The Free-to-air channels or FTA Channels mean that such TV channels are available in an unencrypted form i.e. no special pay TV set-top box or any monthly subscription is required to watch them.
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Earnings and Expenses of Free-to-Air TV Channels –
Free-to-air TV channels earn money only through advertisements. But their expenses are equal to that of paying TV channels, as cable operators take money from them, DTH service takes platform charges from them and they have to pay for satellite or teleport to broadcast from C-Band.
Prior to this, for any free-to-air channel to be broadcast, they had to take permission or a license from the entertainment department of their country, for which they also have to pay a one-time fee.
Availability of FTA Channels –
All free-to-air TV channels in India must be on C-Band satellite. Recently, free-to-air TV channels have faced another restriction by the court, according to which now no free-to-air TV channel can be free-to-air from Ku-band. Except in DD Freedish only. Because it harms DTH, Cable TV, and DD Freedish.
Despite the choice of free-to-air satellites by the public (who live on a limited budget), these TV channels do not get any subsidy, rebate, or concession from the government. That’s why you must have seen that many FTA channels start, walk a little and stop while struggling.
But if you want to watch FTA channels using any Pay TV system then you don’t have to pay for TV channels, but you have to pay for network Capacity fees, which are about Rs.150 monthly including taxes. It is a very high price that’s why subscribers leave those types of platforms and move to OTT platforms or Doordarshan DTH where they can watch FTA channels without any NCF or other charges.
Support FTA Channels –
That’s why you must look for free-to-air TV channels. And talk about their programs among themselves or on social media. So that free entertainment can survive in the world of 5G today.
View all free-to-air channel lists available in India from here, which can be viewed without recharge through pay-TV systems and free-to-air satellite TV equipment. You can watch free channels by targeting this equipment on a C-Band. You can watch the best satellite for free-to-air channels in India from here.
You can learn the installation of DTH, Satellite TV, IPTV, Digital TV, Freeview TV, and OTT here. You can find more FAQs about FTA channels here.