High definition (HD) TV channels started launching in India years ago but it was only when digitisation happened on a large scale that the adoption of channels grew, according to a latest update from FICCI. According to Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), the total HD count in India has increased to 83 channels currently from 59 channels in 2016, witnessing a growth of 41 per cent since 2016. The first HD channel was National Geographic HD in 2010.

Of the 83 HD channels, 34 are English, 13 channels are Hindi and 10 of them have multiple languages feed. On the other hand, 50 channels out of 83 have both SD and HD feed. While the number of channels has gone up by 41%, the viewership share has grown by more than 160 per cent. The reason behind this viewership growth is most likely technology and distribution. There were 10-12 million subscribers availing HD services at the end of FY18, according to FICCI KPMG’s Media & Entertainment report 2018.

The DTH players have been the front-runners in up-selling HD services to their customers, whereas MSOs only managed to garner about 1-1.5 million HD subscribers. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have the highest share of the pie with 18%. Maharashtra and Goa contribute 16% to the overall market.