DTH
Discovery Gardens in Dubai issued warning to remove dishes & TV antennas
MUMBAI: The residents of Discovery Gardens in Dubai have been warned that the satellite dishes or antennas outside the roofs and balconies are expected to be removed, according to a report in Emirates 247 News which adds the violators of the issue will be made liable to vandalism charges.
Nakheel Facilities and Owners Association Management has placed notices in the community comprised of over 20,000 residential apartments saying satellite dishes need to be removed by 10 March 2016.
According to the notice, “During our inspection we have noticed that there are satellite dishes/ antennae installed on the external façade/balcony/roof of some buildings. Hence, we would like to remind all residents in Discovery Gardens that such practice is deemed illegal”.
Under Section 6.2 of the Community Use Rules, the users must maintain at all times the exterior appearance of their properties in a manner which befits the overall standards of development contained within the master community to the reasonable satisfaction of the managing agent, it is stated.
The notice also mentions restriction includes installation of satellite dishes on or over the balconies/roof tops exposed to public view that materially alters the appearance and integrity of the building.
Furthermore, Section 7.1.2 states that community users must not make any modifications affecting the appearance of the exterior of any property, including but not limited to balconies, awnings, canopies, sunshades, front and rear fencing, air conditioning units and related equipment, fans, screens, gutters, storm doors, satellite dishes, external radio or TV antenna and enclosures of any kind, painting of the exterior, permanent decorations (excluding holiday decorations) or any other changes, “without the prior written approval of the Managing Agent and relevant authorities (including the Civil Engineering Department and Environment Health and Safety Departments of the Ports and Customs and Free Zone).”
“If you fail to comply within the stipulated timing, satellite dishes will be removed at the owners’ cost, with the involvement of the local authorities, Trakhees and/or Dubai Police, if necessary,” the notice states.
It goes on to advise residents that du, the telecom service provider, reserves the right to provide satellite service and other telecom services in Discovery Gardens.
The main reasons for residents opting for satellite dish antennas is that they are cheaper than the official TV packages within the country. A Dish TV package, beamed through a satellite dish antenna, costs between Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 (Dh 200 to Dh 240) for a year, with a bouquet of Indian channels on offer, compared to Dh 120 a month for basic Hindi channel package.
DTH
DD Free Dish e-auction revenue dips to Rs 642 crore as slot sales fall
Revenue dips as revised norms reshape bidding in 94th round
NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati’s DD Free Dish has closed its 8th annual, and 94th overall, e-auction for MPEG-2 slots with total collections of Rs 642 crore for the period April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
That is lower than last year’s Rs 780 crore haul, with 55 slots sold compared with 61 in FY25–26. The softer topline reflects both a slimmer inventory and a recalibrated auction framework.
This was the first auction conducted after amendments to the e-auction methodology, including tighter eligibility norms and a revised reserve price structure for MPEG-2 slots. The stated aim was greater transparency and more serious participation. The immediate outcome appears to be more measured bidding in certain categories.
Day one set the tone. Eight slots were sold, six in the premium Bucket A+ and two in Bucket A. The strong early action in A+, which typically houses Hindi GECs and movie channels, reaffirmed the enduring appeal of mass Hindi programming on the platform.
Among the broadcasters securing slots in the initial rounds were Zee Entertainment Enterprises, Sony Pictures Networks India, Viacom18’s Colors network, Sun Network and Shemaroo Entertainment. Their continued presence signals that, despite the pull of digital platforms, Free Dish remains a strategic must have for legacy networks chasing scale in price sensitive markets.
The final bouquet of 55 channels leans heavily towards Hindi news, movies, devotional fare, Bhojpuri and regional programming.
In Hindi news, familiar heavyweights such as Aaj Tak, ABP News, India TV, News18 India, Republic Bharat and Zee News made the cut. Entertainment and movie offerings include Colors Rishtey, Star Utsav, Dangal TV, Sony Pal, Shemaroo TV, Goldmines, B4U Movies and Zee Biskope. Devotional viewers will find Aastha, Sanskar and Sadhna Gold among the selected channels.
Regional representation includes Sun Marathi, Fakt Marathi, PTC Punjabi and GTC Punjabi.
Equally telling were the absences. Broadcasters such as Big Magic, Filamchi Bhojpuri, India News, Bharat Express, Movieplex Maithili, TV9 Marathi, Shemaroo Marathibana, Zee Chitra Mandir and Satsang did not participate. The pullback is particularly visible across Marathi, Bhojpuri, Maithili and spiritual programming. Industry observers point to the revised reserve prices, tighter eligibility norms and a reassessment of commercial viability as possible factors.
DD Free Dish continues to beam into over 40 million homes, largely in rural and semi urban India. For advertisers and broadcasters alike, it offers efficient access to Bharat markets where pay TV penetration remains uneven and OTT subscriptions are limited.
The moderation in revenue this year may be read as a pause rather than a retreat. Fewer slots, a reworked auction playbook and evolving broadcaster strategies have clearly shaped outcomes. Yet premium Hindi entertainment retains its pull, and the platform’s mass reach remains hard to ignore.
As the FY26–27 line-up settles in, the mix of winners and walkaways will define the private satellite channel landscape on DD Free Dish for the year ahead.
