DTH
PEMRA announces DTH licence bidders; Indian DTH eviction to continue
MUMBAI: The countdown has begun. Amidst protests from cable TV operators and even private broadcasters, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) earlier this week announced the shortlist of 12 companies which will be participating in the bidding for the first direct to home service (DTH) licences auction which is scheduled to take place on
23 November. The Pakistan government is on a drive to evict Indian channels, DTH services and content from its shores following the border skirmishes between the two countries over the past few months.
Among the firms which have got into the shortlist include: Lahore-based firms Orient Electronics and Mag Entertainment, Islamabad-based companies Skyflix, Smartimes Communications, Sardar Builders, Smart Sky, Parus Media and Broadcast, Naya Tel, Maestro Media Distribution, Shahzad Sky, and HB DTH and Karachi-based IQ Communications. This was revealed by PEMRA chairman Absar Alam.
Alam told reporters that the auction of three licences would be held through open competitive bidding.
Alam appeared unwavering in his intent to completely eliminate all Indian DTH services from Pakistan. The authority has been urging its ministry of defence to take action against residential and housing societies which continue to use Indian DTH services.
He also emphatically stated that Indian content stands banned in Pakistan, and there was no going back on the decision.
“A lobby seems to be working for ending the ban on airing of Indian content and dramas on Pakistani channel,” he informed Pakistani media on Monday. “But they will be unsuccessful in their conspiracy,” he said.
Alam probably was also referring to the petition filed by the Pakistan Broadcasters Association’s (PBA’s) petition filed in Pakistani courts against the ban. Around a dozen broadcasters took PEMRA to court late last month for issuing an order banning Indian content completely from Pakistan’s general entertainment channels.
Also read:
Pakistan Broadcasters Association to oppose PEMRA Indian content ban
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.
