DTH
Sun Direct adds Sun NXT free with DTH subscription
MUMBAI: Sun Direct is finding ways to hold on to its subscriber base amidst the hordes of consolidation and shutdowns happening in the industry. Strengthening its hold in the South, which forms the largest chunk of its territory, it has announced a free membership of its video-on-demand (VOD) platform Sun NXT for active Cinema Plus, Mega Pack and World Pack subscribers.
The subscription-based VOD platform offers three plans–monthly for Rs 50, quarterly for Rs 130 and annually for Rs 490. The first 30 days constitute the free trial period after which the payment kicks in. Offline download and viewing are available in the app as well.
Sun TV Network’s Sun NXT, which was launched in mid 2017, offers over 50,000 hours of live TV content, movies, originals, kid’s content, music across four South Indian languages–Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. It also streams movies from Kollywood, Tollywood, Mollywood and Sandalwood.
Sun NXT being a screen-agnostic platform is also available on Smart TVs and streaming devices like Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast, Apple TV etc.
Sun Direct has six packs, which include Mega Pack with 204+ channels, Tamil Super Value with 179+ channels, Tamil Cinema + Sports with 174+ sports, Tamil World Pack with 172+ channels, Tamil Value with 128+ channels and Tamil Economy Pack with 82+ channels, for one month, three months, six months and twelve months. Sun Direct packages start from Rs 1499 (Tamil Economy Pack for 96 months) and go up to Rs 5290 (Mega Pack for 12 months).
Also Read: Regional viewers ‘catch-up’ Sun TV’s new VoD
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.
