Advanced Television

India’s Airtel Digital TV struggles

January 25, 2017

By Chris Forrester

The Indian currency swaps, where Rs500 and Rs1000 notes have had to be exchanged, has affected growth at Airtel Digital TV. Other pay-TV broadcasters have reported that the absence of low-value currency notes is making it difficult for subscribers to pay their monthly dues.

As far as Airtel Digital TV is concerned, it suffered the slowest growth in the October-December quarter for the past 5 quarters, and blames the absence of currency notes on the slowdown.

Airtel Digital TV added 183,000 net subscribers, and taking its total subscriber base to 12.58 million. In the previous quarter, it had added 256,000 net subscribers, which was its highest in the last four years.

In Q1 of its 2016 fiscal year, the DTH operator gained 424,000 subscribers, which was again its best Q1 in the last four years. The net subscriber additions in Q3 and Q4 of FY16 were 619,000 and 530,000, respectively.

Categories: Articles, Pay TV