[Review] Which DTH Service Provides Maximum HD Channels in India – February 29, 2024

UPDATE: Addition of Gemini Music HD channel on Tata Play.

Ever since we posted our exclusive reviews and comparisons between India’s major DTH (Direct-To-Home) services and also shared secret tricks to access hidden service menus in their Set Top Boxes, various readers have asked us about the availability of HD (High Definition) channels on different DTH platforms in India.

[Review] Comparison Between Tata Play and Dish TV DTH Services in India

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People regularly send us emails asking HD channels related questions such as whether a particular HD channel is available on their desired DTH platform or not, which DTH has maximum HD channels in India, etc. So today we decided to post another exclusive review and comparison list of all HD channels available on all Indian DTH platforms.

In this topic we’ll tell you how many HD TV channels are available in India and which DTH service provides the maximum number of HD channels to its subscribers. It’ll help you in deciding which DTH service provider is best for HD channels in India if that’s the priority for you.

List of All DTH Service Providers in India

We have 6 DTH service providers in India:

  • Tata Play (previously known as Tata Sky)
  • Dish TV
  • Airtel Digital TV (ADTV)
  • Videocon D2H
  • Sun Direct
  • DD Free Dish (previously known as DD Direct+)

DD Direct+ aka Free Dish is a free-to-air satellite service in India, actually its the only FTA satellite service in India. It doesn’t provide any HD channel.

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PS: Independent TV (previously known as Reliance Digital TV (RDTV) and Big TV) has been shut down i.e. no longer available.

Indian_DTH_Services_HD_Channels_Count.png

List of All HD Channels Available on All DTH Platforms in India

Following is the exclusive list of all HD channels available in India along with their availability on above mentioned DTH platforms.

NOTE: We are counting only true HD channels here. Dish TV claims to have maximum HD channels but some of them are upscaled HD channels not true HD channels. Upscaled HD channels are modified versions of SD channels with a little higher bitrate but you’ll not notice much difference between SD and upscaled HD channels. Upscaled HD channels will never provide high picture quality as true HD channels do.

NOTE: The plus sign ‘+’ indicates availability of Dolby Digital (DD) Surround Sound. The star sign ‘*‘ indicates that those HD channels on Dish TV can only be viewed by customers whose dish is aligned towards ST2 Satellite. Customers whose dish is aligned towards NSS6/SES8 Satellite won’t get those channels. Eventually all Dish TV customers will be shifted to respective satellites: North -> NSS6/SES8 and South -> ST2.

HD Channel Name

Tata Play (Tata Sky)

Dish TV

Airtel Digital TV

Videocon D2H

Sun Direct

Hindi GEC
Star Plus HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Sony HD or SET HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Zee TV HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Colors HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Star Bharat (Life OK) HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

&TV HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Sony SAB HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Investigation Discovery (ID) (JEET Prime) HD

Y

Y

Y

DD National HD

Y

Hindi Movies
Star Gold HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Zee Cinema HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

&Pictures HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Sony Max HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y

Star Gold Select HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y

Colors Cineplex HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Star Gold 2 HD (UTV HD)

Y

Y

Y

&Xplor HD

Y

Y+

English GEC
Comedy Central HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Colors Infinity HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Zee Café HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Disney International HD

Y

Y

Y

Y

English Movies
Sony Pix HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Star Movies HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Star Movies Select HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

&Flix (Zee Studio) HD

Y+

Y+

Y

Y+

Y+

&Privé HD

Y

Y+

Y

Y+

Y

Movies NOW HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y

MNX (Movies NOW 2) HD

Y+

Y

Y+

Y

MN+ (Movies NOW+) HD

Y+

Y

Y+

Y

Y

Infotainment
Discovery HD World

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

TLC HD World

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y

Y+

Animal Planet HD World

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y

Y+

National Geographic HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Nat Geo Wild HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y

Y+

History TV18 HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y

Y+

Sony BBC Earth HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

FOX Life/Traveller HD

Y

Y+

Y+

Y

Y

Travel XP HD

Y

Y+

Y

Zee Zest (Living Foodz) HD

Y

Y

Sports
Star Sports 1 HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Star Sports 2 HD

Y+

Y

Y+

Y+

Y+

Star Sports 1 Hindi HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Star Sports Select 1 HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Star Sports Select 2 HD

Y+

Y

Y+

Y+

Y+

Star Sports 1 Tamil HD

Y+

Y+

Y

Star Sports 1 Telugu HD

Y+

Y+

Y

Sony Sports Ten 1 HD

Y+

Y+

Y

Y

Y+

Sony Sports Ten 2 HD

Y+

Y

Y+

Y

Y

Sony Sports Ten 3 HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Sony Sports Ten 4 HD

Y

Y

Y+

Sony Sports Ten 5 (Sony Six) HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

EUROSPORT (D SPORT) HD

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Sports18 1 HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

DD SPORTS HD

Y

Y

Music
MTV Beats HD

Y+

Y+

Y

MTV HD+

Y+

VH1 HD

Y

Y

Hindi News
Aaj Tak HD

Y

Y

Times Now Navbharat HD

Y

Y

DD News HD

Y

Sansad TV HD

Y

Y

English News
CNBC TV18 Prime HD

Y

Y

Y

Times NOW World HD

Y

Y

Y

DD India HD

Y

Y+

Kids Entertainment
Nick HD+

Y

Y

Y

Y

Cartoon Network HD+

Y+

Y+

Y

Disney Channel HD

Y

Y

ETV Bal Bharat HD

Tamil
Zee Tamil HD

Y

Y*

Y

Y

Zee Thirai HD

Y

Y

Colors Tamil HD

Y+

Y+

Sun TV HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Sun Music HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

KTV HD

Y+

Y

Y

Y

Y+

Star Vijay HD

Y+

Y*

Y+

Y+

Y+

Star Vijay Super HD

Y+

Y*

Y+

Y

Jaya TV HD

Y

DD Tamil HD

Marathi
Colors Marathi HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y

Y+

Zee Marathi HD

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Sun Marathi HD

Y

Y

Y

Zee Talkies HD

Y

Y

Y

Y

Star Pravah HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Pravah Picture HD

Y+

Y

Y+

Y+

Telugu
Gemini TV HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Gemini Movies HD

Y

Y

Y+

Gemini Music HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Star Maa TV HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Star Maa Movies HD

Y+

Y*

Y+

Y+

Y+

Zee Telugu HD

Y

Y*

Y

Y

Y

Zee Cinemalu HD

Y

Y*

Y

Y

Y

ETV HD

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

ETV Plus HD

ETV Cinema HD

Bengali
Star Jalsha HD

Y+

Y

Y+

Y+

Y+

Jalsha Movies HD

Y+

Y

Y+

Y+

Y+

Colors Bangla HD

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Zee Bangla HD

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Sun Bangla HD

Y

Y

Malayalam
Zee Keralam HD

Y+

Y*

Y

Y

Asianet HD

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Y+

Asianet Movies HD

Y+

Y*

Y

Y

Mazhavil Manorama HD

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Surya TV HD

Y+

Y*

Y+

Y+

Y+

Kannada
Zee Kannada HD

Y

Y*

Y

Y

Y

Zee Picchar HD

Y

Y

Colors Kannada HD

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Udaya TV HD

Y+

Y*

Y+

Y+

Y+

Star Suvarna HD

Y+

Y*

Y+

Y+

Y+

Odia
Star Kiran HD

Y+

Y

Tarang HD

Total HD Channels = 111

106

84

92

73

77

Ranking of DTH Services Based on HD Channels Count in India

If we look at the number of HD channels in above mentioned table, Tata Play (Tata Sky) provides the maximum number of HD channels. Airtel, Dish TV, Videocon D2H and Sun Direct are close to it.

So the list of winners based on maximum number of HD channels is as following:

1stTata Play (Tata Sky) HD channels count: 106
2ndAirtel Digital TV HD channels count: 92
3rdDish TV HD channels count: 84
4thSun Direct HD channels count: 77
5thVideocon D2H HD channels count: 73

NOTE: DishTV and Videocon provide DD sound on less number of HD channels (Dish TV: 42 channels and Videocon: 36 channels). On the other hand, Tata Play (67), Airtel (61) and Sun Direct (63) provide DD sound on almost all available HD channels.

Upcoming Future HD Channels in India

Following is a list of all confirmed or rumored new HD channels which have been announced to launch in future by the broadcaster company:

Upcoming Hindi HD channels:

  • ABP News HD (News)
  • Hungama HD (Kids)
  • India TV Prime HD (News)
  • NDTV India HD (News)
  • Smile 24 HD (GEC)
  • Sports18 Hindi HD/Sports18 2 HD (Sports)
  • Star Life HD (Infotainment)
  • Star Sports 3 HD (Sports)
  • Sun Neo HD (GEC)
  • Zee Hindustan HD (News)
  • Zee News HD (News)

Upcoming English HD channels:

  • NDTV 24×7 HD (News)
  • NDTV Profit HD (News)
  • Sports18 3 HD (Sports)
  • WION HD (News)

Upcoming Regional HD channels:

  • Sports18 Kannada HD (Sports)
  • Sports18 Tamil HD (Sports)
  • Sports18 Telugu HD (Sports)
  • Star Sports 1 Kannada HD (Sports)
  • Surya Movies HD (Movies)
  • Udaya Movies HD (Movies)
  • Zee Sarthak HD (Odia GEC)

Discontinued HD Channels in India

Following are HD channels which have been discontinued by the broadcaster company and are no longer available on any DTH platform in India:

HD channels discontinued in 2023:

  • UTV HD (rebranded as Star Gold 2 HD)
  • Star World HD
  • Star World Premiere HD
  • Baby TV HD

HD channels discontinued in 2022:

  • Sony Six HD (rebranded as Sony Sports Ten 5 HD)

HD channels discontinued in 2021:

  • Romedy NOW HD

HD channels discontinued in 2020:

  • Jeet Prime HD (Discovery Jeet HD)
  • Sony ESPN HD
  • AXN HD
  • FYI TV18 HD
  • ETV Life HD
  • ETV Abhiruchi HD
  • HBO HD

HD channels discontinued in 2019:

  • Nat Geo People HD
  • Nat Geo Music HD

HD channels discontinued in 2018:

  • Epic HD
  • Zee Studio HD
  • NewsX HD
  • Sony Le Plex HD
  • Sony Rox HD
  • Sony Ten Golf HD

HD channels discontinued in 2017:

  • Da Vinci Learning HD
  • Star Sports HD 3
  • Star Sports HD 4
  • MTunes HD
  • FX HD

HD channels discontinued in 2016:

  • HBO Hits HD

HD channels discontinued in 2015:

  • HBO Defined HD

HD channels discontinued in 2014:

  • Nat Geo Adventure HD

HD channels discontinued in 2013:

  • UTV Stars HD
  • Star Cricket HD

Exclusive HD Services Available on All DTH Platforms in India

Following are exclusive HD service channels provided by various DTH platforms in India:

  • Tata Sky has launched exclusive “Tata Sky Shorts TV HD” channel which brings 2000+ best short movies/stories from India and all over the world.
  • Tata Sky has launched exclusive “Tata Sky Telugu Cinema HD” channel which is an ad-free Telugu movie service showcasing the biggest blockbusters of Tollywood with premieres before television.
  • Tata Sky has launched exclusive “The QYOU HD” channel available free of cost to all subscribers. It offers 24×7 curated short form videos from the Internet (Youtube, Vimeo, etc) for television.
  • Tata Sky has launched exclusive “Tata Sky Experience HD” channel available free of cost to all subscribers. It offers 24×7 HD content, through high quality HD content snippets across key genres such as Hindi entertainment, English entertainment, Hindi movies, knowledge, lifestyle, kids and sports.
  • Tata Sky and Airtel have launched exclusive “Tata Sky Bollywood Premiere HD” and “Miniplex HD” channels respectively which showcase one Hindi movie premiere every week, along with some premium movies.
  • Tata Sky has launched exclusive “Tata Sky Kids Cinema HD” channel available free of cost to all subscribers. Its a special movie service which telecasts Indian and international kids specific movies break free.
  • Tata Sky has launched exclusive HD+1 channels for Colors, Zee TV, Star Plus, Star Gold and Zee Cinema which broadcast TV shows and movies with 1 hour delay of the same respective HD channels. It’ll provide an opportunity to viewers to watch their favorite shows and movies twice or immediately if they missed it by an hour.
  • Videocon has started 2 new VOD (Video-On-Demand) HD channels “D2H Cinema HD” and “D2H Hollywood HD” which telecast latest Bollywood and Hollywood movies in HD. But they don’t provide DD Sound.
  • Tata Sky has launched 5 Showcase HD channels which are PPV (Pay-Per-View) channels and telecast latest Hollywood and Bollywood movies in HD but without DD sound.
  • Tata Sky has also launched 3 Star Sports Add On Service HD channels which are event-based channels and telecast live Football matches.
  • Airtel has launched 2 Airtel Movies HD channels which are PPV (Pay-Per-View) channels and telecast blockbuster movies in HD but without DD sound.
  • Dish TV has launched Dish Buzz HD channel which telecasts Dish TV offers, advertisements and promotions.

One more thing to add! Videocon D2H and Airtel Digital TV provide 24×7 3D channels “D2H 3D Channel HD” and “Airtel Movies” respectively which show programs and movies in 3D format. Tata Sky has also started showing 3D blockbusters on its event-based channel “Showcase 3D” but its not a permanent channel.

We’ll update this list whenever new HD channels become available on any DTH platform, so keep checking this page regularly…

Also Check:

[FAQ] How to Choose TV Channels Pack / Plan After New TRAI Tariff Order in India

How to Program and Use DTH Universal Remotes with your TV Set?

How to Reset DTH Universal Remote to Factory Settings?

What is the Use of USB Port in Tata Sky, Airtel, Videocon and Other DTH Set Top Box?

[Tata Sky Bug] Favorite Audio/Language Resets to English on HD Channels

[Fix] Can’t Change Volume Level on HD Channels in Tata Sky DTH

[Fix] “No Signal” Issue on Tata Sky DTH Service in India

[Tip] How to Block / Restrict All TV Channels and Services in Tata Sky Set Top Box

Published in: Mobiles and Internet

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. 7 HD channels added in Tata Plus – &Xplor HD, Zee Thirai HD, Zee Picchar HD, Star Kiran HD, Vijay Super HD, Asianet Movies HD, Pravah Picture HD. Please update.

  2. &xplore HD,Zee Thirai HD& Zee Pichar HD channels are also added in tata play please update VG…

  3. ^^ Not in coming future but existing HD channels might be replaced by HD variants of these new Sports channels.

  4. Tata play added DD sports HD & Sony Ten 4 HD channels in their platform so…pls… update the list VG …and now we can proudly say that tata play has became first Indian DTH to complete it’s HD channels century in the DTH HD channels addition race Market…

  5. Sony Sports Ten 4 HD is not Still shown in Tata Play though as per their website with URL tataplay.com/channels/tv-channel-number-list it’s available on Channel No 1554 !!

    Kindly Update the status

    Regards

    Amit Mitra

  6. Sony Sports Ten 4 HD Channel NOT YET ADDED on Tata Play though their website mentions this at Channel No1554

  7. According to my sources, the channel was added but due to some agreement issues the channel was removed soon. Discussion is going on but I can’t confirm when the channel will be restored.

  8. Tata Play has removed Sony Sports Ten 4 HD from their website in the list of channels information also. So Tata Play remains at 99 on the Number of HD Channels count category

  9. Are DD India HD and DD Sports HD True HD channels or just upscaled SD channels?

    This question arises since DD National HD and Sansad TV HD show HD on the logo of the channels whereas DD Sports HD and DD India HD don’t do the same.

  10. ^^ Nice idea. List added of all upcoming HD channels which were confirmed by sources.

    @AMIT MITRA
    100% true HD channels. It’s not necessary for an HD channel to contain “HD” word in its logo. In other countries, almost all HD channels do not contain HD tag in logo but in India all HD channels are carrying HD word in their logo. Remember History TV18, Nat Geo, HBO Defined/Hits and many other HD channels didn’t contain HD word in their logos in past and Tata Sky was manually adding HD tag using their software. It’s good that DD is not adding HD tag on their channel logos.

  11. I believe NDTV has few HD channels in the pipeline. Could you please add them in upcoming HD channels section?

  12. ^^ Sure. Information about upcoming HD channels NDTV India HD, NDTV 24×7 HD and NDTV Profit HD added.

  13. Hello
    askvg

    Please update HD channel list. Please remove this all channel from upcoming HD channel section:

    1. ETV Plus HD
    2. ETV Cinema HD
    3. ETV Bal Bharat HD
    4. DD Tamil HD

    These are all channel official launched. But you added in upcoming list. So please remove form upcoming list this channel. And add to HD channel section. These channels official launched but not added any DTH.

    Like Tarang tv HD this channel official launched but not added any DTH. But added in HD section. DD Tamil HD channel launched officially yesterday so please these are all HD channel add in HD section & remove from the upcoming list.

  14. Hello,
    askvg team

    Please update the channel list
    Today Airtel digital TV added new HD channel
    Asianet Movies HD added on Airtel Digital TV

    LCN 841

  15. HD channel addition information added to the article. Thanks.

    @Nguyen Hoang
    Less viewership was the reason for this and other similar exclusive channels removal.

  16. Hello askvg

    Today 20 Feb. Tata Play launched Investigation Discovery HD channel on channel number 155.

    Please update the channel list.

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