DTH
Dish TV partners with Samsung and Nagravision
Mumbai: In a first-of-its-kind offering in the Indian DTH industry, Dish TV has launched a hassle-free TV viewing experience for Samsung TV customers via Nagravision and Samsung’s TVKey Cloud Technology. DishTV’s partnership with Samsung India, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, and Nagravision, the media and entertainment technology division of the Kudelski Group, to launch integrated DishTV smart+ services, makes it the first and the only DTH operator in India so far to deliver secure, premium content directly to Samsung Connected TVs without the need for a traditional set-top box and accessed via TV remote.
The service developed in collaboration with Samsung India and Nagravision, seamlessly integrates Dish TV’s Smart+ service into select Samsung TV models. Samsung television customers in India can activate the built-in Dish TV service in their television sets and enjoy their favourite linear TV channels and OTT content without the need for installing a Set-Top box separately.
Our new solution based on Nagravision and Samsung’s TVKey Cloud allows users to select Dish TV Smart+ as their preferred DTH service directly from the Samsung TV interface, simplifying the setup process and eliminating the need for an external set-top box. This built-in feature available on Samsung’s 2024 TV models- UHD 8 Series and above TVs integrates linear TV and streamed content into one seamless package. With unique on-chip security within Samsung TV’s, TVKey Cloud ensures top-tier content protection, delivering a streamlined, secure, and hassle-free user experience.
To celebrate the launch, Dish TV Smart+ is offering a complimentary one-month subscription that provides access to a wide range of TV channels and 16 OTT apps through its in-house OTT platform, Watcho, at no extra cost. This exclusive offer enriches the viewing experience by seamlessly merging traditional DTH services with digital content into a single package.
Dish TV India CEO & executive director Manoj Dobhal said, “At Dish TV, we believe in not just adapting to changing needs and innovations but in redefining them. The launch of TVKey Cloud represents a transformative leap for the DTH industry, delivering unmatched convenience and security directly to our customers’ Samsung Connected TVs. Our collaboration with Samsung India and Nagravision sets a new benchmark, prioritising customer needs, which are at the heart of our mission. This commitment to integrated, clutter-free entertainment reduces new customer acquisition costs, empowers consumers, and strengthens our position as a pioneering leader in this era of technology.”
DishTV India corporate head- Marketing, Dish TV and Watcho, Sukhpreet Singh added, “We are thrilled to partner with Samsung India and Nagravision on this revolutionary initiative. By integrating traditional channels and OTT services into a single platform, we offer customers unparalleled flexibility and a wide range of content options. This partnership is a significant step in our ongoing efforts to enhance the customer experience by seamlessly merging our services with leading consumer devices. It brings advanced convenience directly to today’s living rooms, combining satellite TV with extensive OTT content.”
“Our collaboration with Dish TV enables them to transform how they deliver secure, high-quality content directly to subscribers’ TVs,” said Nagravision executive VP & CMO Nancy Goldberg. “This launch demonstrates our commitment to both the Indian market and our continued investment in innovation to all segments of the media and entertainment industry. By aligning with Dish TV’s strategic goals, our solution offers consumers unparalleled access to premium, immersive content without needing additional hardware.”
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.
