India is embracing HD. The latest audience measurement from India’s TV ratings agency Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) says the number of HD channels grew by 41 per cent during October-September 2017, while their viewing share grew by an impressive 169 per cent during the measurement period. In the same period, the Standard Definition channel viewership grew by 25 per cent helped by the growth of SD channels which increased by 16 per cent.

By the numbers the number of HD channels available to viewers grew from just 59 in 2015 to 83 today, while the SD channel count expanding significantly from 445 in 2015 to 517 today.

The BARC data shows that the most popular HD channels are – perhaps not surprisingly – General Entertainment, movies and sports, and these three genres mop up 95 per cent of HD viewing.

The HD broadcasts also attract an urban audience, which skews male and younger (36 per ent in the 22-40 age group).

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