DTH
VSNL to provide support to Yahoo’s voice services
MUMBAI: Tata-controlled VSNL International will provide international retail call termination facilities for internet portal Yahoo’s voice services.
“Yahoo! has selected VSNL International’s Teleglobe voice peering and termination services to exchange high quality VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) traffic on a global basis,” VSNL said in a statement today. VSNL International is the overseas arm of Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL).
Yahoo! will use the Teleglobe VoIPLink™ service, a fast simple and cost effective way to bridge interoperability between VoIP networks, to terminate traffic anywhere in the world.
“Yahoo! is also utilising the Teleglobe VTS service to ensure quality and cost-effective retail termination for users of Yahoo! Voice’s Phone Out (PC-to-Phone) service worldwide,” the release said. VSNL International is among a suite of providers delivering termination calling services for Yahoo! globally.
“We are excited to be working with Yahoo! and supporting its internet community with our innovative, high quality voice peering and termination services,” says VSNL International president, global voice services, Michel Guyot. “Consumer VoIP providers, such as Yahoo!, as well as ISP /broadband providers today are looking to engage an experienced global partner to leverage the advantages of voice peering. In response to overwhelming market demand, we are customising our global voice peering services offerings to meet the needs of these providers.”
The Teleglobe voice peering product, VoIPLink, is currently being utilized by over 450 customers. There are two VoIPLink interconnection products which allow for voice traffic exchange: Interdomain, which offers direct access to the VSNL International network for customers managing entire VoIP networks, and Gateway Direct, which provides direct access to the network for customers using stand-alone gateways for all call signaling, control and media. VSNL International provides interoperable service with a diverse list of VoIP equipment, software and protocols.
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.
