News Broadcasting
Prasar Bharati awards five DD Free Dish slots in mid-year e-auctions
NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati has wrapped up a swift mid-year monetisation drive, awarding five vacant slots on DD Free Dish after concluding its 95th and 96th online e-auctions, reinforcing the platform’s pull even for short-term carriage.
The public service broadcaster allotted the slots for a two-month period from February 1 to March 31, 2026, following the completion of the dual e-auctions covering both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 categories, according to official results.
Regional entertainment and movies won MPEG-2
The 95th e-auction, conducted exclusively for MPEG-2 capacity, saw two channels clinch slots. Punjabi-language general entertainment channel GTC Punjabi and Hindi movie channel Movieplex secured carriage for the February–March window.
MPEG-2 slots continue to attract regional and movie broadcasters looking to tap DD Free Dish’s vast rural and semi-urban footprint. The free-to-air platform reaches more than 40 million households, making it one of the country’s largest DTH distribution pipes.
News takes centre stage in MPEG-4
The 96th e-auction, held for MPEG-4 slots, was dominated by news broadcasters. North East Live, focused on the northeastern states, alongside FM News and K News India, emerged as successful bidders.
Industry watchers say the tilt towards news in the MPEG-4 category underlines rising demand for sharper picture quality and deeper regional news penetration, particularly in underserved markets where DD Free Dish remains a primary television source.
Filling gaps, fast
Unlike the annual DD Free Dish auctions, the mid-year exercise was aimed at plugging vacant inventory on a pro-rata basis. Participation was restricted to satellite television channels holding valid uplinking and downlinking permissions from the ministry of information and broadcasting, including eligible international public broadcasters.
DD Free Dish has become a critical distribution lever for free-to-air channels, offering massive reach without the carriage fees charged by private DTH operators. The latest results underline sustained demand for its limited slots, even for brief allotment periods.
For Prasar Bharati, periodic auctions are proving to be a steady revenue tap. For broadcasters, the message is blunt: even two months on DD Free Dish is still worth the fight.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Kolkata Town Hall on Hooghly River
‘Bhalobasa Bengal Inspiring Bharat’ event on April 20 brings cultural icons, trailblazing women and leaders aboard a cruise to celebrate Bengal’s enduring influence.
MUMBAI: Bengal is about to make fresh waves on the Hooghly and this time the current is pure conversation. CNN-News18 is taking its iconic Town Hall format to the waters of the iconic Hooghly River on 20 April 2026 with a special edition titled ‘Bhalobasa Bengal – Inspiring Bharat’. The floating event will celebrate the state’s rich cultural legacy and how its ideas, creativity and spirit continue to shape the rest of the country.
The unique riverside setting draws on Bengal’s history as a cradle of reform, art and intellectual thought. The speaker line-up mirrors that diversity: cultural heavyweights Mithun Chakraborty and Sreenanda Shankar will share the stage with trailblazing “Devis” such as Tanya Sanyal (India’s first woman firefighter in aviation), Ipsita Chakraborty (Kolkata’s first woman bartender) and Reshma Nilofer Visalakshi (Nari Shakti awardee and marine pilot). Music will flow through the celebrated pianist-vocalist duo Sourendro and Soumyojit, while public life and governance will be represented by Smriti Irani, Leander Paes, Saira Shah Halim, Keya Ghosh, Rekha Patra, Roopa Ganguly and Babul Supriyo.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director, Rahul Shivshankar, said the event honours voices that carry Bengal’s legacy forward. Smriti Mehra, CEO – English & Business News, Network18, added that Bengal’s stories resonate far beyond its borders, especially as the state heads into polls.
From the first woman to battle flames in the skies to legendary actors who shaped Indian cinema, the gathering promises a rich mix of inspiration, courage and candid dialogue. In a city where culture has always flowed as freely as the river itself, CNN-News18 is turning the Hooghly into a floating forum for ideas that matter.
Tune in on 20 April on CNN-News18, CTV and YouTube to catch Bengal’s heartbeat in full flow.
