DTH
Videocon d2h launches brand store on eBay India
MUMBAI: eBay India has announced the launch of a brand store by direct to home (DTH) operator Videocon d2h. Through this association, eBay India consumers across 4,306 cities, towns and villages in the country will be able to purchase Videocon d2h set top boxes with the added advantage of free installations even in remote areas.
To begin this association, Videocon d2h has announced the online release of region-wise standard, HD and HD DVR offers. Videocon d2h offers special online packages nationally and region-wise for consumers to access their 500 channels and services including 27 ‘Asli HD’ channels for a real-life viewing experience.
eBay India head strategy Ratul Ghosh said, “We are delighted to announce the Videocon d2h brand store on eBay India. This is the first time that the premier DTH provider has launched its online brand store in India. In our constant endeavour to have a wider range of products for our customers, we now have a plethora of brands selling through their official brand stores on our marketplace.”
“eCommerce in India is a mainstream phenomenon today, filling a wide availability gap for consumers in the country’s hinterland. eBay India, with 3,281 Bharat Hubs (tier II & III towns) and 1,015 Rural Hubs, offers an excellent platform for us to reach millions of untapped households in the country. We aim to optimise this large user base as part of our multi-channel strategy to offer consumers an unparalleled television viewing experience,” added Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera.
eBay India provides an eCommerce ready store, popular deal properties and high internet shopper traffic for brands across categories. With over 1.1 million live listings at any given point, eBay India reaches out to over 2.1 million active consumers across 4,306 cities, towns and villages in India, making it an effective eCommerce platform for merchants of all sizes.
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.
