DTH
DD FreeDish e-auction: MPEG4 slots saw highest bid of Rs 57.1 lakh
MUMBAI: The first annual e-auction for MPEG4 slots on Doordarshan’s FTA DTH platform FreeDish witnessed an intense competition that was held from 27 to 29 March. According to reports, the highest bid during the e-auction was Rs 57.1 lakh, a premium of almost 1150 per cent over the reserve price of Rs 5 lakh and the average bid was at Rs 44.17 lakh per slot.
A total of 15 MPEG4 slots were successfully sold to channels across genres that will be available on the platform with effect from 15 April 2019.
The public broadcaster stated that the response to the 39th e-auction was overwhelming, as almost four times applications were received against the vacant MPEG-4 slots. Also, there was no genre based restrictions or reservations for participating in the e-auction.
Among the 15 channels, five of them are Hindi devotional channels including Aastha Bhajan, Arihant, Satsang, Subh TV and Vedic TV. Apart from that, only three are non-Hindi channels while the rest are Hindi channels. Three MPEG-4 slots have been reserved for public broadcasting purposes.
Home Shop18 and NT1 have won slots in the teleshopping genre. Enter 10 Bangla, Oscar Bhojpuri, Sky Star Bangla, Sky Star Telugu and WoW Cinema One have bought the slots in the movie genre. In the news genre, ABP Ganga, Chardikala Time TV and Aryan TV National have won the slots.
Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar had tweeted, “Happy to share that the first annual e-auction for MPEG-4 slots (39th e-auction) on DD Free Dish saw robust bidding with 15 successful slots sold to channels across genres and languages.”
“The e-Auction saw slots being taken at an average price that was nearly 8 to 9 times the invitational price underscoring the high competition. With this overall projected annual revenue from DD Free Dish will cross 400 cr between MPEG2 and MPEG-4 slots,” he said.
DTH
Dish TV launches ‘Kuch chhota sa’ campaign for TV flexibilit
New campaign highlights 190+ channels, Always-On service, Rs 99 Freedom Pack.
MUMBAI- Sometimes, the smallest remote click can fix the biggest daily friction and Dish TV is betting on exactly that insight. The company has rolled out a new campaign built around the thought ‘Kuch chhota sa karne par, life hogi behtar’, turning everyday viewing annoyances into a case for simpler, more reliable television access.
The campaign taps into a familiar household reality: millions of viewers continue to rely on free-to-air channels but increasingly want the flexibility of premium content, often ending up with a patchy and inconsistent viewing experience. Dish TV positions itself as the middle path—a structured yet flexible alternative that promises continuity without complexity. At its core is the pitch of an “Always-On” service, designed to keep content accessible even when recharge timelines slip, effectively reducing one of the most common friction points in DTH consumption.
To strengthen this proposition, the platform is offering access to over 190 channels, alongside a flexible pricing hook through its Freedom Pack, starting at Rs 99. The pack is positioned as a seasonal companion particularly relevant during high-engagement periods such as cricket tournaments, school holidays and festive windows, when content consumption spikes but users may not want long-term commitments.
Conceptualised by Enormous, the campaign unfolds through two master films and three short edits rooted in slice-of-life storytelling. From a husband quietly navigating around his sleeping wife to siblings striking a compromise over a coveted window seat, the narratives lean into humour and relatability rather than heavy messaging. The underlying idea remains consistent: small adjustments can meaningfully improve everyday experiences.
The rollout spans a full 360-degree media mix, including television, digital platforms, on-ground activations, point-of-sale visibility, Google Display Network placements and influencer-led content, signalling a push for both scale and contextual engagement.
As viewing habits continue to evolve in a hybrid ecosystem of free and paid content, Dish TV’s latest play reflects a broader industry shift where reliability and flexibility are increasingly positioned as differentiators, not just add-ons. In a market crowded with choice, the brand’s wager is simple: sometimes, it’s the smallest tweak that keeps audiences tuned in.
