DTH
Prasar Bharati may get relaxed terms on DTH equity cap
NEW DELHI: The Indian government is contemplating whether pubcaster Prasar Bharati, which manages the affairs of Doordarshan and All India Radio, can be given some concession in direct-to-home (DTH) television services as far as a media cap of 20 per cent is concerned.
According to information and broadcasting ministry sources, national and pubcasters ought to be given some waivers where guidelines are concerned and the issue is under active consideration of the ministry.
“A final decision in this regard of waiver of equity cap would have to be taken by the I&B minister when Doordarshan starts a country-wide DTH service and the platform would have pay as well as free to air private satellite channels, apart from DD channels,” a source familiar with the developments said.
At present, as per guidelines, in a DTH venture a broadcast or a cable company cannot hold more than 20 per cent shareholding. In addition, there is also a 49 per cent foreign shareholding cap in the total equity of the company.
If the guidelines are to be implemented, then DD, planning to start a limited DTH service soon to be expanded into a full-fledged service later, can hold only 20 per cent equity in the DTH venture and would have to find partners, preferably Indian, for the remaining part of the shareholding.
I&B ministry sources said that since DD’s soon-to-be-started DTH venture, for which an okay has been given by the ministry, is limited to North East part of the country where cable and terrestrial television is difficult to take, the media cap of 20 per cent won’t be applicable.
The proposal, however, is awaiting a green signal from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs as the investment envisaged is too big for the I&B ministry to clear.
Meanwhile, the search for a new director-general of Doordarshan is on at an informal level as the present incumbent, SY Quraishi, still hasn’t got any orders for a new posting. Contacted by indiantelevision.com I&B minister Ravi Shankar Prasad refused to comment on the DG issue, though information available says that Prasar Bharati CEO K.S. Sarma had a meeting with the minister today.
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.
