DTH
Shemaroo Entertainment, Videocon d2h launch religious channel
MUMBAI: Shemaroo Entertainment has joined hands with Videocon d2h to launch a 24 hr ad free devotional channel “d2h Darshan” according to a press release filed at the bourses by Shemaroo. The channel plans to offer a wide variety of religeous and religion related content such as temple tourism, jaaps, mantras, kathas, popular bhajans, holy Books etc. d2h Darshan can be subscribed at Rs. 30 per month from 1st Dec 2015 and is available for Videocon d2h consumers on channel number 481..
According to the release, d2h Darshan will also attempt to explain the meaning and significance of important elements extracted from the Vedas and other scriptures. The videos programmed on each day of the week will be as per the special significance of that day devoted to a deity. For example Monday is devoted to Shiva, Tuesday for Ganesha, and so on. The channel also plans to offer customized content around important festivals and various events based on the religious calendar. Shemaroo will draw from its bank of more than 2000 hours of devotional content to specially create this unique service.
Press release quotes
Shemaroo Entertainment Director Hiren Gada said, “Inspite of religion being the way of life in India, there is not enough variety of devotional content available on the television platforms. With the launch of a premium service like d2h Darshan on Videocon d2h, consumers will have access to an array of content. We plan to feature temple documentaries which are almost like a ‘virtual darshan tour’ of some of the most popular shrines across the country.”
Videocon d2h executive chairman Saurabh Dhoot said, “We believe in enriching lives of our valued consumers by providing them varied choice for their entertainment. d2h Darshan is a powerful service which is targeted to a whole segment of viewers who sought these channels as part of their faith and a desire to lead a spiritual lifestyle.”
DTH
DD Free Dish e-auction heats up with 26 MPEG-2 slots sold in two days
Hindi movies, GEC and news dominate; Star Utsav Movies tops Day 2 at Rs 213.45 crore
MUMBAI- The bidding war on DD Free Dish is turning into a blockbuster and the slots are selling faster than popcorn at interval. Prasar Bharati’s 8th annual MPEG-2 e-auction delivered another strong day on Tuesday, with 18 more channels securing spots across movies, regional music and news buckets, taking the two-day total to 26.
Day 2 belonged to the movies and news categories. In Bucket A (Hindi Movies), Star Utsav Movies led the pack at Rs 213.45 crore, pipped only narrowly by Zee Action at Rs 213.4 crore. Goldmines landed at Rs 13.35 crore and Zee Anmol at Rs 13.3 crore, showing razor-thin price bands and fierce competition. Bucket B saw Zee Bioscope top at Rs 10.6 crore, Bhojpuri Cinema Rs 10.5 crore, B4U Bhojpuri Rs 10.2 crore, while Showbox, Unique TV and B4U Music each closed at Rs 10.25 crore.
News channels in Bucket C stayed tightly bunched: NDTV, Aaj Bharat, Zee News and India TV all secured slots at Rs 8.6 crore, with News Nation and ABP News slightly higher at Rs 8.65 crore. Bucket D rounded out with Russia Today at Rs 9.75 crore and GTC Punjabi at Rs 7.92 crore.
Day 1 had already set a premium tone, with eight slots snapped up – six in Bucket A+ (Hindi/Urdu GEC, starting reserve Rs 15 crore) and two in Bucket A (Hindi/Urdu Movies, starting Rs 12 crore). Sony PAL topped Day 1 winners at Rs 16.55 crore, Star Utsav Rs 16.25 crore, Shemaroo TV Rs 16.35 crore, Zee Anmol, Colors Rishtey and Sun Neo at Rs 16.40 crore each. Sony WAH took a Bucket A slot at Rs 13.95 crore and Zee Anmol Cinema at Rs 13.45 crore.
The surge reflects broadcasters’ hunger for DD Free Dish’s estimated 43–45 million rural and semi-urban households, where Hindi GEC and movies remain advertising goldmines.
The auction runs under the revised E-auction Methodology 2025 (amended 9 January 2026), with escalating reserves – Round 2 Bucket A+ at Rs 16 crore, Round 3 Bucket A at Rs 13 crore – and stricter eligibility to weed out speculative bids. Channels must be operational, available in the relevant language, and already carried on at least one private DTH, DD Free Dish or registered MSO.
With premium genres flying off the shelf, the coming rounds will test how deep pockets really are as reserves climb and tactical down-bidding gets harder. In India’s largest free-to-air universe, these auctions aren’t just about slots – they’re about who gets to stay on the screen that reaches deepest into the heartland.
