DTH (Direct-to-Home) beams TV channels by satellite straight to a small dish on your home and a set-top box — no local cable operator in between. Cable TV comes through a wired network run by a local operator, which can mean patchier service in some areas. OTT (streaming apps like Netflix or JioHotstar) comes over your internet connection. DTH's advantages are consistent nationwide coverage, a huge channel choice and working anywhere with a clear view of the sky. Many homes now mix DTH for live TV with an OTT app or two for on-demand shows.

Yes. Under TRAI's tariff framework you can choose channels à la carte — you pay a small network capacity fee plus the price of each channel you actually want, rather than a bundled pack full of channels you never watch. For many households this works out cheaper than the headline "value" pack, though heavy viewers who want lots of channels may still find a pack better value. We cost both ways for your specific must-watch list so you can see which genuinely saves you money.

Yes. Under TRAI's tariff framework you can choose channels à la carte — you pay a small network capacity fee plus the price of each channel you actually want, rather than a bundled pack full of channels you never watch. For many households this works out cheaper than the headline "value" pack, though heavy viewers who want lots of channels may still find a pack better value. We cost both ways for your specific must-watch list so you can see which genuinely saves you money.

Match the box to your TV. An SD box is fine and cheapest for older standard TVs. An HD box is the sensible default for most modern TVs and gives a much sharper picture on HD channels. A 4K (Ultra HD) box only benefits you if you have a 4K TV and watch 4K content, and those plans cost more. If you have several TVs, you'll usually need an additional connection or box per TV, sometimes at a discounted "multi-TV" rate — we factor that in.

Usually not directly — dishes and set-top boxes are generally tied to a specific provider, so switching means a new box and a fresh installation. That's why the one-time hardware and installation cost matters when you compare a switch: a cheaper monthly pack elsewhere can be offset by new-connection charges. We lay the full switching cost out so you can see whether moving actually pays off over the year, or whether renegotiating your current pack is smarter.

It depends on how you watch. If you mostly watch on-demand shows and have a solid broadband connection, OTT apps may cover you — and you might drop DTH or keep only a small base pack. But for live TV, news, regional channels and especially live sport, DTH is still the simplest, most reliable option and doesn't depend on your internet speed. Combo boxes (like Tata Play Binge or Airtel Xstream) blend both. If you're weighing streaming, remember OTT needs a good home internet connection — see our Home Internet pages. DTH prices and channel line-ups shown here are illustrative and change often; this is general guidance, and we confirm current offers with the provider before you commit.