DTH
Videocond2h adds Star Sports2
MUMBAI: In a move to strengthen its bouquet of offerings, direct to home (DTH) operator Videocon d2h has added Star Sports 2 on its platform.
On an a la carte basis, Videocon d2h has priced Star Sports 2 at Rs 40 per month.
“We believe in increasing our channel offerings in every genre. This new channel will help us in engaging with the passionate sports fans like never before. This channel will connect with sports loving audience for our quality channels and services offered. We hope that this channel addition will trigger more action, more excitement and more love for sports,” said Videocon group director Saurabh Dhoot.
With this addition of Star Sports 2, Videocon d2h now offers 18 sports channels and services on its platform. Videocon d2h has a subscriber base of more than 10 million and is the fastest to achieve the same. It has grown tremendously in past four years, since it went pan India in February 2010.
“In continuation with our philosophy of giving the customer what he asks for, we have added Star Sports 2 on our platform. Star Sports 2 is a sports channel dedicated to the diehard fans of all kinds of sporting actions. With this channel, our customers can now enjoy the entire offerings of Sports channels. This promise of giving the best of channels and services across genres has built trust for brand Videocon d2h,” added Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera.
Videocon d2h currently offers 490 plus channels and services, 27 Asli “HD” channels and host of regional channels. Star Sports 2 will be available on the d2h platform on channel number: 417.
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.
