DTH achieved 100% coverage across India as of March 2025: MIB

Direct-to-Home (DTH) services achieved 100% geographical coverage across India, and DD FreeDish expanded from just 33 channels in 2004 to 381 channels in FY 2024-25.

These were some of the key findings of the Statistical Handbook 2024–25, unveiled by Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. L. Murugan, at the WAVES Summit, offering a comprehensive snapshot of India's rapidly transforming media and broadcasting ecosystem.

The report, published annually, highlights massive leaps in digital access, content creation, traditional media growth, and infrastructural development across the nation.

Direct-to-Home (DTH) service, achieving 100% geographical coverage across India as of March 2025, was a key finding in the report.

According to the handbook, Prasar Bharati’s DD Free Dish, the free-to-air platform, has expanded from just 33 channels in 2004 to 381 channels in 2025, empowering millions with access to information and entertainment, especially in rural and underserved regions.

The report also said that All India Radio (AIR) has reinforced its presence, with its reach now extending to 98% of the Indian population.

The number of AIR stations has tripled from 198 in 2000 to 591 in 2025.

While the number of private satellite TV channels has surged from 130 in 2004–05 to a staggering 908 in 2024–25, private FM stations have grown nearly a hundredfold — from just 4 stations in 2001 to 388 stations by 2024.

Community broadcasting has also made significant inroads. Community Radio Stations (CRS) rose from 15 in 2005 to 531 in 2025, promoting hyper-local content and grassroots engagement in media.

India’s publishing sector reflects sustained growth and diversity. Publications registered with the Press Registrar General of India (PRGI) soared from 5,932 in 1957 to 154,523 in 2024–25, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.99%.

The Publications Division brought out 130 books in 2024–25, spanning themes such as children’s literature, science, history, environment, and biographies.

Indian film industry also saw significant activity. The number of Indian feature films certified grew from 741 in 1983 to 3,455 in 2024–25, contributing to a cumulative total of 69,113 certified films. The report also includes data on film awards, international film festivals, and documentaries produced by NFDC.

The digital boom is captured through developments like the WAVES OTT platform, the launch of the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), and the Create in India Challenge (CIC) — all of which aim to nurture digital creators and media entrepreneurs.

The Ministry also outlined major reforms under the Ease of Doing Business initiative, introducing simplified processes for content licensing and production. Additionally, skilling and capacity-building programmes have been scaled up to equip the media workforce with future-ready skills.