Distribution
Tata Power Renewable Energy partners with Rajasthan discoms to boost solar adoption
MUMBAI: This one should be of interest to the television broadcasters, telecom companies, DTH players, and cable TV MSOs and operators. A bane of most of these has been the sudden power breakdowns in the tier two and tier three towns. With the installation of rooftop solar power cells, the power tripping would be a thing of the past.
Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd (TPREL), a subsidiary of Tata Power, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Rajasthan’s discoms — Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (JVVNL), Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd(AVVNL), and Jodhpur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (JDVVNL). The collaboration aims to accelerate renewable energy adoption across the state, with a focus on promoting the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG:MBY) in residential sectors.
The agreement was formalised in the presence of Alok, additional chief secretary (energy); Arti Dogra, chairperson of the discoms; and senior officials from TPREL, including Deepesh Nanda, chief executive officer & managing director, and Shivram Bikkina, chief of solar rooftop & EV charging.
The initiative will prioritise rooftop solar installations in cities such as Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, and Bikaner, with plans for statewide expansion. Joint campaigns will promote solar adoption, providing households with affordable clean energy. The partnership also offers exclusive pricing and vendor training to ensure efficient installations.
Speaking on the collaboration, Arti Dogra said, “This partnership marks a significant step towards positioning Rajasthan as a leader in solar energy adoption. By advancing initiatives like PMSG:MBY, we aim to provide clean, affordable energy access and bolster the state’s renewable energy infrastructure.”
Deepesh Nanda added, “Our partnership with Rajasthan discoms reflects our commitment to shaping a sustainable energy future. Leveraging TPREL’s extensive experience, we aim to expedite solar adoption and support Rajasthan’s renewable energy transition.”
As part of the Tata Group, Tata Power holds a diverse 15.5 GW portfolio, with 43% dedicated to clean energy. The company remains committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 and continues to play a leading role in India’s clean energy transformation.
New Delhi: Prasar Bharati has thrown open applications for fresh capacity on DD Free Dish, signalling a timely opportunity for broadcasters looking to expand reach without long-term lock-ins. The public service broadcaster has issued a dual notice for its 95th and 96th online e-auctions, aimed at filling vacant MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 slots on a pro-rata basis for February and March 2026.
The two auctions are tentatively scheduled to begin on January 27, with allotments valid from February 1, 2026. Applications for both auctions close on January 21 at 3 pm, giving channels a narrow window to get their bids in.
The 95th e-auction will cover vacant MPEG-2 slots, while the 96th will focus on MPEG-4 capacity. Participation is limited to satellite television channels holding valid downlinking and uplinking permissions from the ministry of information and broadcasting. International public broadcasters cleared by the ministry are also eligible.
As with previous rounds, channels have been grouped into buckets based on genre and language, with sharply differentiated reserve prices reflecting reach and demand.
For the MPEG-2 auction, Hindi and Urdu general entertainment channels sit at the top of the pile. The starting reserve price for bucket A+ in the first round is Rs 2,63,48,000. Movie, music and sports channels in Hindi and Urdu follow in bucket A at Rs 2,10,14,000. Bhojpuri channels and other Hindi and Urdu genres, excluding devotional content, fall under bucket B with a reserve of Rs 1,78,62,000. Hindi and Urdu news channels in bucket C start at Rs 1,33,27,000, while bucket D, which includes regional language channels, English news and devotional or spiritual channels, begins at Rs 1,13,96,000.
The MPEG-4 auction comes in at a far leaner price point. News and current affairs channels in Hindi, English or pan-India languages, grouped under bucket G1, start at Rs 13,41,000. Non-news genres under bucket G2 have a reserve of Rs 8,80,000. Regional languages such as Marathi, Punjabi and Gujarati in bucket R2 begin at Rs 4,84,000. Southern language channels in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, grouped under bucket R1, start at Rs 81,000, the same reserve price set for other scheduled 8 regional languages in bucket R3.
Prasar Bharati has underlined that compliance will be closely watched. Broadcasters must ensure that at least 75 per cent of their monthly programming, excluding advertisements, aligns with the declared genre and language. Any deviation could trigger show-cause notices or even removal from the DD Free Dish platform.
For channels chasing reach in a crowded market, the message is clear. The window is brief, the prices are set and the audience is waiting. On DD Free Dish, visibility still comes cheap, but only for those ready to move fast.
