DTH
Tata Play introduces anime local
Mumbai: Tata Play’s platform service portfolio gains momentum with its latest addition – Anime Local. Bringing the best of Japanese animation to audiences in India, Anime Local on Tata Play, is an ad free service available to all Tata Play subscribers in three different languages – Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam. For ease of access, the service will also be available simultaneously on the Tata Play mobile app for portable, on-the-move viewing.
Anime Local on Tata Play seeks to entice the viewers with a large bouquet of curated anime content, from thrilling action epics to heartwarming coming-of-age stories, at just Rs. 2 per day. The service will feature popular anime shows like Naruto, Sergeant Keroro, Ninjaboy Rantaro, Naruto Shippuden, Black Clover, Robotan, among many others, in Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam languages.
Commenting on the successful launch of another niche programming service, Tata Play’s chief commercial and content officer, Pallavi Puri said, “The evolving preferences of our TV audiences have been the driving force behind the innovative programming we’ve envisioned for our platform services. Anime Local on Tata Play will be yet another jewel to our exhaustive offering. The palette for Anime content has been growing, and our new service will provide top notch content, to suit that growing appetite. We thank our partner Culver Max Entertainment for putting together this curation for us.”
Adding to the same, Sony YAY! – business head (CMEPL) Leena Lele Dutta commented, “In today’s world, where innovation drives the evolution of entertainment, anime has emerged as a global sensation and is rapidly growing in India. To meet this growing enthusiasm, we are thrilled to launch ‘Anime Local’ with TATA PLAY, that aims to revolutionize the anime viewing experience for Indian fans.”
DTH
DD Free Dish locks in 8 Mpeg-2 slots; Star, Zee, Sony, Colors lead day 1
With higher prices and tighter rules, India’s top broadcasters secure coveted free-to-air positions.
NEW DELHI: The battle for India’s television screens has officially begun. On the opening day of Prasar Bharati’s 8th annual e-auction, heavyweights like Star, Zee, Sony, and Colors successfully secured eight coveted Mpeg-2 slots on DD Free Dish.
According to the media reports, this year’s auction is a significant departure from the past. The process assumes added significance this year as it is the first after Prasar Bharati amended its E-auction Methodology, tightening eligibility conditions and revising the reserve price structure for Mpeg-2 slots.
Despite the stricter rules and higher costs, the industry’s major networks showed no hesitation. Of the eight slots sold on Monday, six belonged to the premium Bucket A plus (Hindi general entertainment) and two to Bucket A (Hindi movies).
Industry experts suggest that this early rush is all about reach. DD Free Dish currently beams into roughly 45 million households, mostly in rural and semi-urban areas. For broadcasters, missing out on this platform means losing access to a massive chunk of India’s viewing public.
The new rules, rolled out in January 2026, have raised the stakes significantly. For Bucket A plus (Hindi general entertainment channels), the reserve price now starts at Rs 15 crore, while Bucket A (Hindi movies) begins at Rs 12 crore, marking a notable increase from previous years.
To prevent tactical low-ball bidding, the prices will only go up in subsequent rounds. For instance, the second round for Bucket A plus jumps to Rs 16 crore. By front-loading the auction, Prasar Bharati ensures that the most popular channels pay a premium for the best positions on the dial.
One of the most talked-about changes in this 94th e-auction is the operational clause. To stop speculative bidding, channels must now prove they are already active on at least one private DTH platform or a registered cable operator. In short: if your channel isn’t already on air somewhere, you aren’t invited to the party.
While it sounds like a corporate chess match, the outcome dictates what millions of people will watch for the next year (from April 2026 to March 2027). With the big networks securing their spots early, viewers can expect the usual mix of high-drama soaps and blockbuster films to remain the staples of free-to-air TV.
As the auction continues, the industry is watching to see if smaller players can stomach the rising costs or if the free dish universe will become an exclusive club for the media giants.
