DTH
Applications for DD Free Dish Bucket R1 MPEG-2 slots invited by Prasar Bharati
MUMBAI: Prasar Bharati has invited applications to fill up reserved Bucket R1 MPEG-2 slots of DD Free Dish DTH Platform on pro-rata basis for the period from 15 April to 31 May in accordance with amendment to Policy Guidelines of slots of DD Free Dish, notified on March 30 2019.
Only devotional/spiritual satellite channels, including channels promoting yoga, ayurveda, health and wellness based on traditional methods, licensed by the Ministry of I&B and categorized as Bucket R1 as per the amendment to policy guidelines for allotment of slots on DD Free Dish Direct to home satellite platform, notified by Prasar Bharati on 30.3.2019, are eligible to apply for allocation of these slots on pro-rata basis.
The interim reserve/base price of Bucket R1 for allotment of slots on DD Free Dish on pro-rata basis is Rs 3.00 crore per year. Hence, the pro-rata carriage fee for the period from 15.04.2019 to 31.05.2019 will be Rs. 45,58,356/- (Rupees forty five lakhs fifty eight thousand three hundred fifty six only) inclusive of GST @18%.
Broadcasters desirous of placing their Channels on DD Free Dish shall be required to declare genre and language of their channel while applying for pro-rata allocation.
E-auction, if required, will be held on 12.04.2019.
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.
