DTH
NBC’s ‘Conviction’ debut episode on iTunes prior to TV broadcast
MUMBAI: As part of its multi-pronged launch efforts for the new legal drama Conviction, NBC broke network ground by offering the pilot episode as a free download two weeks on the iTunes Music Store before its TV debut.
The announcement was made by NBC Entertainment Group chief executive officer Jeff Zucker. The pilot will be available for a free download from 21 February through 3 March, along with a 3-minute behind-the-scenes featurette and a music video featuring footage from the series, by The Gabe Dixon Band.
Said Zucker, “We believe we have a youthful and energetic cast that should appeal to a new audience increasingly comfortable with this downloadable format as a viewing option. The multi-platform efforts are a buzz-generator for certain shows such as Conviction, and we want to pro-actively reach out to these viewers who have many options for entertainment.”
The promotion will extend until the show’s network debut 3 March, after which each episode of Conviction will become available for purchase and download on iTunes for $1.99 per episode the day after airing. NBC will also promote the free preview on the show’s TV promos, across NBC Universal Web properties and on iTunes.
Apple’s vice president of iTunes Eddy Cue said, “We’re thrilled to be making history with NBC premiering a new prime-time series on iTunes for the first time. Millions of viewers will have the chance to watch the pilot episode of Conviction on their computer or iPod a full ten days before the show airs on television.”
Conviction follows a group of young assistant district attorneys in New York who are confronted with tough cases that challenge their limited experience.
This new legal drama comes from the Emmy Award winner Dick Wolf (“Law & Order” brand series) and the pilot was written by Walon Green (Law & Order) and Rick Eid (The Guardian). “Conviction” is a Wolf Films production in association with NBC Universal Television Studio. Wolf, Green, Eid and Peter Jankowski are the executive producers.
The cast of Conviction includes Stephanie March, Jordan Bridges, J. August Richards, Milena Govich, Eric Balfour, Anson Mount and Julianne Nicholson.
This marks the first time an episode has been made available for free download by a network before airing. Other programs have been made available for free viewing, including Everybody Hates Chris on Google and Jack and Bobby on AOL, but in those instances the video was only streaming and not downloadable
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.
