I&B Ministry
I&B notifies Rs 72 as basic tier cost
NEW DELHI: It’s official.
In a post CAS regime, the price of the basic tier of free to air channels will cost Rs 72. The ministry of information and broadcasting cleared the file today for the government to issue a notification on the same.
The final seal of approval on the matter ends days of uncertainty and lobbying by broadcasters and cable operators. The task force on the conditional access system (CAS) had recommnded Rs 71.33 as the basic tier of service price for the minimum of 30 channels. Many major cable operators have been upset, claiming the price of Rs 72 for the basic tier is too low and had contemplated legal action, while others are willing to give it a try as CAS is in the ‘national interest’.
Watch this space for further developments on the issue.
I&B Ministry
Prasar Bharati sets EPG standards for DD Free Dish platform
New specs define 7-day guide, LCN mapping, and device compatibility.
MUMBAI: Your TV guide just got a backstage pass structured, scheduled, and far more in sync. Prasar Bharati has released detailed technical specifications for Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) services on DD Free Dish, laying down a standardised framework for how channels and programme information are organised and delivered. At the core of the update is a defined EPG data structure, covering genre-based categorisation, scheduling formats, and Logical Channel Numbering (LCN). The aim is simple: make navigation less guesswork and more guided experience across the platform’s over 40 million households.
The specifications also introduce a seven-day programme guide window for each channel, alongside clear rules for channel grouping and LCN mapping effectively deciding not just what you watch, but how easily you find it.
On the technical front, the document outlines requirements for Program Specific Information (PSI) and Service Information (SI), including descriptor usage across tables such as PAT, BAT and NIT. It further details service lists and network linkage parameters, giving OEMs and developers a clearer blueprint for integration.
Importantly, the framework is designed to work seamlessly with television sets equipped with in-built satellite tuners, enabling users to access DD Free Dish directly without additional hardware, an incremental but meaningful step towards simplifying access.
The platform will continue to operate on GSAT-15 transponders, using MPEG-4 compression and DVB-S2 transmission standards, ensuring continuity even as the interface evolves.
While largely technical, the move signals a broader push towards standardisation and user-friendly discovery in India’s free-to-air ecosystem because sometimes, the real upgrade isn’t what’s on screen, but how easily you get there.
