Dish TV India adds 188,000 subscribers in 3Q 2017

NOIDA, India — Dish TV India Limited (Dish TV) (BSE: 532839, NSE: DISHTV) today reported second quarter fiscal 2018 consolidated operating revenues of Rs. 7,486 million and EBITDA of Rs. 2,161 million.

Moving further away from the demonetization era, Dish TV saw a recovery in its EBITDA margins during the second quarter as compared to the preceding few quarters. Operational efficiencies along with some revenue expansion resulting from an improved customer sentiment led to a margin expansion of 170 bps. EBITDA margins during the quarter were 28.9% as against 27.2% in the previous quarter.

Subscription revenues recorded 1.9% growth sequentially to close at Rs. 7,049 million. Average revenues per user (ARPU) strengthened to Rs. 149 while churn rate recovered to close at slightly less than 0.8% per month.

Subscriber additions at 188 thousand were in line considering the seasonality of the second quarter.

The Road Ahead for DTH in India

As India progresses on the path to digitisation, large digital service providers like Dish TV see a significant role to be played by them in the process.

Dish TV soon aims to connect ordinary television subscribers with the best in class digital entertainment that is going to be over and above traditional TV. The Company plans to further enhance its significance by doing things that would leverage the strength of its legacy, reach and customer ownership.

Dish TV is enthusiastic about its soon to be launched Hybrid Box and OTT app that will give subscribers access to the latest in the world of television entertainment alongside their DTH subscription. Dish TV looks at this, along with HD services, as the ARPU driver of tomorrow.

Further, government initiatives like Housing for All and electrification of rural areas will help create green-field demand for digital services like DTH. Dish TV gets bulk of its subscribers from non-top, towns and cities in the country.