The Indian government has served demand notices worth ₹16,000 crore to four major private DTH operators for unpaid license fees—a sum that exceeds their total annual revenue.
The dues include ₹6,735 crore from Dish TV (including interest), ₹3,628 crore from Tata Play (with ₹1,401.66 crore in interest), and ₹1,051.84 crore from Sun Direct (excluding interest). The amount owed by Bharti Telemedia has not been disclosed.
This financial blow comes at a time when the DTH industry is grappling with declining subscriber numbers, falling revenues, and fierce competition from OTT platforms and DD Free Dish.
Challenging the fee calculations, the operators have taken the matter to court. Meanwhile, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended a reduction in license fees—from 8% to 3% of adjusted gross revenue—with a complete phase-out by FY27.
Despite these proposals, the DTH sector continues to face significant financial stress until the recommendations are implemented or legal disputes are resolved.
