News Broadcasting
Prasar Bharati invites applications for 62 e-auctions of vacant MPEG-4 slots
Mumbai: The public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has invited applications for vacant MPEG-4 slots on the DD Free Dish DTH platform on a pro-rata basis for the period 24 August 2022 to 31 March 2023. The 62nd e-auction process will be tentatively held on 17 August and the last day to submit applications is 16 August.
“The bidding in the e-auction will be open to all genre (language)channels at a starting reserve price of Rs 1.01 crore,” said the public broadcaster in a notice on 8 August.
Only satellite channels licensed by the ministry of information and broadcasting ( MIB) will be allowed to participate in the e-auction. The companies holding valid permission from the MIB can apply for participation in e-auction for the allocation of the DD Free Dish slot. International public broadcasters licensed by MIB can also participate in the e-auction.
According to the circular, successful bidders will be required to make the payments in two monthly installments and as per the policy guidelines for the allotment of DD Free Dish slots. The channels participating in e-auction must pay a mandatory fee of Rs 25, 000 and a participation fee of Rs 10 lakh that should be paid via demand draft. Online training will be provided to all participants before the commencement of the actual e-auction.
The unsuccessful bidders will be refunded with a participation fee within three weeks after the declaration of the e-auction result.
DD Freedish is the free-to-air (FTA) direct to home (DTH) platform, which reaches more than 40 million households in the country. The reach of MPEG-4 is estimated between 2 to 3 million.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
