DTH
Dish TV India to launch hybrid set-top box with Amazon Prime Video
MUMBAI: Dish TV India Limited, the world’s largest single-country Direct-To-Home company, today announced that it has collaborated with Amazon Prime Video to offer Prime Video app to its Dish TV and d2h subscribers on its soon-to-be-launched hybrid set-top box. Through this deal, Dish TV and d2h subscribers will be able to seamlessly access Amazon Prime Video app on their TV and enjoy Amazon’s latest and exclusive blockbuster Hollywood, Bollywood and Indian regional movies, top TV shows, stand-up comedies, kids programs, including critically-acclaimed Indian and global Amazon Originals, with a single device.
With launch of Hybrid set-top box, DishTV India intends to bring together linear programming and online streaming content together in a seamless fashion. Transforming the TV viewing experience, the association is aimed at providing hassle-free experience to its customers with easy access to vast content options and high quality entertainment from Prime Video.
Speaking about the association, Mr. Anil Dua, Executive Director & Group CEO, Dish TV India Limited said, “We, at Dish TV, always work on offering innovative entertainment solutions and superlative experience to customers and the association with Amazon Prime Video is a step in the same direction. We are delighted to have Amazon Prime Video on board with us to offer its premium content on both our Dish TV and d2h platforms with our hybrid set-top boxes that are going to be launched soon.”
Gaurav Gandhi, Director and Country GM, Amazon Prime Video India, said, “At Amazon Prime Video, we constantly strive to offer customers, the best-in-class entertainment across genres and languages, that can be consumed anytime, anywhere and on a screen of their choice. Towards this effort, we are delighted to announce our association with Dish TV for their upcoming hybrid set-top boxes. With this launch, we will further extend the reach and access of Amazon Prime Video in India, giving more customers the experience of watching our wide selection of critically acclaimed and popular Amazon Originals, blockbuster movies across languages and Indian as well as international shows, on their Television sets.
In past, Dish TV India Limited had also introduced SMRT Stick and Magic Stick, allowing users to stream content from OTT services through Dish TV as well as d2h set-top boxes respectively. Additionally, focusing on premium short format content, the company forayed into OTT space earlier this year by launching its own OTT platform, ‘Watcho’. With this DishTV takes another step towards providing entertainment across linear and online sources on any screen for customers across all segments. There are more connected devices and innovations lined up for launch very soon
Amazon Prime Video has the largest selection of latest & exclusive movies including Gully Boy, Bharat, Kalank, Manikarnika, Thugs of Hindostan, Padmavat, Raazi,,Indian language titles including Maharshi, Evaru, NGK, D/O Parvathamma, Umbili, Chandigarh Amristar Chandigarh, NGK, Chandigarh Amristar Chandigarh and TV shows, stand-up comedy, biggest Indian and Hollywood films, US TV series, most popular Indian & international kids’ shows, and critically acclaimed Amazon Originals including The Family Man, Made In Heaven, Mirzapur, Comicstaan, Inside Edge, global Originals like The Boys, Good Omens, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, all available, ad-free, with a world-class customer experience. The service includes titles available in Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Malayalam, Gujarati, Telugu, Kannada, Punjabi and Bengali.
To watch the newest releases in Hollywood & Bollywood, the latest US TV shows, kids’ favorite toons, and Amazon Originals, please visit www.PrimeVideo.com or download the Amazon Prime Video app today and sign-up for a Prime membership only at ₹999 annually or ₹129 monthly.
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.
