DTH
Government to address DTH issues with legislation
NEW DELHI: Even though the government said today that it is planning a legislation to address concerns relating to DTH services in the country, it avoided a direct answer to a question on the information and broadcasting ministry’s competence to judge financial aspects of such a venture.
Replying to supplementary questions during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) today, I&B minister Jaipal Reddy said the government has already strengthened the mechanism for monitoring DTH programmes and is considering maintaining a record of the programmes rather than asking TV channels to furnish it.
In certain quarters concerns had been raised over DTH services in the country, especially those relating to security and availability of pornographic content through such a service.
According to the minister, existing DTH licence conditions for setting up and operating DTH service in India contain adequate safeguards with regard to the carriage of undesirable content.
The terms and conditions of the licence agreement, inter alia, make it obligatory on the part of the DTH licencee to adhere to the programme and advertisement codes as laid down by the I&B ministry, Reddy informed fellow parliamentarians.
He said the use of DTH service for anti-national activities would be construed as an offence punishable under the Indian Penal Code and applicable law and will attract immediate termination of licence.
In reply to another question, Reddy said the ministry will also “dust up” the file on Broadcasting Authority bill that was prepared some seven years ago, reports PTI.
However, to a specific question on Space TV, which alluded to a prolonged delay in granting letter of intent for a DTH licence, Reddy in a written reply avoided making any direct reference to the competence of his ministry to judge the financial aspects of a DTH venture, something that is done more competently by the finance ministry.
To another question, Reddy said four parties had applied for DTH licence. While ASC Enterprises had been given the licence, the application of Space TV, a joint venture between the Tatas and a Star Group affiliate, is at an advanced stage of consideration.
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.
