DTH
No proposal to reconsider FDI limits in DTH: Prasad
NEW DELHI: Minister for information and broadcasting Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that there is no proposal to reconsider the FDI limits in DTH service.
Replying a question by Kunwar Akhilesh Singh in the Lok Sabha today, the minister said that the companies who have applied for license for providing DTH service are Space TV Pvt Ltd, Mumbai, ASC Enterprises Ltd (letter of intent given) and Essel Shyam Communication Ltd.
Licenses for DTH service will only be granted on fulfilling of laid down eligibility criteria and compliance with various terms and conditions prescribed in this regard.
CENSOR BOARD: The government has decided to extend the engagement of detective agencies to carry out checks in cinema halls to all regional centers of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in the 10th Plan.
Replying to a question posed by Pawan Kumar Bansal in the Lok Sabha today, Prasad said that with a view to ensuring strict compliance of the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, the CBFC on a test basis had hired a private agency for carrying out regular checks in cinema halls initially in the four metropolitan cities during the period from 1 May, 2001 to 30 April, 2002.
He said that the agency carried out checks in 1859 theaters in the four metros and registered 31 cases. The number of complaints relating to censorship violations received by the CBFC in various forms in several states and union territories during the year 2000, 2001 and 2002 were 57, 144 and 105 respectively.
ECONOMIC AGENDA: Speaking at another function today, Prasad said that economic reforms in India today form an important component of political agenda. He said the impression that the reforms are elitist and meant for only the upper class of society has to be removed. The domestic reforms are as important as the globalisation process, but the pace is a matter of debate, he said.
Delivering the keynote address at the Annual General Meeting of the American Chambers of Commerce in India today, Prasad said that the scope of Indo-American relations is very large in the geo-political fight against terrorism, civilized democratic behaviour, free press and even in the military context.
He said, a great amount of maturity is coming about in Indo-American relations because of commonality of free society, free media, mutual trust and he hoped these will further develop despite some disagreements.
Prasad said the Indian economy has its inherent strength, which is reflected in its growing foreign exchange reserves’ steady growth rate of over 5 per cent, 50 per cent growth in the software exports, decline in the people living below poverty line from 36 per cent to 27 per cent and containment of inflation rate despite severe drought, the Kargil war and sanctions following the nuclear explosion.
He referred to the great infrastructure thrust and said that 14,000 kilometers of national highways are being constructed at a cost of 5,400 billion rupees, every village is being connected by metalled road, two crore telephones have been installed in last two years as compared to 1.86 crores in the last 50 years and the revolution in the communication and the broadcasting sector.
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.
