DTH
Tata Play forges new FanCode Sports partnership
MUMBAI: Following the inclusion of sports destination FanCode in OTT aggregator app Tata Play Binge in December 2023, the DTH operator has now announced the launch of Tata Play FanCode Sports, giving its subscribers a front-row seat to a smorgasbord of sporting action including cricket, football, kabaddi, golf and motorsports.
The new platform promises to deliver over 100 hours of live sports monthly, covering more than eight major sports and featuring blue-ribbon tournaments such as the Carabao Cup, Copa del Rey, and Concacaf Champions Cup. Cricket enthusiasts haven’t been left on a sticky wicket either, with Australia’s Tour of West Indies and South Africa’s Tour of Zimbabwe also on the menu.
Formula 1 fanatics are in for a treat as the service brings coverage of all 24 Grand Prix weekends to screens across India. Viewers can witness Lewis Hamilton don the famous Ferrari red for the first time as he reignites his rivalry with Red Bull’s high-flying Max Verstappen.
The platform will showcase global sporting megastars including football icons Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, Mohamed Salah, and Lionel Messi, alongside cricket heavyweights Nicholas Pooran, Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabada, and Aiden Markram.
“We are thrilled to expand our partnership with FanCode,” said Tata Play chief commercial & content officer Pallavi Puri. “This exciting collaboration marks a significant milestone, enabling us to offer a seamless viewing experience across screens, enhancing the diversity and accessibility of live sports content.”
FanCode co-founder Yannick Colaco added: “After our successful collaboration on Tata Play Binge, we are thrilled to continue our partnership with Tata Play to bring FanCode to millions of new homes.”
The 24/7 ad-free service will be available on EPG No. 485 and through the Tata Play mobile app for Rs 75 per month—a small price to pay for front-row tickets to the sporting world’s greatest hits.
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.
