DTH
Geetanjali Kirloskar joins Videocon d2h board as independent director
MUMBAI: DTH company Videocon d2h’s shareholders have approved the appointment of Geetanjali Kirloskar as an independent director, subject to the approval of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B).
Kirloskar is an entrepreneur and the chairperson of Sakra World Hospital. She is also a director in Kirloskar Systems Limited and chairs several committees of trade associations such as Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
Kirloskar has also been a successful and reputed advertising professional. She ran her own advertising agency – Pratibha Advertising until 1998, when she entered into a joint venture with InterPublic Group Worldwide (IPG Worldwide). She set up the first non-profit venture for cultural integration between two countries, India and Japan, called the India-Japan Initiative (IJI). Kirloskar is also an Honorary Consul for Finland at Bangalore.
“We are delighted to have Mrs. Geetanjali Kirloskar on our board. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the fields of advertising, branding and media. She is a multifaceted and multi-dimensional personality, her dynamism and creative pursuits across various industries are well known. I believe that the vast experience that she brings to the table will be of great value in terms of creative aspects for our brand,” said Videocon d2h executive chairman Saurabh Dhoot.
Kirloskar added, “I am an avid user of Videocon d2h services and have tremendous respect for the company’s ability to innovate and grow. I am delighted to join the Videocon d2h board and with my experience in advertising and branding, I look forward to contributing to its continued success.”
A multi-faceted personality, she has also anchored the first reality show of its kind in India – Life’s Like That for Times Now.
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.
