Dish TV CEO Manoj Dobhal Affirms Management Functions Unhindered by Shareholder Disputes

The ongoing conflict between promoters and shareholders at Dish TV does not hinder its management's operations. CEO and Executive Director Manoj Dobhal stated that the management remains focused on running the organisation effectively, unaffected by board-level disputes. This was mentioned during the launch of Content India 2025, a collaboration between Dish TV and UK-based C21Media.

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Despite recent shareholder actions, including rejecting two independent director appointments and removing over 20 directors in three years, Dish TV's management continues to function smoothly. Dobhal emphasised that their focus is on managing the company rather than getting involved in board-level issues. "We are responsible for running the organisation," he said.

Shareholder Dynamics and Management Focus

Subhash Chandra's family-led promoter group holds only a 4.04% stake in Dish TV, prompting shareholders to seek board reconstitution. Despite this, Dobhal praised the board and shareholders for allowing management to operate independently. He noted that their efforts are directed towards organisational operations rather than external conflicts.

Dish TV is transitioning into a content distribution company with a strong presence in direct-to-home (DTH) television and OTT through its Watcho platform. Currently, over 90% of its revenue comes from DTH services, but they anticipate growth through subsidiary alliances. Dobhal mentioned that while DTH viewing is declining, a hybrid ecosystem is emerging.

Content Distribution Strategy and Revenue Streams

The company offers a package called Super Family HSM with 201 channels for Rs 145, while also catering to OTT viewers. Although revenue pressure exists, Dish TV is developing alternative revenue streams. Dobhal highlighted efforts to maintain prices despite rising content costs, especially for rural and lower-income customers.

Dish TV has not increased prices significantly despite higher content costs, aiming to absorb these increases instead of passing them onto customers. Dobhal explained that they could have raised prices by 20-30% but chose not to. Instead, they are enhancing customer services by offering additional options like Watcho.

Content India 2025 Initiative

As part of its strategy to strengthen India's content ecosystem, Dish TV launched Content India 2025 with C21Media. This initiative aims to foster cross-border collaborations and showcase India's production capabilities. Scheduled for April 1-3, 2025, the event will include a marketplace, conferences, and networking opportunities.

The event is modelled after successful global formats like C21Media’s Content London and Content Americas. It will bring together creators, producers, distributors, platforms, and channels to discuss innovation and collaboration in content creation.

Dish TV currently offers over 582 channels and services along with 21 OTT apps on its platform. The company is committed to expanding its offerings while adapting to changing viewer preferences and market dynamics.