DTH
Shemaroo launches Miniplex movie service on Tata Sky
MUMBAI: After joining hands with Airtel Digital TV, Shemaroo Entertainment has now tied up with yet another DTH operator – Tata Sky to launch its subscription-based movie premiere service Miniplex.
The subscription based ad-free service Miniplex will premiere one movie every Friday for the first time on Indian television as well as other recent movies.
As was reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, in addition to DTH, Shemaroo also plans to launch Miniplex across other platforms like cable and online in a phased manner.
The monthly subscription price for the service is Rs 60. To activate it, consumers can give a missed call to 9230892308. For HD subscribers, the service is on channel number 298, whereas for SD subscribers, it is on 298.
Shemaroo Entertainment director Hiren Gada said, “Miniplex is a subscription-based movie premiere service curated to cater to movie lovers across the country. We are glad to tie up with Tata Sky for this service. Tata Sky consumers can now enjoy world television premiere of movies on every Friday. Not only this, other movies showcased on the channel are carefully selected set of movies that are not telecasted on television so often.”
The ‘Premieres’ are supported by ‘Premiums,’ which are movies released post 2005. ‘Premiums’ will be showcased for five days of the week with everyday featuring a new movie.
Tata Sky chief content and business strategy officer Paolo Agostinelli added, “To satisfy our subscriber’s hunger for refreshing content, we were glad to tie-up with Shemaroo to provide this collection of movies under the new service called Miniplex. The day-long movie timings, enriched content with the novel concept of premiere and premium movies ensure the movie-buff’s of Tata Sky have entertainment on their fingertips 24×7.”
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.
