I&B Ministry
Twelve applicants/channels denied permission to launch private satellite channels in last number, total remains at 869
New Delhi, 8 April: Even though the number of permissions granted to private satellite television channels uplinking from or downlinking into India crossed the 1000 figure for the first time, as many as 138 have been denied permission.
Thus, the total number of operative channels as on 31 March was 869, of which news and current affairs channels number 394. Thus the number of general entertainment channels is 475.
Thus, the government had given permission to a total of 1007 channels which included 126 whose permissions were cancelled later. The last list issued on 31 March had said 126 had been refused permission but twelve new channels had been permitted, taking the total to 869. This number remains the same.
Twenty channels including seven news channels have been permitted to uplink from India but not downlink within the country.
A total of 754 channels including 382 GECs are allowed to uplink and downlink in the country while 95 including 80 GECs are uplinked from overseas but allowed to downlink into TV homes in the country.
Thus, the number allowed to uplink and downlink in the country has fallen by one even though the number of general entertainment channels has risen by eight. This is because the number of news channels has fallen by eight to 372.
After 31 January, the news channels cleared are: Zee Bihar Jharkhand; WIO; and Zee 24 Hour Business.
The Non-News channels cleared are Sab Bangla; Sab Tamil; Sab Punjabi; Sab Marathi; Sab Telugu; Sony Wah; Sony Rox; Jewel Alliance; Star Utsav Movies (Earlier:Star Gold Romance); Maa HD; Jalsha Movies HD; Star Jalsha HD; Maa Movies HD; Star Pravah HD; Star Movies Premiere; Star Movies Premiere HD; Fox Crime HD; Rishtey Cineplex; Stay Raw; And Vijay Super.
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry site (mib.nic.in) also contains the full details of the owners of these channels, the languages in which they will beam, and the date on which the clearance came. However, there are no details of channels denied permission.
I&B Ministry
Prasar Bharati sets EPG standards for DD Free Dish platform
New specs define 7-day guide, LCN mapping, and device compatibility.
MUMBAI: Your TV guide just got a backstage pass structured, scheduled, and far more in sync. Prasar Bharati has released detailed technical specifications for Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) services on DD Free Dish, laying down a standardised framework for how channels and programme information are organised and delivered. At the core of the update is a defined EPG data structure, covering genre-based categorisation, scheduling formats, and Logical Channel Numbering (LCN). The aim is simple: make navigation less guesswork and more guided experience across the platform’s over 40 million households.
The specifications also introduce a seven-day programme guide window for each channel, alongside clear rules for channel grouping and LCN mapping effectively deciding not just what you watch, but how easily you find it.
On the technical front, the document outlines requirements for Program Specific Information (PSI) and Service Information (SI), including descriptor usage across tables such as PAT, BAT and NIT. It further details service lists and network linkage parameters, giving OEMs and developers a clearer blueprint for integration.
Importantly, the framework is designed to work seamlessly with television sets equipped with in-built satellite tuners, enabling users to access DD Free Dish directly without additional hardware, an incremental but meaningful step towards simplifying access.
The platform will continue to operate on GSAT-15 transponders, using MPEG-4 compression and DVB-S2 transmission standards, ensuring continuity even as the interface evolves.
While largely technical, the move signals a broader push towards standardisation and user-friendly discovery in India’s free-to-air ecosystem because sometimes, the real upgrade isn’t what’s on screen, but how easily you get there.
