TV Subscription Price: Television viewing may become more costly starting February 1. Media reports indicate that television broadcasters plan to raise channel prices to offset increasing production costs and declining advertising revenue.
Consumers could see their television expenses rise by as much as 10 percent
As a result of this price adjustment by major broadcasters such as Disney Star, Viacom 18, Zee Entertainment, and Sony Pictures Network India, consumers could see their television expenses rise by as much as 10 percent. This means that subscribers will need to allocate more funds for their paid DTH services. This is not the first instance of a price increase from broadcasters; rates have been on an upward trend for the past two years.
In January 2024, leading broadcasters raised their base rates by 10 percent, a move that faced criticism. It is important to note that this price hike occurs at a time when many viewers are gravitating towards OTT platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Broadcasters attribute the need for increased channel prices to rising content production costs and a decrease in advertising income, alongside escalating operational expenses. Reports indicate that both SPNI and ZEEL have announced base bouquet price increases exceeding 10 percent.
Also Jio Star can be more expensive
Jio Star is also anticipated to implement significant price hikes due to its strong foothold in general entertainment and sports. The new pricing will take effect on February 1.
This price increase arrives as the pay-TV sector has seen a decline from 120 million subscribers to 95 million in recent years, now hovering below 100 million. According to the latest performance index report from TRAI, the total active paid DTH subscriber base among the four major private operators—Dish TV, Airtel Digital TV, Tata Play, and Sun Direct—is projected to decrease by 2.26 million, reaching 59.91 million by September 2024.