OTT vs DTH! Which one will prevail?

Table of Contents

What are OTT and DTH?

DTH is the home television which we consume using a dish placed on top of our houses. On the other hand, OTT is Over the top media which we consume on the internet. OTT consists of apps like Youtube, Netflix, etc. So in this article, we will discuss whether OTT can replace DTH in the future or not. Although after the arrival of OTT, the situation of DTH is like-

DTH is very similar to radio, in which you have to watch what’s on air. This is just the opposite in the case of OTT. On OTT platforms, you can easily watch the content of your choice anytime and anywhere. This is one of the biggest differences between them.

Some FACTS about DTH and OTT!

Let’s talk about some facts and figures. In 2019-20 TRAI came up with a report that told us that the user base of DTH fell significantly in the April-June quarter. More than 20lakh people left their DTH service. These 20 lakh users shifted to OTT platforms because they found no need for a DTH service.

According to a survey by MoMAGIC conducted on 10,000 people, more than 55% of people chose the OTT platform over DTH. Out of the 55%, 87% of people agreed that they could watch content on their phones and have no need for a TV.

The current market share of DTH is about 45% which is enormous, and we cannot bring it down instantly. But slowly, over time, people are changing their choice.

Content

Another difference between OTT and DTH is content. DTH contains minimal content. Nowadays, you can only watch saas-bahu serials or some snake cringe on DTH. You can say that DTH has become very saturated over time. New stories are not coming, and innovations are also not happening. OTT is just the exact opposite in this case. There is so much content on the OTT platform of all genres. You won’t be able to scroll even one 1/100th of the total content available. Even the platforms are OTT increasing day by day. Every day OTT platforms release a variety of content to stay ahead in the competition.

Censorship

DTH is completely censored. Every show which gets live on a DTH service has to pass through censorship. All the cuss words and obscene parts are removed from DTH shows. On the other side, OTT is completely uncensored. Shows on the OTT platform can contain any bad scenes. Actually, there is an age viewership label that defines the age group of the content. Classifications have been made on these platforms to prevent children from watching adult content.

Now there is an advantage and disadvantages of both. In the case of DTH, we can enjoy the shows with our family members. Although OTT platforms have very few family shows as they contain slang and abusive. For example – We have shows like Tarak Mehta and Kapil Sharma show on DTH, and we can watch these shows together with our family. But the standup comedies on the OTT platforms are not suitable to watch with the family.

Talent

DTH platforms have well-established actors and actresses working with them. The faces of these celebrities are enough to make a show famous. Although in OTT, new talents are brought forward. New people are given a chance to show their talent to the world. The biggest example of this is the Scam 1992 series. Pratik Gandhi, the main lead in this show, spoke in an interview that he would not have showcased his talent if OTT platforms hadn’t supported him. OTT platforms have a low budget, so they cannot afford big celebrities on their shows. Therefore they give chances to the new talent.

Now in OTT platforms usually do not serve you Ads on a premium subscription. They give a free trial for a month or two in which they may show some ads. This trial period is essential for the consumer to decide whether he needs the premium plan. Now, this is the system of ads under OTT. Basically, if you have an OTT premium subscription, you won’t get ads on the content.

On the other hand, the case with DTH is just the opposite. If the TV show is 30 minutes then these DTH platforms will show you at least 10 to 15 minutes of ads. This comes under the benefit of OTT platforms. But if you see the better side of Ads, they help you to keep yourself updated. If you are updated with the latest market, then you will never get tricked by a scammer.

We can expect OTT platforms to inject Ads on their content when the subscriber base increases manifold. They will try to grow more revenue through Ads in the future

Exposure

So let’s talk about exposure on both platforms. If you are watching a DTH show on your TV in India, then the major possibility is that the show would be a regional or an Indian show. You are not able to watch foreign shows and contents directly on the DTH platforms. OTT gets the upper hand in this aspect

You can watch any show, series, a movie from all over the planet on an OTT platform. The biggest example of this is “Money heist”, the Spanish series. Because of the help of Netflix, we were able to watch such a masterpiece in India. OTT platforms help to integrate diverse talents from all over the world.

Language Barriers

In DTH platforms, the content is broadcasted from a base station to the set-top box. The language of the content being broadcasted is fixed, and it cant be changed. For instance, if the content is broadcasted in English then you wont be able to change its language to Hindi by any means

This exactly the opposite in the case of OTT platforms. You can adjust the language according to your needs if the title supports it.

Quality

The channels on DTH platforms are mostly of SD quality. Although HD channels have also come up, you have to pay something extra to enjoy them. It depends on the package which you purchase.

On OTT platforms, the minimum quality is HD. It can go up to 4K depending on the amount you pay and the plan you take. All the shows and movies on the OTT platforms are uploaded in 4K quality.

Pricing

DTH costs approximately 300 to 400 INR minimum package for basic channels. If you want more channels, then you need to take the higher package. For 12 months, the package will cost around 3600 INR. You also require to buy a Set-top box set which will cost around 2000 to 3000 INR. Also, if you want a second TV connection, you will have to pay the same amount twice. So we can sum up the yearly cost to around 7000 to 8000 Rs.

In OTT, we have to add the cost of the internet. It doesn’t matter which type of internet service you use. You’ll have to pay for the internet charges. You also need to add the cost of OTT’s premium service. But in the end, the cost of OTT will be lesser than that of DTH.

OTT depends on the internet, but DTH does not. However, DTH depends on weather conditions. So if the weather isn’t fine, you won’t be able to enjoy the DTH channels.

Prescence

All the major players of DTH service like Sony, Viacom etc have also jumped into the OTT market to create their presence. For Example, Sony has launched – Sony LiV, Viacom has launched – VOOT. So they have made a reputation on both sides. These major players know the need of the hour that they won’t be able to survive with only a DTH service.

Can OTT Replace DTH?

So the biggest question which arises is that, can OTT replace DTH services?

The answer to this question is both yes and no. For short term, No! and for Long term, Yes!.

The biggest factor here is the generation gap. Gen-Z is seriously not interested in DTH platforms. But the previous generation hesitates to use the OTT platforms because they aren’t user friendly. The second reason is of choice. If a person is only interested in watching the news, then DTH will be a perfect option for him, and OTT will be useless as all the news channels on DTH platforms are free. They can fulfil their needs and remain on a low budget at the same time. We are addicted to over the top platforms, but the generation just above us is not. So we can conclude that for the next 20 to 30 years. At the same time, OTT will keep evolving through these years.

So this was a comparison between the trendy OTT and the conventional DTH, Do subscribe to our newsletter to read more such amazing articles. Also, subscribe to our youtube channel for amazing tech videos. You can also check out Jio TV on Amazon fire stick