DISHTV - Dish TV India
Financial Performance
Revenue Growth by Segment
Consolidated operating income declined by 13.75% YoY to INR 2,802.49 Cr in FY2022 from INR 3,249.36 Cr in FY2021, primarily due to a shrinking subscriber base. Revenue has seen a sustained downward trend from INR 6,166.13 Cr in FY2019.
Geographic Revenue Split
Primarily domestic (India) operations across 9,300 towns. The company divested its entire stake in its Sri Lankan subsidiary, Dish TV Lanka Private Limited (DLPL), effective September 28, 2022, due to the ongoing economic crisis in that region.
Profitability Margins
Net loss for FY2022 widened to INR 1,867.23 Cr from INR 1,189.86 Cr in FY2021. PAT margins deteriorated significantly to -66.63% in FY2022 compared to -36.62% in FY2021, impacted by heavy impairment charges.
EBITDA Margin
Core profitability is under pressure due to declining revenues and exceptional impairment losses of INR 2,653.90 Cr in FY2022, which included write-offs of goodwill and intangible assets acquired from the Videocon d2h merger.
Capital Expenditure
The industry is capital-intensive, requiring consistent investment in set-top box (STB) technology and software revamping to maintain market share. Specific planned INR Cr figures for future capex are not disclosed in available documents.
Credit Rating & Borrowing
AcuitΓ© downgraded and withdrawn the long-term rating to 'ACUITE BB-' from 'ACUITE BB' as of January 2023. CARE Ratings also withdrawn its rating following the repayment of INR 500 Cr in bank facilities.
Operational Drivers
Raw Materials
Set-top boxes (STBs), bandwidth capacity (1,422 MHz), and DTH infrastructure software. These represent the primary technological inputs for service delivery.
Capacity Expansion
Current network includes 655+ channels and services, including 70+ HD channels. Bandwidth capacity stands at 1,422 MHz following the Videocon d2h amalgamation.
Raw Material Costs
Not disclosed as a specific percentage of revenue, but the company reported exceptional impairment of INR 203 Cr on intangible assets under development and related advances in FY2022.
Manufacturing Efficiency
Not applicable as a service provider; however, the current ratio is low at 0.26 times as of March 31, 2022, indicating operational liquidity pressure.
Logistics & Distribution
Distribution is managed through a ubiquitous presence in 9,300 towns aided by over 2.5 lakh recharge outlets.
Strategic Growth
Expected Growth Rate
Not disclosed in available documents
Growth Strategy
Growth is targeted through digital engagement and product differentiation. The company elevated Ankush Narang to 'Head - DTH Marketing' in December 2025 to drive brand equity and digital strategies. The 'WATCHO' OTT app was launched to counter the shift toward streaming platforms.
Products & Services
Direct-to-Home (DTH) television subscriptions, High Definition (HD) and Standard Definition (SD) channel packages, Value-Added Services (VAS), and OTT streaming via the Watcho application.
Brand Portfolio
DishTV, d2h, Zing, and Watcho.
New Products/Services
Watcho OTT application launched in 2019 to expand footprint in the digital streaming segment.
Market Expansion
Focus remains on domestic market leadership following the 2018 merger with Videocon d2h and the 2022 divestment of the Sri Lankan unit.
Market Share & Ranking
Market share declined to 22.04% as of May 2022, down from 31.23% in September 2019.
Strategic Alliances
Amalgamation with Videocon d2h Limited in 2018 to expand market share and bandwidth capacity.
External Factors
Industry Trends
The industry is shifting from traditional pay-DTH to OTT streaming and free-to-air services. DTH operators are evolving into aggregators to maintain relevance.
Competitive Landscape
Intense competition from other DTH players, cable operators, and OTT giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Competitive Moat
Moat is based on a massive distribution network (2.5 lakh+ outlets) and brand pioneer status, but sustainability is challenged by the rapid adoption of high-speed internet and OTT apps.
Macro Economic Sensitivity
Highly sensitive to inflation and conservative consumer spending, which contributed to the 13.75% revenue decline in FY2022.
Consumer Behavior
Volatile viewing habits with top-end users alternating between DTH and streaming, while bottom-end users prefer free-to-air services.
Geopolitical Risks
The economic crisis in Sri Lanka forced the divestment of the DLPL subsidiary in 2022.
Regulatory & Governance
Industry Regulations
Regulated by TRAI and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Compliance with Up-linking Guidelines is required for board appointments.
Environmental Compliance
Environmental issues are not a prime concern for the broadcasting industry; focus is on data privacy and board oversight.
Legal Contingencies
Pending dispute with the Ministry of Broadcasting regarding license fees totaling ~INR 4,164.05 Cr, for which a provision of INR 3,945.06 Cr was created as of FY2022.
Risk Analysis
Key Uncertainties
Outcome of the license fee regulatory dispute and the ability to arrest the declining subscriber base are critical uncertainties.
Geographic Concentration Risk
High concentration in the Indian market following the exit from Sri Lanka.
Third Party Dependencies
High dependency on the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for regulatory approvals and license fee settlements.
Technology Obsolescence Risk
High risk of technology obsolescence as consumers move from satellite-based DTH to internet-based streaming (OTT).
Credit & Counterparty Risk
Liquidity is stretched with a current ratio of 0.26, indicating potential difficulty in meeting short-term obligations.