Pay DTH subscriber base sees a decline of 1.8 million in Q3

According to latest TRAI data, the total active subscriber base of pay DTH services stood at 50.99 million as of December 31, 2025

by e4m Staff
Published: Mar 4, 2026 9:14 AM | 2 min read

India’s pay DTH subscriber base declined during the quarter ended December 2025, even as the number of permitted satellite television channels remained high, according to the latest data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

In its quarterly performance indicator report for the quarter ending December 2025, TRAI said there were four pay DTH service providers operating in the country. The total active subscriber base of pay DTH services stood at 50.99 million as of December 31, 2025.

This marks a decline from 52.78 million subscribers recorded in the quarter ended September 2025, indicating a drop of nearly 1.8 million subscribers sequentially. The figures cover only pay DTH services and are in addition to subscribers of DD Free Dish, the free DTH platform operated by Prasar Bharati.

On the broadcasting front, TRAI noted that as per reporting by broadcasters under the Tariff Order dated March 3, 2017, as amended, a total of 911 satellite TV channels were permitted for downlinking in India as of December 31, 2025.

Out of these, 335 channels were classified as pay TV channels. Among the pay channels, 232 were standard definition (SD) channels, while 103 were high definition (HD) channels.

The remaining 576 channels permitted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting are categorised as Free to Air (FTA) channels.

The continued decline in pay DTH subscribers reflects the ongoing shift in viewing habits amid growing competition from digital streaming platforms and free DTH services, even as the overall number of available satellite channels remains substantial.