DTH
Dish TV’s OTT Platform Watcho launches two new original series
MUMBAI: In line with its commitment to provide unique and engaging content to the viewers, Dish TV India Limited announced the launch of two new content series on its OTT platform ‘Watcho’. A paranormal investigation series ‘Dark Destination’ premiered on 13th September, 2019 and a wild comedy tale ‘The Senti Mentals’ is slated to premier on 27 September, 2019.
The new web series Dark Destination is a fast paced mini-series covering two episodes of gripping paranormal investigation in the most haunted places of country such as Lambi Dehar Mines in Mussoorie and Kuldhara in Jaisalmer, known for their mystery and horrifying tales. The series is conceptualized and directed by Jay Alani, a well know paranormal investigator and producer of ‘The Paranormal Company’.
The new original comedy series The Senti Mentals available from 27 September, is a hilarious combination of cross connecting events that take place over time full of trial and errors. The Senti Mentals is written, directed and edited by the multi-talented Vikram Munjal, staring famous actors such as Saif Ansari, Varun Sobti, Mohit, Rashika Pradhan, Samar Manhotra, Tijo Thomas, Ratnesh Singh and Supriti Batra.
“We are excited to launch the two new series this month on Watcho, with an aim to offer unique new age content to our customers. Our new show The Dark Destination is a series that is inspired by true incidents and The Senti Mentals on the other hand is a fiction comedy series. The breadth of stories with its local settings and complex characters is incredible and we can’t wait for our audience to enjoy them. At Watcho, our intent is to capture the fastest-growing segment on the Indian internet and aiming to launch few more exciting original web series in the coming months,” Dish TV India OTT strategy head Akash Tyagi said.
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.
