DTH
The more or less challenge – the role of outsourcing
SINGAPORE: With the broadcast industry rapidly going digital, broadcasters need to provide new services on their existing cost bases to achieve operational efficiencies to drive in business changes.
So, besides other seminars on going digital, the third day’s afternoon session at Broadcast Asia focused on how broadcasters need to focus on their core competencies by outsourcing in other areas.
Some of the important issues that were raised included – why outsourcing is relevant to the broadcast industry and what benefits it can bring. And most importantly what are some of the ways in which outsourcing can be delivered.
Throwing light on the rapidly accelerating changes in the broadcast industry, Siemens Business Services Media head Saleha Williams said, “Broadcasters have to grow out of their traditional operating models which are no longer working, because of rapid technological changes and business models. Outsourcing can also save us from various revenue pressures which have come in with lots of competition with more platforms, audience fragmentation and increasing churn and new advertising models.”
The seminar brought out five core elements to the technology change
o Broadband
o Mobile
o PVR
o HDTV
o Increasing competition from gaming and other forms of non broadcast entertainment
Some of the regulatory-led change are:
o Digital broadcasting (analogue switch off)
o Deregulation
Willaims gave out some pointers on how outsourcing can help broadcasters
o Outsourcing in broadcast markets as much about innovation as cost savings.
o Solving new problems, such as distribution to emerging platforms.
o Outsourcers act as a catalyst, enabling broadcasters to transform ways of working. At heart of every outsourcing relationship.
o Economies of scale, improved operational effectiveness and off shoring.
o Typically savings of 20-30%, but depends totally on the nature of the service.
Williams also listed out some of the benefits achieved by outsourcing other parts of the world.
o Outsourcing in broadcast markets as much about innovation as cost savings.
o Solving new problems, such as distribution to emerging platforms.
o Outsourcers act as a catalyst, enabling broadcasters to transform ways of working.
· Significant technology investment needed to compete in changing broadcast market.
o Outsourcers can help broadcasters smooth their investment profile.
o Pay an annual charge i.e. from capex to opex.
o Outsourcers and their partners provide greater specialisation.
o Apply learning from working with other broadcast organisations.
o Sometimes easier to measure and incentivise services provided externally.
o At heart of every outsourcing relationship .Economies of scale, improved operational effectiveness and off shoring.
o Typically savings of 20-30%, but depends totally on the nature of the service.
o Allows broadcaster to concentrate more effectively on its business strategy.
o Reduces the level of management attention required for non core activities.
o Hands problem over to a third party.
· Driven by cost savings and risk transfer / reduction.
· Embeds outsource provider in broadcaster’s organisation.
o Provides transformational change.
o Driven by risk sharing / reduction and cost savings.
o Flexibility
Three Principal Issues
o Not understood initial cost base or level of savings achievable in house
o Not factored all costs into deal e.g. transition, management and termination
o Maintain outsourced services in house (pay twice over)
o Efficiencies change over time i.e. cost efficient process in 2006 may be an expensive one by 2010
Reasons and Observations
o Both actual falls and perception that service levels have fallen are important
o Broadcaster culture – problems need solving at once even if not “on air”
o Require realistic service levels to be agreed and communicated to all users
o Broadcaster and outsourcer need to understand each other’s business drivers
o Need to protect competitive strengths and strategic identity. For instance, a company outsourcing technology may decide to keep enough of its technology strategists in house to be in control of its technology vision.
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.
