DTH cos asked to pay ₹16kcr licence fee dues
At a time when the direct-to-home (DTH) industry is contending with several challenges-including a declining subscriber base and falling revenues-the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has issued demand notices totalling ₹16,000 crore to the country's four private DTH operators for outstanding licence fee dues, according to industry sources.
These demands cover both the principal amount and accrued interest. Industry officials noted that the operators have communicated to the MIB that the notices cannot be enforced, as the matter is sub judice in various High Courts, the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), and the Supreme Court.
The MIB's licence fee demand exceeds the combined revenue of the four private DTH operators, which stood at ₹10,230 crore in FY24-down 5% from ₹10,837 crore the previous year, as per regulatory filings. The industry has been under stress, having lost eight million subscribers between FY21 and FY24. The active pay DTH subscriber base stood at 58.22 million as of December 2024.
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In its correspondence, the MIB stated that the figures are subject to reconciliation based on the outcome of audits by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), as well as pending judicial decisions.
In its Q4 FY25 regulatory filing,
Dish TV
disclosed that it had received a communication from the MIB dated April 22, 2025, directing the company to pay ₹6,735 crore towards licence fees, including interest, covering the period from the grant of its DTH licence up to FY24. The company added that it has disputed the demand in its response.
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As of FY24, Tata Play has received a consolidated demand of ₹3,628 crore, including ₹1,401.66 crore in interest. Sun Direct has received a demand of ₹1,051.84 crore (excluding interest) as of March 2024.
Bharti Telemedia, Tata Play, and Sun Direct declined to comment on the matter.
Dish TV CEO Manoj Dobhal acknowledged the pressures facing the sector, saying: "The DTH industry is navigating a difficult phase, with factors such as subscriber churn driven by competition from OTT platforms and DD Free Dish, along with taxation and regulatory issues. Given these challenges, we would have hoped for a more supportive approach from the authorities."
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