DTH
Tata Sky chooses Elemental Technologies for 4K video service
MUMBAI: Direct-to-home (DTH) operator Tata Sky has chosen Elemental Technologies’ software to process Ultra HD live linear content in high-efficiency video coding (HEVC/H.265) for delivery to Tata Sky 4K-ready set-top boxes.
Elemental Technologies is a supplier of software-defined video solutions for multiscreen content delivery. Selected by Tata Sky based on its reliable delivery of high-quality live 4K content in HEVC, Elemental is the sole video processing software selected for the subcontinent’s first commercial 4K service delivered to end-users.
A joint venture between the Tata Group and 21st Century Fox, Tata Sky deployed the latest 4K service and set-top boxes in advance of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 tournament currently underway in Australia and New Zealand. Software-based Elemental Live systems perform real time processing of Tata Sky 4K content in HEVC at 60/50fps for linear streaming to Tata Sky 4K STBs.
“We pride ourselves for being at the forefront of technology and delivering world class TV experiences to our viewers. The Tata Sky 4K service is an example of not only keeping up with changing times, but in fact giving our viewers a pioneering technology that the world would follow. The seamless integration between Ericsson and Elemental HEVC compression technology for live 4K streaming enables us to reinforce our technology and industry leadership positions, further adding to our delighted subscriber base,” said Tata Sky CEO and managing director Harit Nagpal.
“Tata Sky has selected Elemental video processing to bring 4K content programming to the India market. We are proud to provide Tata Sky with our software-defined video solutions to deliver unbeatable picture quality,” added Elemental Technologies senior vice president worldwide sales Dan Marshall.
The new generation 4K UHD Tata Sky STB is capable of delivering Ultra HD picture quality and Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 surround sound. Viewers can enjoy 8.3 megapixel (3840×2160) video, which is approximately four times the pixel count compared to the current HD standard, offering far greater clarity and more vivid colors on screen. In addition to 4K content, the set-top box also showcases standard definition (SD) and HD TV channels.
Elemental will also showcase its suite of software-defined video solutions at the NexTV Summit in Mumbai on 7 April, 2015.
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.
