DTH
Wise Move by Tata Play as AI Owl and Donkey Bring Smart Savings Home
MUMBAI: Looks like wisdom has feathers and sometimes, long ears. Tata Play’s latest campaign, Samajhdar Bano, Tata Play Lagao, brings a wise owl and a witty donkey to the screen, using humour and AI-powered storytelling to help viewers make smarter entertainment choices this festive season.
India’s leading content distribution platform has once again flipped the script on conventional advertising, embracing generative AI to create two unforgettable characters who do what humans often fail to simplify DTH pricing with clarity and wit.
The campaign focuses on Tata Play’s Dhamaka Offer, which ensures that every rupee of the subscriber’s Rs 3,600 upfront deposit goes entirely towards content consumption. In return, subscribers also receive an HD set-top box, dish antenna, remote, and free installation essentially transforming the deposit into full-value entertainment. The films also spotlight the ease of curating one’s own channel bouquet through the Tata Play Mobile App, giving users complete control over what they watch and pay for.
Conceptualised and executed by Ogilvy, the brand films use the banter between the owl and the donkey to cut through the clutter of jargon and confusion that often surrounds DTH offers. In their quirky yet relatable exchange, they bust myths around hidden costs, driving home Tata Play’s promise of transparency and unbeatable value.
Tata Play head of marketing communications Krishnendu Dasgupta said, “This campaign is anchored in a simple yet powerful insight when it comes to entertainment, people crave clarity over clutter. While choices are many, the confusion is even more. Through our witty owl and donkey duo, we’re making decision-making feel effortless and fun. The use of generative AI adds an innovative layer, enhancing the storytelling Tata Play is known for.”
The nationwide ATL rollout spans key television genres and channels, with special focus on Hindi-speaking markets, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and all four southern states. The campaign also extends across digital and social platforms, ensuring it meets viewers wherever they watch, scroll, or stream.
Ogilvy India chief creative officer Sukesh Nayak added, “It’s smart to choose Tata Play because it truly delivers the best value for money. Our wise owl and witty donkey serve as unlikely gurus of entertainment, showing that whether you’re brainy or braying, the smart choice is Tata Play.”
With its smart storytelling, Gen-AI magic, and genuine value proposition, Samajhdar Bano, Tata Play Lagao isn’t just another festive campaign, it’s a reminder that in the age of endless options, clarity and a little humour go a long way.
Viewers can avail of the offer via tataplay.com, the manage section of the Tata Play Mobile App, or their nearest dealer.
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.
