DTH
KPMG report suggests increasing foreign equity limit in DTH
MUMBAI: At a function last evening CII-KPMG released a report titled Focus 2010-Dreams to Reality. The report focuses on film, television, radio and music.
As far as television is concerned the projection is for the industry to grow to Rs. 370 billion in 2010. This will be driven by new platforms for content delivery like DTH.
In this context the report has stated that there may be a case for increasing the amount of foreign equity allowed in DTH. As of now 20 per cent FDI is allowed in the overall 49 per cent limit in foreign equity.. The cable industry is unorganised and suffers from under reporting. Therefore a DTH platform will help plug the revenue leakage to the government.
The government should look at encouraging DTH by providing an income tax holiday and indirect tax benefits such as excise duty and sales tax exemptions on set top boxes.
The report notes that the current scenario for the liberalisation of FM Radio is not encouraging. No direct investment by foreign entities is allowed in this segment. Therefore the foreign investment policy for FM Radio is at variance with what is allowed in other media segments.
The report notes that FM Radio is suffering on account of the huge license fees. While the operational costs are Rs. 550-600 million the revenue earned is half that. The government needs to rationalise the license fees. The government should lift the restriction of the same player owning multiple stations in the same city.
India has around 180 million radio sets. Therefore the radio sector should not be satisfied with a growth rate in the low 20s. FM penetration is highest in the SEC A segment and lowest in the SEC D segment. 70 per cent of listeners in Mumbai and Delhi listen to FM Radio everyday.
The report expects FM Radio stations to focus on local and smaller advertisers. It will also make niche and differentiated programming a viable option. Big companies like Mid-day and The Times Group that run a radio station will start selling radio as a part of the multi media strategy. The report notes that a cost of Rs. 500- Rs. 900 per 10 seconds on the radio will allow local players to promote their products. At the moment the advertiser base is highly skewed with 11 per cent of advertisers contributing 60 per cent of radios revenues. Ideally the advertising should be broad based with a large bnumber of local advertisers.
Content differentiation is the need of the hour: One problem that FM Radio stations face is constant swapping of stations by listeners. That is because there is little content differentiation. Even programme loyalty does not exist. People tune in depending on the song. The me-too aproach towards content has a direct implication on the marketing of FM Radio channels the report notes. There is the danger of any message being caried getting lost in the clutter.
So there is a need to evolve programming towards differentiated content. For radio to grow channels that address specific listener groups need to emerge.
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.
