India’s TV Industry Shrinks as Viewers Move Online; Dozens of Channels Give Up Licences

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Delhi: India’s traditional television landscape is undergoing a visible contraction, with around 50 TV channels exiting the broadcast space amid rapid changes in how audiences consume content. Industry data shows that several broadcasters have voluntarily surrendered their licences as digital streaming platforms continue to reshape viewing habits.

Major broadcasting groups such as NDTV, Zee, ABP Network, TV Today, Eenadu Television, and JioStar are among those that have returned permissions to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The move reflects a broader recalibration across the sector as linear television struggles to retain viewers in the age of OTT platforms.

Sony Pictures Network India, operating under Culver Max Entertainment, has given up 26 downlinking permissions after receiving regulatory approval to consolidate its uplinking and downlinking operations. Industry insiders say the step was aimed at streamlining operations and reducing regulatory overlap rather than shutting down active channels.

Enter10 Media, which runs the popular Hindi entertainment channel Dangal, has also scaled back its expansion plans. Following an internal business review, the network decided to drop plans for launching new formats and regional versions. As part of this shift, licences for Dangal HD and DaDangal Odia were surrendered, signalling a pause in HD and regional growth strategies.

The contraction comes at a time when advertising trends are also shifting. Industry forecasts suggest that television ad revenue is likely to decline slightly in 2025, even as overall advertising spending in India continues to grow, driven largely by digital platforms.

Subscriber trends paint a similar picture. The number of pay DTH users has been steadily falling over the past few years, with millions cutting the cord in favour of internet-based streaming services. Analysts expect this decline to continue as affordable data and smart devices make OTT platforms more accessible across urban and semi-urban India.

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