Business
License Cancelled: The End of the Easy Satellite TV Era in India
Over 250 satellite TV channel licenses have been cancelled or surrendered in India. A closer look reveals structural shifts — from soaring operational costs to the rise of digital-first broadcasting — that are redrawing India’s media landscape.
India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has undertaken one of the largest cleanups in recent history, with over 250 satellite television licenses cancelled or voluntarily surrendered between 2018 and 2024.
The data from the Broadcast Seva portal points to an industry shedding its excesses — and bracing for a future where only sustainable, compliant, and agile players survive.
Key Cancellation Trends:
| Metric | Data (approximate) |
|---|---|
| Total Satellite TV Licenses Issued | ~1200+ |
| Total Cancelled/Surrendered Licenses | ~250+ |
| Overall Cancellation Rate | ~20% |
| Years with Maximum Cancellations | FY 2020-21 and FY 2021-22 |
1. Non-Operational and Dormant Channels
Trend:
Channels that remained non-operational for 90+ days without intimation have been cancelled automatically.
Examples:
- Several religious and spiritual channels like Peace TV Urdu (cancelled over security and non-operational issues)
- Bhojpuri regional entertainment channels launched around 2016–2017 failed to sustain and went off-air quietly.
2. Voluntary Surrender by Smaller Broadcasters
Trend:
Many niche broadcasters have voluntarily surrendered their licenses, citing commercial unviability.
Examples:
- Harvest TV — after political ownership tussles and operational challenges, the license was voluntarily given up.
- Real TV (earlier owned by Alva Brothers) — once a GEC entrant, shut down and surrendered operations around 2010s but reflected formally later.
- Small devotional channels like Sant Nirankari Mission TV scaled down satellite ambitions and pivoted to YouTube channels.
3. Regulatory Cancellations: Security and Ownership Issues
Trend:
Security clearance denials and unauthorized transfer of operational control have become grounds for cancellation.
Examples:
- Peace TV (Zakir Naik-linked) — security threat leading to cancellation.
- Some regional political-affiliated channels (not always named publicly) have seen their uplinking licenses revoked over undisclosed ownership changes.
Why the Business Isn’t Viable for Many:
| Problem | Impact |
|---|---|
| High Satellite Carriage Fees | ₹50 lakh–₹1 crore annually per DTH or MSO |
| Low Ad Revenues | 90% of TV ad spend goes to Top 10 networks |
| Cost of Compliance | Legal, audit, MHA clearances cost ₹10–25 lakh+ yearly |
| Changing Audience Habits | Viewers moving to free YouTube and OTT |
| OTT Disruption | Startups prefer launching apps over paying for satellite slots |
Structural Shifts (with Examples):
A. Migration to Digital Platforms
Trend:
Failed or surrendered satellite TV channels are rebirthing as digital-first brands.
Examples:
- Harvest TV’s team pivoted to digital media via news aggregation.
- Regional players like ABP Ganga (which closed satellite operations) now operate as a digital-only regional brand.
- Several religious organizations now prefer YouTube Livestreams rather than costly satellite feeds (eg., Art of Living TV streams).
B. Industry Consolidation by Big Networks
Trend:
Major TV networks are rationalizing regional and genre expansions.
Examples:
- Zee Entertainment merged/surrendered non-performing regional licenses post-merger talks with Sony.
- Network18 (News18 Group) consolidated many smaller regional news channels into larger “News18” hubs (like News18 Lokmat, News18 Gujarati).
- Sun TV Network shifted strategy from launching multiple feeds to focusing more deeply on their dominant Tamil and Telugu markets.
C. Strategic Exit from Non-core Channels
Trend:
Business houses are exiting broadcasting sidelines to focus on digital ventures.
Examples:
- Den Snapdeal TV Shop (a teleshopping channel) was shut and license surrendered as e-commerce moved purely online.
- Smaller teleshopping and astrology channels like Shraddha TV, Divya TV reduced broadcast footprints post-2018 citing high costs.
Impact on the Broadcast Industry:
- From Quantity to Quality:
License cancellations are nudging the industry towards credible, sustainable content players. - OTT Over Satellite:
With JioCinema, Amazon miniTV, and YouTube Channels booming, satellite-first models are now seen as high-risk unless backed by deep pockets. - Rural and Regional Viewers Move to Mobile:
Jio’s cheap data revolution has allowed regional viewers to skip DTH altogether, hurting regional TV’s economics.
Conclusion:
The story of over 250 satellite license cancellations isn’t just a bureaucratic clean-up — it reflects the evolution of India’s media economy.
The old model of launching a channel just to “own a TV brand” is over.
The future belongs to leaner, sharper, digitally native players — and broadcasters who combine strong compliance with strong content.