend-in-the-sky (HITS), internet protocol television (IPTV), and radio.
Bombay HC turns down Dish TV promoter company's plea on pledged shares
Dish TV's promoter had sought to restrain the lender from exercising its voting rights, interfering in or seeking to participate in the management and affairs of the company, or claiming rights to the shares. "In the present case, the use of the pledged goods will include the exercise of voting rights since the pledged goods are shares," observed Justice RI Chagla while disposing of an application filed by Dish TV promoters.
Tata Play starts beaming from its GSAT-24 satellite, to increase capacity to 900 channels
Direct-to-home (DTH) service provider Tata Play on Monday said it has started beaming of television channels from its dedicated GSAT-24 satellite which it has leased from Indian space agency ISRO. GSAT-24 was specifically launched for Tata Play (earlier knows as TataSky) in June last year, which will help increase its carrying capacity to 900 channels and cover the length and breadth of the country including far-flung places like Andaman Nicobar and Lakshsdweep islands.
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