In Nepal, IPTV is one of the growing businesses. This is due to the convenience and variety of content it offers. With IPTV, users can access live TV channels, on-demand content, and other services such as time-shifting and catch-up TV. This has made it increasingly popular among viewers who are looking for more flexibility in their TV viewing experience.

Previously, there were only digital contents broadcasted in Nepal. However, due to the rise of IPTV, viewers now have access to a wider range of content. This has shaped the media content industry in a new way, as providers are now able to offer more options to consumers.

Since Nepal is geographically treacherous, DTH service had been popular. DTH doesn’t need any terrestrial infrastructures, making it easier to access in remote areas. However, the rise of FTTH (Fiber to the Home) has made it possible for ISPs to provide high-speed internet connections to customers. This has enabled IPTV services to become more widely available, even in areas where DTH was once the only option. Not only in Nepal, according to a report by Media Partners Asia, DTH subscribers in India declined by 3% in 2020, while IPTV/OTT subscriptions grew by 23%. The report also predicts that IPTV/OTT subscriptions will continue to grow in India and other South Asian markets over the next several years.

FTTH penetration has become remarkable in the last decade, thanks to ISPs, NSPs, and Telcos in Nepal. This has made it easier for Operators to offer IPTV services to their customers, as they have the infrastructure in place to deliver high-quality video content.

When comparing DTH and IPTV, it’s important to note that the traditional concept of content delivery had drawbacks. Linear television content and recorded content were delivered through Digital TVs and Dish TVs, but this was a one-way communication system that didn’t offer much freedom or leverage for packaging and billing. IPTV, on the other hand, provides a more interactive and personalized viewing experience. Viewers can choose what they want to watch and when they want to watch it, and can even pause, rewind, or fast-forward through content. This level of control is not possible with DTH.

ISPs and NSPs (Network Service Providers) in Nepal are actually buying content from content providers and selling it to their internet subscribers by bundling. This has resulted in cost savings for the ISPs/NSPs, as they are able to use the same manpower and network infrastructure to deliver both internet and TV services to customers.

This has led to a growing penetration of IPTV content in Nepal, benefiting content owners, ISPs/NSPs, and end-users alike. Content owners are able to reach more customers, ISPs/NSPs have something more to offer to their existing customers, and end-users are happy with the quality of IPTV that surpasses the quality and service from DTH. Overall, IPTV has proven to be a more versatile and cost-effective option for both viewers and service providers in Nepal.

ISPs and NSPs in Nepal have seen significant business growth in the IPTV sector in comparison to the neighboring giants like India and Bangladesh. By bundling content and internet services, they can offer customers a more personalized and interactive viewing experience, while also benefiting from cost savings through the use of existing manpower and network infrastructure. The growing penetration of IPTV content in Nepal is a positive development for all three parties involved: content owners, ISPs/NSPs, and end-users. This indeed is a motivational factor to media content businesses in South Asian countries that are currently migrating their consumers from traditional Dish/Digital platforms to IP-based platforms.