DTH
One Alliance switches off InCablenet over pending dues
MUMBAI: The disconnection virus seems to be spreading in Mumbai. Following ESPN-Star Sports, SET-Discovery One Alliance bouquet of channels has switched off its service to Hinduja’s InCable Network in Mumbai.
Confirming the same to indiantelevision.com, SET-Discovery India president Shantonu Aditya says: “There are two reasons – non-settlement of the outstanding dues of Rs 20 million for the month of March and non-renewal of the agreement contract which expired on 31 March 2003. Actually, we have been giving them signals in good faith for an entire month in the absence of a proper contract,” says Aditya.
InCablenet, in its response has raised the imminent rollout of CAS as its reason for not signing on to a new agreement. A statement issued by InCablenet says: “With a few weeks left for the introduction of the conditional access regime, broadcasters have gone on the warpath with MSOs. Broadcasters have started making a demand for higher connectivity and higher rate per customer, which InCablenet has, in view of the resistance by customers, refused to accept.
The statement also drew attention to the the hearing of public interest litigation tomorrow before Bombay High Court demanding reduction of cable subscription rates, as another reason for not reaching agreement with SET-Discovery.
According to InCablenet, with CAS around the corner, commercial arrangements in a post CAS regime are what need to be discussed.
Aditya, however, dismissed this line of argument saying an agreement has to be in place because services are being rendered and it is not possible to function in the absence of a formal contract.
Aditya confirms that the two parties failed to reach a mutually acceptable figure as far as the disputed amount (of Rs 20 million) was concerned. “We are hopeful that the issue will be resolved soon. Despite repeated assurances, we haven’t received payments – which are actually ground collections. We believe that the issue of under-declarations is still unresolved,” says Aditya.
Aditya, however, mentioned that Incable Network had settled all the previous dues. He added that the representatives of both the affected parties have been conducting talks and have had several discussions.
The One Alliance team has also prepared itself for piracy related problems and illegal stealing of signals. “Copyright laws have been strengthened in recent times,” Aditya says.
Speaking of piracy, an ESPN official has filed charges in three different police stations in Mumbai alleging theft of the ESPN Star Sports signals.
In turn InCablenet COO Rajiv Vyas and vice-president (operations) Manoj Motwani, have obtained anticipatory bail from a sessions court in Mumbai. The ESPN official, Prakash Shinde, in his FIRs, filed in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar, DN Nagar and MIDC-Andheri police stations last week, has said InCablenet was tapping signals from neighbouring operators in violation of Section 51 (a) and (b) of the Copyright Act.
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.
