DTH
Tata Sky adds beauty-based interactive channel
MUMBAI: Tata Sky has expanded its interactive channel list by adding Tata Sky Beauty, in partnership with FTheCouch (FTC) Beauty Studio, which is promoted by actor Suniel Shetty. It will feature your favourite actors sharing tips and tricks on makeup, skincare and the latest fashion trends in an easy to understand do-it-yourself (DIY) format.
On the launch of Tata Sky Beauty, Tata Sky chief commercial officer Pallavi Puri said, “Tata Sky has always launched interactive services that inspire and encourage its subscribers to learn, grow and improve in areas that interest them. Tata Sky Beauty is designed to build DIY skills in grooming, styling and care and will inspire women to look good and feel confident at all times!”
Celebrity make-up experts & stylists such as Bharat & Dorris, Ambika Pillai, Subhash Singh, Shan Mu, Aalim Hakeem, Anju Modi, Tarun Tahiliani, Kavita Bhartiya, Payal Jain and skin care experts such as Dr Swati Maheshwari will recreate Bollywood’s glamour from the comfort of your living room. The service also boasts of a pool of social media talents such as Shruti Anand, Noorin Sha, Hesha Cheema, etc.
Shetty had previously teamed up with Tata Sky for its Fitness & Acting Adda service. Tata Sky Beauty will also have a Kids Special segment to give tips and updates on hairstyles and fashion trends. On Sunday, a special vignette Zindagi Khoobsurat Hai and show Saas, Bahu Aur Beauty will give subscribers a glimpse into the day-to-day lives of TV celebrities.
FTC Talent Media & Entertainment co-founder and CEO Akshay Vatsa said, “Our vision at FTC has always been to create innovative content and provide our users with a convenient access to our offerings. Extending this thought, we are happy to launch FTC Beauty Studio with Tata Sky Beauty to help the audience learn and empower themselves to create their own beauty recipe, with the best in class experts.”
Tata Sky subscribers can avail the service at Rs. 59/- per month on Ch #119 and it will also be available on the mobile app.
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.
