BENGALURU: The DTH industry in India has added about 14 lakh (1.4 million) active subscribers in the quarter ended 30 September 2016 (Q2-17, current quarter) as compared to the immediate trailing quarter (Q1-17). The number of active DTH subscribers in the country increased to 6.19 crore (61.9 million) as compared to 6.05 crore (60.5 million) in Q1-7. TRAI had reported 4.05 crore (40.5 million) active subscribers for the corresponding year ago quarter Q2-16. . It may be noted that TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority Regulator has been reportingthe net active subscriber base included temporarily suspended subscribers that have been inactive for not more than 120 dayssince Q3-16 (quarter ended 31 December 2015).

The growth seems to have slowed in Q2-17 down despite the extended sunset date for DAS IV nearing. In the previous quarter, the industry had added 19.7 lakh (1.97 million), 25.5 lakh (2.55 million) in the quarter ended 31 March 2016 (Q4-16). Further, the industry has witnessed a faster growth of inactive subscribers as compared to active subscribers in Q2-17. Total number of registered subscribers grew 2.9 percent in the current quarter, while active subscribers grew by just 2.3 percent. In Q1-17 TRAI had reported 9.153 crore or 91.53 million registered subscribers, which grew to 9.416 crore or 94.16 million or a growth of 26.3 lakh (2.63 million) registered subscribers. As mentioned above active subscribers grew by just 14 lakh or 1.4 million in the same period.

Of the six private players in the Indian DTH ecosystem, three are publically listed and their numbers are available in the public domain – They are in alphabetical order: Airtel Digital TV Services or Airtel DTH which is a small segment/division of Indian telecom major Bharti Airtel Limited; Dish TV, the largest DTH player in the country in terms of number of subscribers; and Videocon d2h. These three have about two thirds of market share of the DTH universe in India. Of the other three players, Tata Sky is a major player and should have a market share about equal to Airtel DTH or Videocon d2h (about 20 percent). The other players - Reliance DTH and Sun Direct have a combined market share between 13 to 15 percent in terms of subscribers. It may be noted that at present probably the largest DTH player in India is the government’s FreeDish, but since it is a free service, no subscriber data is available even with PrasarBharati.

Please refer to Fig A below for DTH subscriber growth.

For Q2-17, the growth of the three major players was even slower than the industry – their combined subscriber base grew just 1.9 percent quarter-over-quarter (q-o-q) by just 7.45 lakh (0.625 million) to 400.25 lakh (40.025 million) from 392.8 lakh (39.28 million) in the immediate trailing quarter.

Fig B below indicates the approximate market share in terms of subscribers of the six private DTH players in the country.

Let us see how they performed during the current quarter (Q2-17)

Airtel Digital TV Services or Airtel DTH

Airtel DTH reported 21.9 percent year-over-year (y-o-y) increase in operating revenues to RsRs 854.5 crore in Q2-17 as compared to Rs 706.8 crore in Q2-16. The segment’s operating profit (EBIT) more than quadrupled y-o-y to Rs 69.8 crore from Rs 17 crore, but declined 42.7 percent q-o-q from Rs 121.9 crore.

Airtel’s DTH segment added 18.29 lakh subscribers between Q2-16 and Q2-17, or a 17.3 percent y-o-y increase. The company says that this is the highest growth in percentage terms over seventeen quarters. It had 124.05 lakh subscribers as on 30 September 2016. Q-o-q, the segment witnessed a 2.1 percent growth (2.56 lakh adds) in subscribers from 121.49 lakh in Q1-17.

ARPU in Q2-17 increased to Rs 232 from Rs 224 in the corresponding year ago quarter, but declined marginally (by Re 1) from Rs 233 in the immediate trailing quarter.

Dish TV

Three segments contribute to Dish TV’s numbers – DTH; Infra Support Services; and ‘Others’.

Dish TV’s DTH segment revenue in Q2-17 declined 14.2 percent to Rs 509.55 crore from Rs 594.16 crore in Q2-16. The segment reported 15.5 percent lower operating profit in the current quarter at Rs 86.43 crore as compared to Rs 102.24 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter.

The company reported addition of 2.59 lakh net subscribers for Q2-17. It closed the quarter with 151 lakh subscribers. Average revenue per user (ARPU) for Q2-17 was Rs 162 in the current quarter versus Rs 161 in the corresponding year ago quarter. It may be noted that as of this fiscal, Dish TV has been reporting ARPU number net of service tax and hence comparison with the other players is inappropriate.

Dish TV reported 11.9 percent higher y-o-y subscription revenue of Rs 728.8 crore for Q2-17, as compared to Rs 651.4 crore. Operating revenue in the current quarter increased 9.6 percent y-o-y to Rs 779.6 crore from Rs 711.2 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

Dish TV reported PAT of Rs. 70.1 crore in Q2-17, down 19.4 percent as compared to Rs 87 crore in Q2-16. EBIDTA in the current quarter increased 3.6 percent to Rs 264.2 crore from Rs 255 crore in Q2-16.

Videocon d2h

Videocon d2h reported 12.5 percent y-o-y growth in total revenue from operations for Q2-17 at Rs 776.16 crore as compared to Rs 690.08 crore and a 1.7 percent q-o-q growth from Rs 763.25 crore.

Videocon d2h reported PAT of Rs 6.32 crore (0.8 percent margin) Q2-17, current. For the corresponding year ago quarter (Q2-17), the company had reported a loss of Rs 24.59 crore while for the immediate trailing quarter (Q1-17) the company had reported profit of Rs 2.66 crore (0.3 percent margin).

The DTH major also reported 15.5 percent year-over-year (y-o-y) growth in net subscriber numbers at 125.2 lakh for Q2-17 as compared to 108.4 lakh and a 1.9 percent quarter-over-quarter (q-o-q) growth from122.9 lakh. Monthly Average revenue per user (ARPU) in the current quarter increased to Rs 209 from Rs 201 in Q2-16 but declined by Rs 2 from Rs 211 in the immediate trailing quarter.