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Side-by-side prices, channels and recharge offers from every major operator.
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Operators we cover
DTH service providers in India
DTH providers in India
Click through to each operator's plans, customer-care number and current offers.
Airtel Digital TV
- Founded in 2008
- Available across the country on TV, computer and mobile
- Over 700 channels including 4K and HD
Tata Play
- Founded in 2006
- 33% market share — India's leading DTH operator
- Bundles pay-TV channels with OTT apps via Binge+
Dish TV
- India's largest DTH entertainment provider
- Wide SD and HD channel pack range
- Cheapest monthly recharge among major operators
Videocon d2h
- One of the fastest-growing DTH providers
- Around 19% of India's DTH subscribers
- Set-top box bundled with most plans
Sun Direct DTH
- Founded in 2007
- Joint venture with the Astra Group of Malaysia
- Over 16 million subscribers, strong in South India
Jio DTH
- Belongs to Reliance Industries
- Live in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata
- Bundles seamlessly with Jio Fiber and JioCinema
DD Free Dish
- India's only free-to-air national DTH service
- No monthly subscription fee
- DD channels, private TV channels and All India Radio
Zing Digital
- Strong regional content for Kerala, Odisha and West Bengal
- Among the cheapest plans on the market
- Sister brand to Dish TV with regional focus
Hathway Cable
- A leader in Multi-System Operator (MSO) cable
- SD and HD set-top boxes available
- Strong urban broadband + cable bundles
Den Networks
- Founded in 2007
- Movies and shows on TV and mobile
- Wide HD channel selection
GTPL Cable TV
- Founded in August 2006
- 6th largest private wireline broadband service
- Number 1 MSO in India by subscribers
Kerala Vision
- Kerala's home-grown digital TV operator
- Local channel mix and Malayalam programming
- Affordable family packs and add-ons
Pros and cons of DTH
What to expect before you sign up — and where DTH falls short of cable or fibre TV.
Pros
- ✓ No regional boundary — DTH works anywhere in India.
- ✓ Uninterrupted service even outside major cable footprints.
- ✓ More cost-effective per channel: fewer transmission antennas, lower overheads.
- ✓ High-quality picture and clear audio, including 4K on premium boxes.
Cons
- ✗ Higher one-off installation cost than cable TV.
- ✗ Monthly subscription is a step up from basic cable.
- ✗ The dish needs an unobstructed view of the geostationary satellite.
- ✗ Heavy rain or storms can briefly disrupt the signal.
Insights on the DTH industry in India
A snapshot of where the Indian DTH market stands today.
₹22,000 cr
Estimated DTH industry size, FY21
37%
Share of TV subscribers on DTH
33.3%
Tata Play's market share (Mar 2021)
~70 M
Active DTH subscribers in India
- The DTH industry, accounting for around 37% of Indian TV subscribers, was estimated at ₹22,000 crore in financial year 2021.
- At the end of March 2021, the leading DTH operators were Tata Play, Dish TV, Bharti Telemedia (Airtel) and Sun Direct.
- Tata Play led the market in March 2021 with a 33.3% share.
- Bharti Telemedia (Airtel Digital TV) followed with 25.54%.
- Dish TV held the third-largest share at 24.09%.
- Sun Direct trailed with a 17.07% share in March 2021.
- Airtel's brand value was estimated at $6.07 billion in 2021.
- In FY21, Bharti Airtel reported a net loss of ₹151 billion.
- Sun Direct grew 22% in FY21, from ₹1,513 crore to ₹1,845.8 crore.
- Bharti Airtel's DTH arm posted ₹2,923.8 crore in revenue and ₹385.6 crore in net profit in FY21.
Active DTH subscribers, March 2020 – December 2021
| Quarter | Subscribers (millions) |
|---|---|
| March 2020 | 70.26 |
| June 2020 | 70.58 |
| September 2020 | 70.07 |
| December 2020 | 70.99 |
| March 2021 | 69.57 |
| June 2021 | 69.86 |
| September 2021 | 69.89 |
| December 2021 | 69.52 |
Frequently asked questions
How many channels are available on Indian DTH?
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has approved a total of 901 satellite TV channels. Of these, 327 are pay-TV channels — 92 in High Definition and 235 in Standard Definition. The remaining channels are free-to-air.
Which band is used for DTH in India?
Indian DTH operators broadcast on the Ku band (12–18 GHz frequency range). A 2-to-4-foot dish antenna is enough to receive a focused signal.
Which provider offers the cheapest DTH recharge?
Dish TV offers the lowest entry recharge — ₹10 for active accounts, with reactivation of inactive accounts starting at ₹100.
Which DTH is best for a Smart TV?
Airtel Xstream Box is one of the best DTH services for smart TVs. It lets you install apps and games directly on your TV, effectively turning any TV with HDMI into a smart entertainment hub.
Which is the cheapest HD DTH service in India?
Dish TV consistently offers the cheapest monthly channel bouquets among India's DTH operators, with HD-ready packs starting well below the competition.