DTH
Eutelsat’s Vivanco advocates push for DTH
MUMBAI: “The window of opportunity is getting smaller as new technologies offer alternatives.” That was the warning sounded by Eutelsat’s regional director for Middle East and Asia Jan Grondrup Vivanco regarding the legislative hurdles in the way of DTH broadcast in India.
When DTH comes in channel reach will increase in rural areas which would result in increase in advertising revenue for broadcasters. The cable operator would be able to offer the consumer freedom of choice instead of being tied to a Star or Zee, Vivanco said.
Speaking yesterday at the opening day of the Broadcasting India 2002 symposium, at south Mumbai’s Chavan Centre, Vivanco pointed out that Ku Band was a mature technology in Europe. It makes the industry transparent, he said. And citing the European example, Vivanco said that initial doubts that included interference in the transmission have proved unfounded.
As far as the implementation of Conditional Access System in India was concerned Vivanco was of the view that the open architecture on the set top box was good.
Vivanco spoke of the possibility of DTH coming in through the backdoor if impediments to its rollout continued. Again citing the European experience, he said Open Sky, a broadband delivery solution allowed for one Megabyte downloads by satellite onto the dish antenna. Consumer DVB IP cards and DVB USB Boxes are all that were needed.
Open Sky has a multicast facility which he referred to as ‘push package delivery’. Video files can be updated for select end users. It also facilitates video streaming smoothly. CNN is one of 20 channels streamed by the satellite operator. A content distribution network can be created. The Open Sky platform has a Digital Rights Management System as well as a billing system. This makes the broadcasters’ task that much simpler. He said that the opportunity in India existed as consumers have shown interest, the local content is excellent and technology is available. But it is important for the government and media parties get their act together so that activity could be initiated through the front door.
Eutelsat to launch W5 Eastern Bird satellite next month Vivanco also said that Eutelsat was planning to launch the W5 Eastern Bird satellite next month on Ku band. It will offer a widebeam footprint for Asia, the Middle East and Europe, a Steerable Spotbeam North for Far East Coverage and Steerable Spotbeam South for South East Asia, he said. This will greatly facilitate communication between Europe and Asia. The satellite will be operational by January, 2003.
The company has applied for landing rights permission from the government, the Financial Express reported.
“We are in the process of getting landing rights for W5. We envisage a large market in India and are targeting channels in the news, regional languages and entertainment genres,” Vivanco, was quoted as saying in the report.
DTH
DD Free Dish locks in 8 Mpeg-2 slots; Star, Zee, Sony, Colors lead day 1
With higher prices and tighter rules, India’s top broadcasters secure coveted free-to-air positions.
NEW DELHI: The battle for India’s television screens has officially begun. On the opening day of Prasar Bharati’s 8th annual e-auction, heavyweights like Star, Zee, Sony, and Colors successfully secured eight coveted Mpeg-2 slots on DD Free Dish.
According to the media reports, this year’s auction is a significant departure from the past. The process assumes added significance this year as it is the first after Prasar Bharati amended its E-auction Methodology, tightening eligibility conditions and revising the reserve price structure for Mpeg-2 slots.
Despite the stricter rules and higher costs, the industry’s major networks showed no hesitation. Of the eight slots sold on Monday, six belonged to the premium Bucket A plus (Hindi general entertainment) and two to Bucket A (Hindi movies).
Industry experts suggest that this early rush is all about reach. DD Free Dish currently beams into roughly 45 million households, mostly in rural and semi-urban areas. For broadcasters, missing out on this platform means losing access to a massive chunk of India’s viewing public.
The new rules, rolled out in January 2026, have raised the stakes significantly. For Bucket A plus (Hindi general entertainment channels), the reserve price now starts at Rs 15 crore, while Bucket A (Hindi movies) begins at Rs 12 crore, marking a notable increase from previous years.
To prevent tactical low-ball bidding, the prices will only go up in subsequent rounds. For instance, the second round for Bucket A plus jumps to Rs 16 crore. By front-loading the auction, Prasar Bharati ensures that the most popular channels pay a premium for the best positions on the dial.
One of the most talked-about changes in this 94th e-auction is the operational clause. To stop speculative bidding, channels must now prove they are already active on at least one private DTH platform or a registered cable operator. In short: if your channel isn’t already on air somewhere, you aren’t invited to the party.
While it sounds like a corporate chess match, the outcome dictates what millions of people will watch for the next year (from April 2026 to March 2027). With the big networks securing their spots early, viewers can expect the usual mix of high-drama soaps and blockbuster films to remain the staples of free-to-air TV.
As the auction continues, the industry is watching to see if smaller players can stomach the rising costs or if the free dish universe will become an exclusive club for the media giants.
