DTH
Dish TV ties up with Panasonic India for HDTV viewing experience
MUMBAI: Spicing up the sporting season of 2016 which includes the ongoing and upcoming festival of cricket, Dish TV joined hands with Panasonic India to make HDTV viewing experience larger than life for its new subscribers.
The association with Panasonic will allow customers to avail the new Dish HD+ connection at a special price of just Rs. 999 with one month free subscription of New Super Family/ Jumbo Family Pack + Full on HD Pack.
This special offer is available on all Panasonic TV sets above 19 inches and outlets across the country. This combo offer will provide an HD experience for Dish TV subscribers with 45 HD channels. Additionally, recognizing the customer’s needs and expectations, Dish TV has recently taken a step ahead in the world of HD entertainment by broadening the choice for its HD customers with a maximum number of 50 HD channels. Further, in an another consumer friendly initiative in a nation where cricket is like religion, Dish TV offers free viewing of ongoing cricketing events for its new subscribers, even if they have not subscribed for sports channels.
Speaking on the occasion, Dish TV CEO Arun Kapoor said, “As Asia’s largest DTH operator, it has been our constant endeavour to make television viewing a wholesome experience for the entire family and stay focused on value proposition offering for both new and existing customers. Dish TV has always been at the forefront for being pioneers and introducing a host of customer- centric products and services. This esteemed partnership with Panasonic India is another positive step in building customer loyalty. With significant increase in TV viewership over the last couple of years, we are consistent in our efforts to make TV viewing a delightful experience for our customers.”
Panasonic India product head, Consumer Electronics Ashish Sasidharan, – aid, “We are excited about our association with one of Asia’s largest DTH operators. This collaboration is meant to enthrall our consumers with lucrative offers to experience high end technology and quality pictures on their Panasonic LEDs. This offer will enable our customers to watch multiple entertainment channels through a Dish TV connection. The offer can simply be availed by giving a missed call and getting the High Definition connection at the doorstep. Looking at the bigger picture, this partnership highlights Panasonic’s cause to support and promote the digital India initiative across all cities of India.”
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.
