DPOs may approach MIB to prevent OTT platforms from streaming live TV channels

Distribution Platform Operators with the likes of Tata Sky and Dish TV are likely to approach the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to urge an intervention and prevent over-the-top (OTT) platforms from streaming live TV channels.

It is to be noted that digitisation has already posed a threat to the traditional pay TVs and DPOs. Further, allowing OTTs to stream live TV is reportedly to erode such services.

This comes at a time when the DTH sector has lost 7.6 million subscribers in the last three years.

The net active subscriber base of Pay DTH decreased to 61.97 million as of March 31, 2024, compared to 65.25 million subscribers on March 31, 2023, according to TRAI.

As per TRAI, a total of 4 pay DTH service providers were there in India during the period ending March 31, 2024.

Tata Play has a 32.53% market share of total net pay active subscribers, followed by Airtel with 28.45%, Dish TV India at 20.46%, and Sun Direct with 18.57% as of March 31, 2024.

TRAI also noted that pay DTH operators lost 0.66 million subscribers during the October–November festive quarter, last year. This was despite properties like ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 raking in a record TV viewership of 518 million.

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.