DTH
Prasar Bharati fills up 4 vacant MPEG-2 slots on DD FreeDish
MUMBAI: Prasar Bharati-led free direct-to-home (DTH) service DD FreeDish has allocated MPEG-2 slots to four channels. The four slots have been allocated to Aajtak Tej, Republic Bharat, Surya Samachar and Kushboo Bangla. The first three channels are from the news category with Republic Bharat to launch on 26 January, while the fourth is a Bengali GEC.
“Based on the applications received for interim placement of channels on currently vacant MPEG-2 slots on DD FreeDish on pro-rata basis, 4 slots have been allocated to Aajtak Tej (news), Republic Bharat (news), Surya Samachar (news) and Kushboo Bangla (Bengali GEC),” Prasar Bharati informed on Twitter.
The public broadcaster invited applications for interim placement of channels on currently vacant MPEG-2 slots on DD FreeDish on pro-rata basis for the period 26 January 2019 to 28 February 2019. Interested private satellite TV channels were requested to submit their applications along with all requite documents and demand drafts/fee on or before 24 January latest by 12 pm.
“Good to see a Bengali GEC channel take up a slot on DD FreeDish. Gives us much hope that the upcoming eAuction next month will expand regional/language diversity on DD Free Dish taking it beyond the Hindi belt,” Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati commented.
Earlier this month, DD Free Dish e-auctions were resumed under a revised policy. Vempati said e-auctions will be based on a differential pricing to be determined by the genre or language of channels. He also said a key consideration of the new policy was to increase the diversity of content available on DD Free Dish and to expand its reach across India especially within the non-Hindi speaking states.
The e-auction of slots on DD Free Dish was arbitrarily called off in 2017 while the last e-auction of DD Free Dish took place in July 2017. Earlier, DD Free Dish used to hold e-auctions once every couple of months to award vacant channel slots to private broadcasters.
DTH
Dish TV launches ‘Kuch chhota sa’ campaign for TV flexibilit
New campaign highlights 190+ channels, Always-On service, Rs 99 Freedom Pack.
MUMBAI- Sometimes, the smallest remote click can fix the biggest daily friction and Dish TV is betting on exactly that insight. The company has rolled out a new campaign built around the thought ‘Kuch chhota sa karne par, life hogi behtar’, turning everyday viewing annoyances into a case for simpler, more reliable television access.
The campaign taps into a familiar household reality: millions of viewers continue to rely on free-to-air channels but increasingly want the flexibility of premium content, often ending up with a patchy and inconsistent viewing experience. Dish TV positions itself as the middle path—a structured yet flexible alternative that promises continuity without complexity. At its core is the pitch of an “Always-On” service, designed to keep content accessible even when recharge timelines slip, effectively reducing one of the most common friction points in DTH consumption.
To strengthen this proposition, the platform is offering access to over 190 channels, alongside a flexible pricing hook through its Freedom Pack, starting at Rs 99. The pack is positioned as a seasonal companion particularly relevant during high-engagement periods such as cricket tournaments, school holidays and festive windows, when content consumption spikes but users may not want long-term commitments.
Conceptualised by Enormous, the campaign unfolds through two master films and three short edits rooted in slice-of-life storytelling. From a husband quietly navigating around his sleeping wife to siblings striking a compromise over a coveted window seat, the narratives lean into humour and relatability rather than heavy messaging. The underlying idea remains consistent: small adjustments can meaningfully improve everyday experiences.
The rollout spans a full 360-degree media mix, including television, digital platforms, on-ground activations, point-of-sale visibility, Google Display Network placements and influencer-led content, signalling a push for both scale and contextual engagement.
As viewing habits continue to evolve in a hybrid ecosystem of free and paid content, Dish TV’s latest play reflects a broader industry shift where reliability and flexibility are increasingly positioned as differentiators, not just add-ons. In a market crowded with choice, the brand’s wager is simple: sometimes, it’s the smallest tweak that keeps audiences tuned in.
