DTH
TheOneAlliance appoints Subhadip Bhattacharyya as vice president – sales
MUMBAI: TheOneAlliance has roped in Subhadip Bhattacharyya as vice president sales to handle the DAS and analog business for North and East markets.
Bhattacharyya will be a part of the core group responsible for the overall strategy of the company. In his new role, he will be also responsible for conceptualizing and implementing business plans with a view to penetrate new accounts and expand existing ones. He will be a part of the sales and strategy team and will be working closely with TheOneAlliance executive vice president sales and strategy Makarand Palekar.
Bhattacharyya is a veteran from the industry and brings with him over 20 years of experience handling the sports business, distribution expansion, channel management and retail development of Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG). He has worked with ESPN Star Sports for more than a decade. In his last assignment Bhattacharyya was heading the distribution business of Taj Television (Zee group).
Known for his business acumen, analytical and problem-solving skills, Bhattacharyya is adept at forging strong business partnerships.
Palekar said, “We are delighted to have Shubhadip onboard with us. With his proven track record and rich and diverse experiences, he will further strengthen the formidable team of TheOneAlliance. I am confident that the business will scale newer heights under his leadership.”
Bhattacharyya added, “I am excited to be associated with TheOneAlliance and I am looking forward to begin a new innings in my career with a dynamic team and a powerful organization. I am sure there are abundant opportunities for us to tap on to as we look at expanding the existing business.”
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.
