(21 February 2009 6:30 pm)

MUMBAI: Private direct-to-home (DTH) operators have paid Rs 345.63 million to the government during 2007-08 as licence fee.

Dish TV, which has the largest DTH subscriber base, has coughed out Rs 146.96 million, according to information provided by the government.

Tata Sky has paid Rs 131.03 million, followed by Sun Direct with Rs 65.7 million and Reliance ADAG's Big TV with Rs 1.94 million.

The annual licence fee has been paid in according with Article 3 of the schedule forming the terms and conditions of licence agreement for DTH services.

While Dish TV as the only operator (other than DD Direct Plus) in the field paid Rs 20.48 million in 2004-05, this went up to Rs 25 million in 2005-06 and Rs 143.84 million in 2006-07.

Tata Sky paid Rs 88.49 million in 2006-07.

According to the terms and conditions of licence, a DTH licensee has to pay an annual fee equivalent to 10 per cent of its gross revenue in a particular financial year within one month of end of that year.

Clause 3.1.1 of terms and conditions of licence defines gross revenue, while Form 'D' prescribed under Clause 3.1.2 of the terms and conditions of licence prescribes indicative and illustrative items to be included, but the auditors are required to include all the income heads qualifying for gross revenue whether or not specifically included in Form 'D'. Carriage fee collected and revenues earned from hardware are required to be included as part of gross revenue.