New Delhi: India’s broadcasting and cable television sector remained a structurally significant but tightly regulated pillar of the media and entertainment industry in 2024–25, with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) conducting more than 500 audits of Digital Addressable Systems (DAS) as part of its efforts to strengthen transparency and compliance across the distribution ecosystem.
According to the TRAI Annual Report 2024–25, the regulator carried out 538 DAS audits during the year through empanelled auditors, underscoring continued concerns around subscriber reporting, revenue reconciliation, and adherence to interconnection regulations in the cable and satellite TV value chain.
The broadcasting sector continues to operate at scale despite growing competition from digital platforms. TRAI noted that India’s media and entertainment industry reached ₹2.5 trillion in 2024, growing 3.3% year-on-year, and is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of around 7% through 2027. Television remains one of the largest contributors to this ecosystem, particularly in non-metro and rural markets.
Fragmented distribution landscape
India’s television services are delivered through a mix of cable TV, Direct-to-Home (DTH), Headend-in-the-Sky (HITS), and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) platforms. As of March 2025, the country had approximately 60 million cable TV households, while active pay DTH subscribers stood at 56.92 million across four private operators. IPTV, though strategically important in the long term, remains nascent with about 0.7 million subscribers.
The distribution network remains highly fragmented. TRAI reported the presence of over 81,700 registered local cable operators, along with 845 multi-system operators, one HITS operator, and 53 IPTV operators. This fragmentation, particularly at the last-mile level, continues to pose challenges for standardisation and accurate subscriber reporting—prompting sustained regulatory scrutiny.
Broadcasters and channels
On the content side, the television broadcasting sector comprises around 1,300 broadcasters offering nearly 9,800 satellite TV channels permitted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. These include a mix of free-to-air channels, standard-definition pay channels, and high-definition services, reflecting the breadth and linguistic diversity of India’s TV market.
Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati maintained a strong footprint through Doordarshan, All India Radio, and DD Free Dish, which remains the country’s largest DTH platform. DD Free Dish is estimated to reach around 49 million households, primarily in rural, remote, and low-income regions, and continues to serve as a key vehicle for public-interest content related to education, health, and agriculture.
Revenue profile
Financially, the Indian television industry recorded revenues of ₹62,400 crore in 2024, according to TRAI. Subscription income accounted for about ₹30,500 crore, while advertising revenues stood at ₹29,400 crore, highlighting the sector’s continued reliance on a dual-revenue model.
While advertising remains critical due to television’s mass reach, subscription revenues continue to face pressure from pricing regulations, platform competition, and changing consumer behaviour—factors that have kept overall growth moderate rather than rapid.
Radio broadcasting
Radio broadcasting delivered steady performance during the year. TRAI said 289 private FM radio stations were operational across 34 major cities, alongside channels operated by All India Radio. Community radio also continued to expand, with more than 530 operational stations. Advertisement revenues from private FM radio stood at ₹1,300 crore in 2024–25.
Policy focus
During the year, TRAI initiated multiple consultations and issued recommendations aimed at modernising the broadcasting framework. These included inputs for the proposed National Broadcasting Policy, amendments to interconnection and DAS audit regulations, reserve prices for FM radio auctions, a Digital Radio Broadcasting Policy for private players, and a regulatory framework for ground-based broadcasters under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
The regulator reiterated its commitment to orderly growth, consumer protection, and transparency as the broadcasting sector navigates platform convergence, digital disruption, and evolving viewing habits.
