DTH
DD Direct Plus to expand channel offering to 50
NEW DELHI: Country’s first free DTH service – DD Direct Plus- operated by pubcaster Doordarshan has claimed that 150,000 boxes have been sold till now, even as it gets ready to expand the channel offerings to 50.
In queue, according to DD sources, there are several foreign and domestic channels, including Hindi general entertainment channel Sahara One.
Though religious channels like Aastha, Jagran, Maharshi Veda Vision and God TV too have shown interest to be on the DD Direct Plus platform, no decision have been taken yet by the pubcaster whether to accommodate such channels or not.
The foreign channels that evinced interest include Channel News Asia, German pubcaster DW, French TV5 and Canada’s SS TV.
The sources said that a committee would be set up soon to shortlist the additional 17 channels that would be finally allowed on board the DTH service for which subscribers don’t have to pay any monthly feel.
The Indian channels who have shown an eagerness to be part of DD Direct Plus include some Enandu family of channels, Sahara Samay Rashtriya, Splash TV, Win TV, Zee News, Delhi-specific Total TV, Jaya TV, interactive music channel Speed Music, CMM Music, ETC Music, SS Music and Sur Sangeet.
“DD can accommodate another 17 channels in the next phase of upgradation and that’s why the competition is hot amongst those wanting to be pat of DD Direct Plus,” a source in DD’s DTH division said.
15 LAKH BOXES SOLD, AND STILL GOING STRONG
Though critics were skeptical about DD Direct Plus, considering the pubcaster is not known to be too market savvy, the service has proved some points. Foremost that despite proliferation of cable TV, there are large parts of the country where people still don’t have access to good quality transmission and variety. Second, if local options are given at cheaper prices, then people would go for it.
Take, Tamil Nadu’s example. The state does boast of a sizable cable TV population, but still tops the list with maximum ( 2.5 lakh) sale of DD Direct Plus boxes. Maharashtra follows TN with sale figures of 1.5 lakh boxes, while in Rajasthan slightly over 100,000 boxes have been sold.
In the north-eastern state of Assam about 50,000 boxes have got sold, which, DD feels, is ‘encouraging.’
However, the state of Karnataka, DD sources admitted, is a bit of concern with the boxes sale sluggish.
DD also is in the process of wrapping up a 117-city media outdoor campaign, which harped on the virtues of DD Direct Plus.
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.
