Archive · 10 Jun 2025
Cable TV Sector Declines in India, Job Losses Mount
The cable TV industry in India is shrinking.
Fewer people are paying for cable, with a drop of 40 million subscribers since 2018.
This has led to big problems like falling revenues and a reduction in profit margins.
Also, many jobs are expected to be lost by 2025.
The report suggests changes like ensuring fair rules for all TV providers, allowing different prices in different areas, and stopping the free broadcast of content.
This decline shows a shift towards online streaming, which is changing how people watch TV.
India's cable TV sector has experienced a downturn since 2018.
Pay-TV subscriber base declined by 40 million between 2018 and 2024.
The Pay-TV subscriber base is expected to decrease further by 2030.
Cumulative revenues of major cable TV providers declined since 2018.
An estimated 577,000 cumulative job losses are expected between 2018 and 2025.
- Who
- All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF), EY India, cable TV providers, consumers, and local cable operators (LCOs).
- What
- Sharp downturn in India’s cable television sector, with declining subscriber base, revenue, and job losses.
- When
- Since 2018.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- Shift toward digital and OTT streaming platforms, eroding the pay-TV subscriber base.
Not Specified
AIDCF and EY India's perspective
Regulatory Parity
Not Specified
Not specified in the article.
AIDCF and EY India's perspective
The report recommends a regulatory parity across all content distribution platforms, including cable TV, DTH, HITS, and IPTV.
Pricing Strategy
Not Specified
Not specified in the article.
AIDCF and EY India's perspective
The report calls for differential pricing for pay-TV services based on regional affordability.
Piracy
Not Specified
Not specified in the article.
AIDCF and EY India's perspective
The report emphasizes the need for a unified industry response to tackle piracy.
- Pay-TV Subscriber Decline (2018-2024)
- 40 million
- Total Pay-TV Subscribers (2024)
- 111 million
- Estimated Pay-TV Subscribers (2030)
- 71-81 million
- Cumulative Job Losses (2018-2025)
- 577,000
- Combined Revenue Decline (2018-2024)
- 16 percent
- Combined Revenue FY19
- Rs 25,700 crore
- Combined Revenue FY24
- Rs 21,500 crore
