DTH
Dish TV-Videocon d2h lists GDRs on London stock exchange
MUMBAI: When Dish TV-Videocon d2h Ltd announced their merger, a presentation to investors had stated that the merged entity would issue global depository receipts (GDRs) on the Luxembourg exchange. However, probably what it meant was the London stock exchange. Which is what happened last week.
The world’s second largest pay TV company in terms of subscribers announced on 13 April that 277,095,615 GDRs (each representing a fully paid equity share) have been listed and permitted to trade on the professional securities Market of the London Stock Exchange. These have an approximate value of $315 million while DishTV Videocon d2h has a market cap of $2.2 billion, based on the ordinary shares listed in India.
This followed the ingestion of Videocon d2h into Dish TV India on 22 March 2018. The former had American depository shares listed on Nasdaq; these stand delisted and have been exchanged for Dish TV’s GDRs.
Said Dish TV India chairman & managing director Jawahar Goel: “The amalgamation of Videocon d2h and Dish TV has put the new entity on the road to exceptional future growth and profitability. Having London Stock Exchange as a partner in that journey will make it much more rewarding. We now look forward to leading the DTH industry in India to the next level.”
Dish TV India group chief executive officer Anil Dua added: “We are extremely pleased to start trading on London Stock Exchange today and increase our visibility to international investors, following the successful completion of the merger between Videocon d2h and Dish TV. The merger and the eventual listing has been long awaited news for many. I wish to put on record here, our commitment to make the new entity reach unprecedented levels of growth and success in the coming years.”
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.
