DTH
Videocon strengthens VAS with d2h Nachle
MUMBAI: What Tata Sky did in December 2015 seems to be inspiring Videocon now. Videocon d2h has partnered with ‘Dance with Madhuri’ to launch an interactive dance service called ‘d2h Nachle’. The service is set to win the hearts of dance-lovers across the 18 million strong Videocon d2h subscriber base and is available for free preview till 22 May.
Madhuri Dixit, renowned for her legendary dance moves along with her Dance with Madhuri team of eminent gurus and choreographers, is all set to get you dancing on Videocon with its d2h subscribers.
This association will give dance enthusiasts a chance to synchronise their steps and learn the best in class, dance lessons from the comfort of their living rooms. With support from gurus like Pt. Birju Maharaj, Saroj Khan, Terence Lewis, Remo D’Souza and a host of renowned choreographers from the industry, D2h Nachle powered by Dance with Madhuri is sure to charm subscribers. There are now over 100+ classes, 100+ hours of content and 1800+ lessons. From Indian Classical dance forms like Kathak, Bharatnatyam, to Western forms like Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Salsa, Bachata and of course lots of Bollywood, d2h Nachle powered by Dance with Madhuri is sure to be a dancer’s delight!
Commenting on the launch,Videocon d2h executive chairman Saurabh Dhoot said, “D2h Nachle will strengthen our Value Added Services(VAS). Our consumers will find d2h Nachle compelling and engaging, especially the younger ones.”
Talking about the launch, Videocon d2h chief executive officer Anil Khera said, “Dance is among the most popular expressions of joy and celebration in every part of the country. d2h Nachle, powered by Dance with Madhuri, will bring to every home Madhuri & her expert team of renowned choreographers as their personal dance teachers.”
Dixit said, “The idea is to give the joy of learning any dance form of one’s choice to everyone and we strongly believe that our association with Videocon D2h will enable millions of people to learn various dance forms from the comfort of their homes. We have assembled a team of some of the most accomplished and renowned choreographers, who help us create lessons that let everyone learn how to dance in the most, authentic, structured and convenient way possible.”
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.
