DTH
Airtel Digital TV launches 4K UHD channel
MUMBAI: Airtel Digital TV, the direct to home (DTH) arm of mobile services provider Bharti Airtel, has launched its first 4K-Ultra HD (UHD) channel.
Airtel will showcase the world TV premiere of the Salman Khan starrer blockbuster Bajrangi Bhaijaan on the newly launched channel on 11 October.
Bajrangi Bhaijaan is the first movie to premiere on Airtel’s 4K UHD channel.
Available exclusively to users of the Samsung Smart Direct TV, the movie will premiere at 12:30 pm on Sunday on Star Gold 4K.
Airtel’s 4K UHD channel is available free of cost to users of the Samsung Smart Direct TV for a limited period. Airtel will also showcase programs like Overhalin from Discovery and other movies like Singh is King, Kick and Jai Ho on the channel in the coming days.
The Samsung Smart Direct TV is an integrated digital TV pioneered and launched by Airtel Digital TV in partnership with Samsung.
It is among the many innovations by Airtel and is a technology platform that has miniaturized the set-top-box (STB) into a small smart card that fits inside the television set at the back panel. The solution offers a smart TV viewing experience with minimal signal loss and maximum audio & video clarity while also ensuring maximum power savings. An industry first, it uses minimal wiring and a single remote solution powered by an intuitive user guide enabling built-in Smart Card that allows customers to enjoy TV viewing without an external STB. The newly launched Samsung J-Series Smart Direct TV comes with additional features such as in-built Wi-Fi, Skype calling, Smart Apps etc.
DTH
Dish TV moves court seeking level playing field with DD Free Dish
DTH player flags unfair edge as free platform reshapes pay-TV market
MUMBAI: Dish TV has approached the Kerala High Court, seeking a level playing field with DD Free Dish, the free-to-air satellite platform run by Prasar Bharati.
At the heart of the dispute is what Dish TV calls a regulatory imbalance. The company has urged the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to bring DD Free Dish under the same rules as private direct-to-home operators, including mandatory encryption and compliance with the Digital Addressable System under existing laws such as the Indian Telegraph Act and the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act.
Private DTH platforms are required to encrypt their signals, meaning viewers need authorised set-top boxes and paid subscriptions. In contrast, DD Free Dish remains unencrypted, allowing access through basic equipment without monthly fees, a difference Dish TV argues creates a structural advantage.
In its petition, Dish TV has described the current framework as arbitrary and discriminatory, alleging it undermines constitutional guarantees of equality and the right to trade. The company pointed out that while private operators shoulder the cost of encryption infrastructure, licensing fees and regulatory levies, DD Free Dish operates without similar obligations despite scaling up significantly.
Originally launched to distribute Doordarshan channels, DD Free Dish has steadily morphed into a quasi-commercial platform. It now carries around 120 private channels and generates substantial revenue through slot auctions, with earnings rising sharply over the years, according to the petition.
The case also throws a spotlight on shifting dynamics within India’s television market. Pay DTH operators have been grappling with a shrinking subscriber base, which has fallen from nearly 70 million in 2021 to about 51 million in 2025. At the same time, DD Free Dish has expanded its reach to roughly 53 million households, buoyed by viewers in price-sensitive regions opting for free access over paid subscriptions.
The migration has been further fuelled by broadcasters placing popular channels on the free platform, making it an increasingly attractive alternative for households looking to cut costs.
The Kerala High Court has admitted the petition and scheduled the next hearing for June 2, 2026. It also noted that a recent notice by Prasar Bharati inviting regional channels to uplink on DD Free Dish without carriage fees until March 31, 2026 will remain subject to the final outcome of the case.
Regulators have already acknowledged the gap. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, in its July 2024 recommendations, proposed a shift towards an addressable system for DD Free Dish, though these suggestions are not binding. The government is yet to take a final call, mindful of the platform’s reach among millions of households.
The petition follows repeated representations from private players and bodies such as the All India Digital Cable Federation, all flagging the same concern: a fast-growing free platform competing in a paid market without the same rulebook.
As the courtroom battle unfolds, the outcome could redraw the contours of India’s pay-TV ecosystem, deciding whether the free ride continues or the rules of the game finally converge.
