DTH
Theatre has a new stage with Tata Sky
MUMBAI: Tata Sky, India’s leading content distribution platform announced Tata Sky Theatre- a 24-hour, first ever ad-free service that brings to its subscribers acclaimed plays and performances from the finest theatre groups on television. Powered by Zee Theatre, Tata Sky Theatre has launched over 100+ plays from across genres – Musicals, period drama, social satire, romantic comedy, crime drama, etc. in a cinematic format to the comfort of your home.
The service primarily offers Plays in Hindi and English language. Complimenting the envious line-up of plays will be exclusive content relating to Backstage – behind the scenes, Theatre Talks – interviews with cast and crew, etc.
Present at the launch, Pallavi Puri, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Sky said, “Tata Sky aims to bring unique and engaging content to our subscribers. Tata Sky Theatre brings rich & imaginative theatre to life on TV screens, which fits in very well with our legacy of innovative special service offerings. In association with a valuable partner Zee Theatre, Tata Sky Theatre will bring to your screens hand-picked plays & performances starring the finest theatre artists.”
Renowned theatre artists such as Sonali Kulkarni, Amitosh Nagpal, Milind Pathak, Rajeshwari Sachdev, Reema Lagoo, Vikram Gokhale, Govind Namdev and many more will be seen enacting these televised plays. Some of the celebrated plays that you can catch on Tata Sky Theatre would be Vaastav, Wrong Turn, Doll’s House, Agnipankh, White Lily & Night Rider, Scavenger’s Daughter and many more. Tata Sky Theatre’s content library has something in it for everyone.
Shailja Kejriwal, Chief Creative Officer – Special Projects, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. said, “Theatre has been the heart of India’s rich cultural heritage for decades now and has played an integral role in shaping our social identity. Committed to delivering extraordinary entertainment experiences, we aspire to revive, restore and spread this rich cultural heritage by bringing the best of Indian theatre for audiences to experience. With Tata Sky Theatre, we bring the purest form of entertainment by offering a variety of plays across genres, each being socially relevant to today’s evolved viewers.”
DTH
Dish TV moves court seeking level playing field with DD Free Dish
DTH player flags unfair edge as free platform reshapes pay-TV market
MUMBAI: Dish TV has approached the Kerala High Court, seeking a level playing field with DD Free Dish, the free-to-air satellite platform run by Prasar Bharati.
At the heart of the dispute is what Dish TV calls a regulatory imbalance. The company has urged the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to bring DD Free Dish under the same rules as private direct-to-home operators, including mandatory encryption and compliance with the Digital Addressable System under existing laws such as the Indian Telegraph Act and the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act.
Private DTH platforms are required to encrypt their signals, meaning viewers need authorised set-top boxes and paid subscriptions. In contrast, DD Free Dish remains unencrypted, allowing access through basic equipment without monthly fees, a difference Dish TV argues creates a structural advantage.
In its petition, Dish TV has described the current framework as arbitrary and discriminatory, alleging it undermines constitutional guarantees of equality and the right to trade. The company pointed out that while private operators shoulder the cost of encryption infrastructure, licensing fees and regulatory levies, DD Free Dish operates without similar obligations despite scaling up significantly.
Originally launched to distribute Doordarshan channels, DD Free Dish has steadily morphed into a quasi-commercial platform. It now carries around 120 private channels and generates substantial revenue through slot auctions, with earnings rising sharply over the years, according to the petition.
The case also throws a spotlight on shifting dynamics within India’s television market. Pay DTH operators have been grappling with a shrinking subscriber base, which has fallen from nearly 70 million in 2021 to about 51 million in 2025. At the same time, DD Free Dish has expanded its reach to roughly 53 million households, buoyed by viewers in price-sensitive regions opting for free access over paid subscriptions.
The migration has been further fuelled by broadcasters placing popular channels on the free platform, making it an increasingly attractive alternative for households looking to cut costs.
The Kerala High Court has admitted the petition and scheduled the next hearing for June 2, 2026. It also noted that a recent notice by Prasar Bharati inviting regional channels to uplink on DD Free Dish without carriage fees until March 31, 2026 will remain subject to the final outcome of the case.
Regulators have already acknowledged the gap. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, in its July 2024 recommendations, proposed a shift towards an addressable system for DD Free Dish, though these suggestions are not binding. The government is yet to take a final call, mindful of the platform’s reach among millions of households.
The petition follows repeated representations from private players and bodies such as the All India Digital Cable Federation, all flagging the same concern: a fast-growing free platform competing in a paid market without the same rulebook.
As the courtroom battle unfolds, the outcome could redraw the contours of India’s pay-TV ecosystem, deciding whether the free ride continues or the rules of the game finally converge.
