DTH
DishTV takes shopping channels’ count to nine with Gemporia TV addition
MUMBAI: DishTV has added a ninth shopping channel called Gemporia TV, which is dedicated to gems and jewellery, taking its total channels and services count to 500+.
The count of nine shopping channels on DishTV is the highest amongst any DTH player. Gemporia TV is available on all subscription packs, in all categories for its viewers.
DishTV India chief operating officer Salil Kapoor said, “Being a pioneer and market leader DishTV has always stood up to its promise of providing unique content to its viewers. Gemporia TV is one such unique channel where people can buy gems and jewellery. Addition of Gemporia TV, ninth shopping channel on our platform also proves that due to undisputed leadership and popularity of DishTV platform amongst viewers, more and more shopping channels wants to get aligned with us.”
Gemporia TV co-founder Manuj Goyal added, “Gemporia manufactures the very best in stylish, affordable and responsibly made fine jewellery. Our unique business model involves using only genuine gemstones and precious metals to create beautiful timeless treasures. We make limited editions and bring them to you at Direct to Home prices, cutting out all the middlemen.”
Gemporia founder Steve Bennet said, “An ever growing customer base across the globe, through our TV channels and website in the UK and US, Gemporia TV comes to our manufacturing home in India with the promise of being able to deliver even better deals. We are very happy to launch with DishTV in India, a leader in content and technology innovation.”
Subscribers of DishTV will be able to watch this new channel on LCN 116.
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.
