Manoj Dobhal, the CEO and Chairman of Dish TV, a leading Direct-to-Home (DTH) service provider, has publicly advocated for a competitive and inclusive television audience measurement system, stating clearly that the industry “backs multiple ratings” and that Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs) “must be part of the TRP system.”
Dobhal’s comments come amidst ongoing regulatory reforms and the government’s push to introduce a more transparent and technology-driven television rating framework in India, which currently faces challenges in accurately capturing consumption patterns across evolving hybrid and digital platforms.
The Dish TV CEO’s demand for DPOs to be formally integrated into the Television Rating Point (TRP) system underscores a critical industry perspective. As DTH operators, DPOs manage a vast subscriber base and possess valuable data on channel consumption, which they argue should be utilized to generate a more representative and accurate viewership measurement.
Dobhal emphasized that integrating DPOs would inject greater fairness and precision into the system, aligning it with the realities of modern television consumption, which is increasingly shifting towards hybrid and connected ecosystems.
Manoj Dobhal highlighted that regulatory clarity has been a major driving force in shaping Dish TV’s strategic roadmap.
He welcomed the government’s proposal to cut DTH license fees, calling it a “long-overdue and positive step” by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and TRAI. According to Dobhal, this move helps to “level the playing field” between DTH and cable operators, as the functional difference between the two delivery mechanisms has diminished.
In charting the company’s future, the CEO rejected the notion of DTH being a “sunset industry,” instead terming it a “transforming industry.” Dish TV’s growth strategy centers on adapting to this transformation through:
- Hybrid Platforms: Shifting from pure-play linear TV to integrated, connected ecosystems.
- Smart-TV Integration: Launching initiatives like their integrated platform that seamlessly combines linear TV and Over-The-Top (OTT) content within smart televisions.
- Technology-Driven Solutions: Focusing on plug-and-play entertainment solutions to appeal to the fast-growing segments in semi-urban and rural India.
Dobhal stressed the need for parity in content pricing and equitable treatment compared to OTT and cable platforms, reinforcing the DTH industry’s compliant nature within the broadcasting ecosystem.
Key Highlights:
- Dish TV CEO Manoj Dobhal advocates for a shift to a multiple ratings system for TV audience measurement.
- He insists that Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs), such as DTH providers, must be included in the TRP system to ensure greater accuracy and representation.
- Dobhal welcomed the proposed cut in DTH license fees, viewing it as a necessary step to level the playing field with cable operators.
- He described the DTH industry not as ‘sunset,’ but as ‘transforming,’ outlining Dish TV’s strategy around hybrid platforms and Smart TV integration to drive future growth.