DTH
Ofcom to look into Sky buying into ITV
MUMBAI: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the UK has ordered that country’s media watchdog Ofcom to investigate pay TV service provider BSkyB’s purchase of a stake in commercial broadcaster ITV.
The aim is to see how this might affect pubclic interest.
The British trade secretary, Alistair Darling, has asked Ofcom to review whether BSkyB’s purchase of a 17.9 per cent stake in ITV “raises public interest concerns about the number of different owners of media enterprises”.
The move reports state is a victory for Virgin Media. It has been lobbying for an investigation. its argument is that the investment in ITV by a firm that Murdoch’s News Corp has a stake in threatens media plurality in the UK.
Ofcom’s initial findings will be submitted by 27 April. This could result in the BSkyB stake in ITV being referred to the Competition Commission for a fuller investigation. Last year in November BSkyB had purchased for £940 million 17.9 per cent of ITV.
Cable firm NTL now known as Virgin Media had tried to buy ITV for £5 billion. Sky says that its minority shareholding in ITV has no bearing on the considerations of the public interest test relating specifically to media plurality. It says that it is inconceivable to suggest that, as a result of a 17.9 per cent shareholding in ITV, Sky would be able to influence ITV’s broadcasting strategy or policies, including programming or editorial decisions, which remain entirely the responsibility of the board.
Sky adds, “In its short history, Sky has fundamentally increased choice for viewers, consistently pioneered innovations, invested in and developed quality on-screen content, and is now challenging incumbent telecom and cable providers with lower-cost broadband and phone services. Sky makes a significant contribution to plurality in the highly competitive media sector.”
Meanwhile BSkyB could take a hit of up to 20 million pounds if it loses a deal to show its basic channels on Virgin Media. Interestingly though analysts say that it is the other firm that could suffer more in the long run. The deal concludes on 28 February 2007.
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.
