Archive · 8 Jan 2026
Linear TV Faces Challenges from Digital Shift
Traditional TV, where shows are broadcast at fixed times, is facing tough times in India.
Many people, especially younger ones and those in rural areas, are switching to digital platforms like OTT (Over-The-Top) services where they can watch shows anytime.
This shift has led to fewer people subscribing to pay-TV services, and many TV channels are struggling financially.
Some big TV networks have even given up their licenses.
However, traditional TV still reaches a large number of households, especially in rural areas.
Experts suggest that TV networks should focus on making better quality shows and controlling their costs to stay relevant.
The good news is that the rate of decline in traditional TV viewership is expected to slow down in the future.
Linear TV faces challenges due to audience migration to digital/OTT platforms, especially among younger and rural viewers.
Pay-DTH subscriber base has declined to 56.9 million from 70 million in 2019, with six consecutive years of revenue decline.
Digital-only viewers have surged to 313 million, with 49% of new CTV viewers coming from rural India.
Falling viewership leads to higher acquisition costs and reduced ad spending, despite high content production costs.
Experts suggest that legacy media companies should focus on quality, rein in production budgets, and reinvent business models to stay relevant.
- Who
- Indian viewers, especially younger and rural audiences
- What
- Shift from linear TV to digital/OTT platforms
- When
- Decline in pay-TV households began around 2018, accelerated with digital rise
- Where
- India
- Why
- Preference for on-demand digital content, higher content costs, regulatory imbalance
- Linear TV Viewership
- 58% of Indians watch monthly
- Digital-Only Viewers
- 313 million (26% of 15+ age group)
- Pay-DTH Subscribers
- 56.9 million (down from 70 million in 2019)
- CTV Growth
- 49% of new viewers from rural India
- Channels Surrendering Licences
- Around 50 in the last three years
- Digital Media Revenue
- Surpassed linear TV revenue in 2024
- Predicted Linear TV Revenue Decline
- 3-4% in FY26