DTH
Tata Sky launches 4K HDR internet streaming service
Mumbai: Tata Sky, one of the leading content distribution and Pay TV platforms, has announced the launch of its 4K HDR streaming service. All TVs enabled with 4K HDR can enjoy this service through Tata Sky Binge+ Box at no additional cost for the first year.
Tata Sky Binge+ subscribers will also get free one-year access to Travelxp channel and six international streaming services like Luxe & Life, Pet & Pal, Wow, Be crazy, Health & Wellness, Sportyfy, and Outdoor Channel available in 4K HDR. This new service will further elevate the content viewing experience of the consumers, the platform said in a statement.
Commenting on the announcement, Tata Sky’s chief content & commercial officer, Pallavi Puri, said, “Evolving technology has redefined the way users consume content these days. We at Tata Sky have always been committed to providing best-in-class entertainment powered by advanced technology. With the launch of Travelxp 4K HDR streaming service we hope to continue to delight our subscribers with the exceptional viewing experience.”
Travelxp CEO Prashant Chothani added, “Consumers have been investing in buying high-quality TV sets with ability to play 4K HDR content and with the launch of Travelxp 4K HDR on Tata Sky Binge+, they will now be able to visualise the difference 4K HDR gives to their viewing experience in linear television. Being the world’s first 4K HDR Channel and launched across the globe, the launch in India, our home country is extremely special.”
The services available under the 4K HDR service will be listed under the Guide section under ‘Internet TV’ pre-filters. Additionally, 4K services will be indicated using the 4K HDR icon in the program information screen and information bar making discoverability of the service easy for the subscribers
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.
