DTH
More clarifications sought from Tata-Star
NEW DELHI: It seems that the Tata-Star combine may have to wait for some more time before it can lay its hands on a letter of intent from the government, relating to a direct-to-home (DTH) television service that it proposes to start.
“Some gaps were found in the application and the government has sought more clarifications from them (Tata-Star), last week on those issues. The response is still awaited,” a senior information and broadcasting ministry official told indiantelevision.com today.
Asked about the nature of clarifications sought, the official indicated that they pertained to the ‘eligibility criterion’ for a DTH license, including ‘some more clarity’ on the equity pattern in the joint venture company.
In January this year, Tata Sons had announced formation of a joint venture with the Rupert Murdoch-controlled Star Group for launching a DTH platform in India. The Tata Group holds 80 per cent in the JV, which is envisaging building India’s largest digital television platform (estimated project cost: Rs 1.6 billion) and offering a range of channels with interactive features and services.
If cleared, Tata-Star’s Space TV would be the third KU-band DTH service provider in the country after Dish TV, 20 per cent owned by Zee, and Indian pubcaster Doordarshan’s DD Direct Plus that is yet to be formally launched.
Hong Kong-based research and analysis firm Media Partners Asia estimates that the Indian DTH market could grow at the rate of 15 per cent annually.
About a month back, I&B ministry had said that the Tata-Star application could be cleared by year-end, raising hopes in Star that the service could be started by March 2005, if not earlier.
The Space TV application has been cleared by most related Indian government agencies, including the home ministry, which looks into various security aspects of such ventures.
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.
