DTH
IndiaCast issues disconnection notice to Independent TV
MUMBAI: Viacom18 and TV18’s distribution arm IndiaCast has issued a disconnection notice to direct-to-home operator (DTH) Independent TV (Reliance Big TV) over non-payment of subscription fees.
IndiaCast, which also distributes Eenadu Television channels in India barring the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, intends to yank off all its channels from the operator within three weeks of the notice, which has been published in a Hindi daily.
“This is to inform all the subscribers of Reliance Big TV/Independent TV that some or all channels of Viacom18 and ETV Network will be shut down after 3 weeks starting from the issue date of public notice because of unpaid dues,” the notice says.
In case the two parties fail to resolve the dispute, Independent TV consumers could miss out on channels like ETV, ETV Plus, ETV, Life, ETV Cinema, ETV Abhiruchi, ETV Telangana and ETV Andhra Pradesh, CNBC TV18, CNBC Awaaz, CNN News18, News18 India, News18 Tamil Nadu, News18 Lokmat, History channel, FYI TV18, News18 Kerala, MTV, Colors, Rishtey, Nick, Vh1, Sonic, Comedy Central, Colors Infinity, MTV Beats, Rishtey Cineplex, Colors Super, Colors HD, MTV Beats HD, Colors Gujarati, Colors Marathi, Colors Bangla, Colors Kannada, Colors Odia, News18 Uttar Pradesh Uttaranchal, News18 MP Chhattisgarh, News18 Rajasthan, News18 Urdu, News18 Bihar Jharkhand, News18 Kannada and Colors Tamil.
In accordance with the TRAI’s tariff order, IndiaCast recently bundled the networks’ 57 channels (42 SD and 15 HD) in three packs – budget, value and family. The networks have also introduced 10 channel bundles, in SD and HD versions, mapped to its markets (Hindi, North East, Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat, Bengal, Maharashtra, Orissa, Telugu and Tamil) to allow the consumer to choose from.
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.
