DTH
Philips to transfer its CryptoWorks Conditional Access activities to Irdeto
BANGALORE: Royal Philips Electronics and Amsterdam headquartered Irdeto, a player in content security and a subsidiary of multinational media group Naspers announced that they have reached a preliminary agreement on the terms of the transfer of Philips’ conditional access (CryptoTec) business unit to Irdeto. No financial details of the transaction were disclosed.
Philips’ CryptoTec business unit develops and sells content protection (more generally known as “conditional access”) products such as advanced security systems for cable, satellite, terrestrial and IP networks under the name ‘CryptoWorks’. In addition to conditional access for digital TV, Irdeto also offers software-based content security for IPTV services as well as multiple DRM and conditional access products for premium mobile content and mobile TV (DMB and DVB-H).
Says Philips Digital Networks CEO Hans Streng: “The conditional access industry is moving towards consolidation, and Philips has been looking into various options for the CryptoTec business. Reaching this agreement with Irdeto is considered to be the solution that offers the best future-proof direction for customers and staff. CryptoTec will thus find a new home where conditional access is the absolute core of the business. Philips will continue focusing on promoting open-standards DRM.”
“With the acquisition of Philips’ CryptoTec, Irdeto will strengthen its position in the pay media industry, and will now have over 300 customers on six continents. Customers using CryptoWorks will continue to be fully supported and in addition to this can now also benefit from a broader choice of content security solutions,” says Irdeto CEO Graham Kill.
The acquisition will also enable Irdeto to further strengthen its position in China, where it currently already plays a market-leading role in securing China’s digital television migration, with nearly 50 customers in that country.
Philips CryptoTec employees will transfer to Irdeto when the transaction is completed, which is expected within the next months, subject to customary regulatory clearances and procedures.
Irdeto is one of the leaders in content security, and provides comprehensive solutions for digital content protection in Digital TV, IPTV and Mobile environments. The company’s support, sales and R&D offices are located worldwide with corporate headquarters near Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Irdeto offers both hardware and software based solutions.
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.
