DTH
Loral feels DTH policy still not `investor friendly’
NEW DELHI: Loral Skynet, subsidiary of the US-based Loral Space & Communications, is now targeting India with its IP-led services and feels that the country’s DTH regulations are still not investor-friendly.
“The (DTH) regulations are still not friendly enough to attract big time investment, though the business opportunities are big here,” Loral Skynet senior executive vice-president (business operations) Richard H. Currier told indiantelevision.com.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing 13th Convergence India 2005, Currier felt that too many licence restrictions stopped India from realising its full potential in the convergence sector of telecom, IT and broadcast.
“Ideally, there should be one licence, which should allow the service provider to provide an array of services across several segments,” Currier said, while pointing out that he’s understanding of the Indian laws are “limited.”
When pointed out that the sector regulator, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, is working towards a unified licencing regime, envisaging what Currier was referring to, he said that it would be better for the country if the policy decisions were taken quickly.
Loral Skynet has built a global network that offers a broad array of solutions to meet communications needs, combining the power of geo-synchronous satellites positioned in space with high-speed terrestrial fiber on earth. By using broadcast technology, Skynet seamlessly transports high-quality data, voice and video content for television programming, telephony, business communications, high-quality audio, broadband, and
Internet connectivity.
According to Currier, if one licence allowed a platform/service provider to extend a host of services, including DTH, then various combinations could be offered to consumers, which would make for viable business propositions too.
While accepting that Loral had abandoned its active role in the DTH arena in India, which was evident in the mid to late 1990s, Currier said that Skynet’s Bangalore sales office is on the lookout for business opportunities here.
“We do have a small team here offering various Internet-led products at the moment,” Currier said. But he admitted that business has been slow to come by in India.
Loral Skynet’s advantages are that it positions itself as a one-vendor solution provider from space-segment purchase to network configuration to equipment installation to ongoing maintenance.
Having a global presence, Skynet can deliver data, voice and video anywhere in the world over an infrastructure that combines a satellite fleet, VSAT networks and fiber connectivity.
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.
