DTH
Old box new tricks as OneTV reboots legacy set tops with a smart spin
MUMBAI: Who says you can’t teach an old box new tricks? In a bold leap that’s both tech-savvy and eco-conscious, Hungary’s leading TV provider One Hungary has rolled out a major upgrade to its OneTV service without replacing a single set-top box. That’s right: legacy devices, some over ten years old, have been brought back to life with an all-new next-gen interface, delivering a streaming experience that rivals the flashiest new gear.
The revamp, delivered in partnership with 3 Screen Solutions (3SS), brings the award-winning 3Ready platform to more than 400,000 households across Hungary. The result? A sleek, intuitive UI, seamless content discovery, personalised recommendations, and access to big-league apps like Netflix, Prime Video and Youtube all from the comfort of those trusty old black boxes gathering dust under TV stands.
3SS managing director Kai-Christian Borchers said, “We are delighted with the achievement to migrate One Hungary’s customers onto the new One TV service platform. We offer huge congratulations to One Hungary for accomplishing this project that demonstrates commitment to innovation, and to providing the best possible service to customers, new and old.”
Sagemcom senior executive VP for audio video Solutions Business Unit Olivier Taravel said, “We are extremely proud that One Hungary selected the Sagemcom platform to deliver its next-generation OneTV service to Hungarian subscribers. We look forward to our ongoing collaboration with 3SS to help One Hungary enable consumers to enjoy a truly world-class entertainment service.”
One Hungary, part of the telecom giant 4iG Group, is in the final stages of consolidating four major service providers under one umbrella. The move marks a massive infrastructure evolution and positions the group as Hungary’s second-largest full-service telecom player. The OneTV upgrade is a centrepiece of that transformation, proving that good tech can be good for the planet too.
Technical wizardry aside, the platform also taps into NAGRA’s OpenTV Video Platform and security stack, enabling OneTV to act as a super-aggregator blending live TV, OTT, catch-up, and SVOD into one unified playground. Throw in support for regional favourites like RTL+ and HBO Max, and you’ve got a service that speaks fluently to local and global tastes alike.
The magic behind the scenes includes LightningJS, a lean, responsive UI framework optimised for low-spec devices and a Sagemcom hybrid STB built around Broadcom’s 72604 chip. It’s fast, flexible, and fully future-ready.
So next time your telly feels a little dated, don’t bin the box just reboot it. As OneTV proves, the future of television doesn’t always mean starting from scratch. Sometimes, it’s just about thinking inside the box.
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.
