DTH
Videocon d2h withdraws IPO application; Dhoot to visit Nasdaq
MUMBAI: The direct to home (DTH) arm of Videocon group, Videocon d2h has decided to withdraw its Rs 700 crore Initial Public Offer (IPO) proposal since the company is looking to start the process afresh.
In September 2014, the company had decided to file draft offer documents with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). However, Videocon d2h, through its lead banker Axis Capital, withdrew the documents on 27 March.
Meanwhile, Videocon d2h executive director Saurabh Dhoot along with Silver Eagle chairman and CEO Harry Sloan will visit the Nasdaq Market Site in Times Square and will ring the Opening Bell 7 April at 9:15 am to 9:30 am ET (6:45 pm IST).
The operator had completed its initial listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market through a business combination transaction with Silver Eagle Acquisition Corp, which is founded by Harry Sloan and Jeff Sagansky, pursuant to which Silver Eagle contributed approximately $273.3 million to Videocon d2h in exchange for equity shares of the operator which was represented by American Depositary Shares (ADSs), which were distributed to Silver Eagle’s stockholders. Public trading of the Videocon d2h ADSs on Nasdaq under the ticker ‘VDTH’ commenced at the opening of trading on 1 April this year.
On the day of the opening, the approximately $37.75 million Videocon d2h ADSs issued to Silver Eagle stockholders were valued at approximately $453 million based on the opening price of $12 per ADS on Nasdaq. Silver Eagle’s capital infusion in the operator represents one of the largest platform investment deals in Indian media by US investors.
Sloan based on reports had stated that US investor interest in the transaction has been strong as it affords US investors the opportunity to participate early in the US listing of Videocon d2h. “It is the fastest growing DTH Pay-TV operator in India and the fastest growing pay TV market in the world. Beyond this very significant organic growth, we will be exploring numerous possibilities for the company to expand as a force in India’s developing media business,” Sloan had remarked.
The regulator SEBI in February, had decided to keep the processing of the company’s offer document in “abeyance” following a request made by Videocon d2h in this regard. The company was looking at garnering Rs 50 crore through a pre-IPO placement of its shares to institutional investors, according to media reports. The funds were to be used for acquiring set-top boxes (STBs), outdoor units and accessories thereof, repayment/prepayment of certain indebtedness and general corporate purposes. In December 2012 too it had filed draft documents under the name ‘Bharat Business Channel’ with Sebi to raise Rs 700 crore through an IPO. But the company did not launch the same due to bad market conditions.
DTH
DD Free Dish e-auction heats up with 26 MPEG-2 slots sold in two days
Hindi movies, GEC and news dominate; Star Utsav Movies tops Day 2 at Rs 213.45 crore
MUMBAI- The bidding war on DD Free Dish is turning into a blockbuster and the slots are selling faster than popcorn at interval. Prasar Bharati’s 8th annual MPEG-2 e-auction delivered another strong day on Tuesday, with 18 more channels securing spots across movies, regional music and news buckets, taking the two-day total to 26.
Day 2 belonged to the movies and news categories. In Bucket A (Hindi Movies), Star Utsav Movies led the pack at Rs 213.45 crore, pipped only narrowly by Zee Action at Rs 213.4 crore. Goldmines landed at Rs 13.35 crore and Zee Anmol at Rs 13.3 crore, showing razor-thin price bands and fierce competition. Bucket B saw Zee Bioscope top at Rs 10.6 crore, Bhojpuri Cinema Rs 10.5 crore, B4U Bhojpuri Rs 10.2 crore, while Showbox, Unique TV and B4U Music each closed at Rs 10.25 crore.
News channels in Bucket C stayed tightly bunched: NDTV, Aaj Bharat, Zee News and India TV all secured slots at Rs 8.6 crore, with News Nation and ABP News slightly higher at Rs 8.65 crore. Bucket D rounded out with Russia Today at Rs 9.75 crore and GTC Punjabi at Rs 7.92 crore.
Day 1 had already set a premium tone, with eight slots snapped up – six in Bucket A+ (Hindi/Urdu GEC, starting reserve Rs 15 crore) and two in Bucket A (Hindi/Urdu Movies, starting Rs 12 crore). Sony PAL topped Day 1 winners at Rs 16.55 crore, Star Utsav Rs 16.25 crore, Shemaroo TV Rs 16.35 crore, Zee Anmol, Colors Rishtey and Sun Neo at Rs 16.40 crore each. Sony WAH took a Bucket A slot at Rs 13.95 crore and Zee Anmol Cinema at Rs 13.45 crore.
The surge reflects broadcasters’ hunger for DD Free Dish’s estimated 43–45 million rural and semi-urban households, where Hindi GEC and movies remain advertising goldmines.
The auction runs under the revised E-auction Methodology 2025 (amended 9 January 2026), with escalating reserves – Round 2 Bucket A+ at Rs 16 crore, Round 3 Bucket A at Rs 13 crore – and stricter eligibility to weed out speculative bids. Channels must be operational, available in the relevant language, and already carried on at least one private DTH, DD Free Dish or registered MSO.
With premium genres flying off the shelf, the coming rounds will test how deep pockets really are as reserves climb and tactical down-bidding gets harder. In India’s largest free-to-air universe, these auctions aren’t just about slots – they’re about who gets to stay on the screen that reaches deepest into the heartland.
