DTH
Remote control redefined as Dish TV dials up its Smart+ experience
Mumbai: No more juggling remotes or input sources, Dish TV just changed the channel on home entertainment. The company has launched its new Smart+ device, an all-in-one upgrade that turns regular Android and Google TVs into smart content hubs, uniting live TV and OTT apps under a single roof.
After the success of its flagship Smart product last year, Dish TV’s latest launch is a smarter sequel that simplifies how viewers consume content. With Smart+, your existing TV morphs into a full-fledged entertainment command centre no new remote required. Want to flip from a TV news channel to a web series on an OTT app? Just press a button on your regular TV remote.
Built for seamless integration, Smart+ eliminates the need to switch devices or inputs. The intuitive interface not only brings your favourite TV channels and streaming services together, but also lets you set reminders, add shows to favourites, and even keep the kids in check with built-in parental controls.
Need a quick glance at what’s coming up next? The preview banners and thumbnails offer a visual sneak peek, so you’re never lost in the scroll. Whether you’re a live sports enthusiast, a serial binge-watcher or a casual viewer, Smart+ tailors the experience to suit every screen personality.
Compact, sleek, and feather-light, the device fits right into any living room aesthetic. And it’s portable too perfect for modern homes that love a little less cable clutter.
Dish TV India Ltd. CEO & executive director Manoj Dobhal said, “As part of our ongoing commitment to drive innovation in the entertainment industry, we are proud to introduce the Smart+ Device. This product marks a significant advancement in the seamless integration of traditional television and OTT services, catering to the evolving needs of today’s digital consumer. We are confident that this integration represents the future of entertainment. With the launch of the Smart+ Device, we are enhancing both convenience and accessibility while reinforcing our leadership in delivering integrated, next-generation solutions for our customers.”
The Smart+ device is now available via Dish TV’s official website, Flipkart, and major retail outlets ready to slide into your setup and stream your screen life into something a whole lot smarter.
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.
