DTH
Malaysian media baron Ananda Krishnan passes on
MUMBAI: Another media baron passes into the great beyond. Malayasian billionaire Ananda Krishnan who set up the successful pay TV platform Astro in Malaysia and established satellite operator Measat passed away on 28 November at the age of 86.
Ananda was known to be close to Mahathir Mohamad who was Malaysia’s prime minister from 1981 to 2003 and 2018 to 2020. He persuaded him to build the famed Petronas twin towers in Kuala Lumpur.
Ananda was the founder and chairman of Usaha Tegas, as well as the founder of Yu Cai Foundation. He also helped transform telecom firm Maxis into one of the largest operators in the country. He helped finance Bob Geldof’s Live Aid concert in the eighties. He was ranked Malaysia’s sixth-richest person and 671 wealthiest person globally in 2024, with an estimated net worth of $5.1 billion, according to Forbes.
In India, Ananda unsuccessfully invested an estimated $7 billion to set up telco Aircel which filed for bankruptcy protection in 2018.
Ananda had three children, including his only son, Ven Ajahn Siripanyo who is a Buddhist monk.
May he Rest in Peace!
Astro Malaysia made the following post on its website:
Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad (Astro) mourns the loss of our shareholder, Ananda Krishnan Tatparanandam, on 28 November 2024, whose unparalleled contributions shaped the landscape of Malaysia’s media, telecommunications, and entertainment industries.
Group Chief Executive Officer Euan Daryl Smith expressed profound sorrow on behalf of Astro, stating: “Mr Ananda Krishnan’s vision went beyond creating a company; he created a purpose. Through Astro, he touched lives—by providing jobs, nurturing talent, and fostering a shared sense of joy through the power of entertainment. His enduring commitment to excellence and humanity will continue to inspire us as we carry forward his legacy. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family during this time of loss.”
We join the nation in honoring a remarkable individual whose contributions will forever be etched in Malaysia’s history. Our deepest condolences go out to the family during this difficult time.
We humbly request that the family’s privacy be respected as they mourn their loss.”
(Pix courtesy Scott Jordan)
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.
