DTH
Dish Media Network upgrades DTH with Spacecom deal
MUMBAI: Spacecom, an operator of the AMOS satellite fleet, recently announced that Nepal’s Dish Media Network has furthered its long-term association with AMOS-4. Located at the 65°E prime orbital position, AMOS-4 provides Dishhome with substantial satellite capacity enabling the DTH provider to expand its SD and HD channel services.
Founded in 2009, Dish Media Network Pvt. Ltd. is the only DTH operator with distribution covering all of Nepal. One of Nepal’s fastest-growing operators in the broadcast and transmission services industry for digital television channels, Dishhome’s capacity on AMOS-4 is contracted for the satellite’s lifetime.
Dish Media Network CEO Sudeep Acharya commented, “This agreement will keep our growth trajectory moving forward and upwards. Our deep association with Spacecom’s AMOS-4 enables us to build out and expand our brand, further our strategic goals and strengthen our operations throughout Nepal.”
According to David Pollack, president & CEO of Spacecom, “This agreement with Dish Media Network adds strength to our position in Asia. AMOS-4’s power and focus on Asia makes it a prime choice for providing a range of satellite services in the region, as well as in East Africa.”
AMOS-4 has eight Ku-band transponders of 108 MHz and four high-power Ka-band transponders of 216MHz, each with steerable beams. The Ku and Ka transponders create a powerful platform, enabling a wide range of connectivity options to reach throughout the region’s vast geography. Offering extensive broadcast and broadband reach for satellite services including DTH, video distribution, VSAT communications and broadband Internet, the satellite’s geographic position meets broadcast and broadband needs within the Asian, African and Middle Eastern markets.
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.
