DTH
Impending tariff order implementation pushes Dish TV to sign short-term contracts
MUMBAI: Keeping in mind the recent Madras High Court judgement in regard to tariff order and interconnect regulation, India’s largest direct to home (DTH) brand Dish TV India is now focussin on short-term deals. As the recent judgement brought tariff-order closer to the reality, the DTH brand’s move has factored in the impending tariff order implementation.
The recent judgement upheld the order of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee, giving a green signal to TRAI’s powers to frame tariff for the broadcasting sector. It has helped TRAI move forward to create a transparent and non-regulatory framework.
According to media reports, Dish TV chairman and managing director Jawahar Goel spoke about the short-term contracts while talking to analysts. “We will get the content at the same cost as a cable operator in Chennai like Arasu Cable. The same price will be applicable to us,” Goel said on an optimistic note hoping the tariff order would remove discrimination.
He also mentioned that the recent merger of Dish TV and Videocon d2h has managed to reduce content costs in some cases. “I can say the broadcasters have recognised the combined entity. Earlier we used to give 7%, 8%, 5% increase. This is no longer the case rather. In some of the cases, we have reduced the content costs while some agreements are still pending,” he said.
Another face of the company, Dish TV India Group CEO Anil Dua emphasised on the importance of the unity in industry to implement the tariff order. He termed the Mera Apna Pack as a predecessor to the implementation of the Tariff Order.
“We are the only one I guess in any of the DPO including cable or the DTH industry who are geared up to sell the pay channel based on the Tariff Order and the customer demand,” Dua said.
Also Read:
Third Madras high court judge gives TRAI tariff order thumbs up
Dish TV offers SD channels at Rs 8.5 per month
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.
