Direct-to-home television in India

Direct-to-Home (DTH) television is a method of receiving satellite television by means of signals transmitted from direct-broadcast satellites.^[1] The Government of India (GoI) permitted the reception and distribution of satellite television signals in November 2000. The first DTH service in the country was launched by Dish TV on 2 October 2003. DD Free Dish, the first free DTH service in India, was launched by public broadcaster Prasar Bharati in December 2004.

India is the largest DTH market in the world by number of subscribers. As per an industry estimate reported in 2022, pay DTH and cable sector together has a subscriber base of 122 million as in March 2021. Out of the total 125 million paid subscribers of the TV industry, 67 million are cable, 55 million are pay DTH subscribers and 3 million are HITS.^[2] Besides, there are 43 million viewers of free TV platform (DD Free Dish). The DTH and the cable sector presently cover more than 95% of the total pay TV viewing universe.^[2] Pay DTH sector has attained a total active subscriber base of around 65.58 million in the quarter ending 30 September 2022.^[2]

^ Pattan, Bruno (31 March 1993). Satellite Systems:Principles and Technologies. Berlin: Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9780442013578. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c TRAI, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. "Consultation Paper on License Fee and Policy Matters of DTH Services" (PDF). New Delhi, India: TRAI. p. 10. Retrieved 13 January 2023.

[1] Pattan, Bruno (31 March 1993). Satellite Systems:Principles and Technologies. Berlin: Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9780442013578. Retrieved 29 July 2014.

[TRAIpir-2] TRAI, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. "Consultation Paper on License Fee and Policy Matters of DTH Services" (PDF). New Delhi, India: TRAI. p. 10. Retrieved 13 January 2023.

[1]

[2]