DTH
Tata Sky launches first ever DTH Karaoke service in the World
MUMBAI: In a global first, Tata Sky, the leading DTH player today announced the launch of a new video-based music service, Karaoke in partnership with Hungama.com. This innovation, gives Tata Sky subscribers a fun way to spend time with loved ones this Valentine’s Day.
Commenting on the launch, Mr. Vikram Mehra, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Sky said: “The love for singing & dancing is epitomized by Bollywood movies. Be it wedding celebrations, a picnic or a night out with friends, singing our favourite Hindi songs in loud chorus adds tremendously to the fun factor of any evening. Capitalizing on this sentiment, Karaoke enables our subscribers to share a few laughs and great moments with family & friends without the need for an occasion. Simply, tune into the service any time of the day for non-stop entertainment.”
Unlike other traditional Karaoke services, Tata Sky’s Karaoke service showcases music videos along with lyrics which enhance the overall singing experience. A distinctive feature of the service is the ‘Sur Meter’ that rates an individual’s singing performance and provides for interesting competition opportunities. The song library will be refreshed on a monthly basis to keep boredom at bay.
Neeraj Roy, Managing Director, CEO of Hungama.com also emphasized that, “Hungama’s relationship with Tata Sky has been deep rooted with the vision of providing entertainment to their consumers.
Music is a derivative of films that generates mass appeal and now we are presenting a new innovation to the consumer giving them the ability to watch and sing music with Actve Karaoke. A first in the industry this should prove to be a game changer of how the masses will enjoy music.”
Karaoke systems available in the market are very expensive. At just Rs 1990 for a mike & annual subscription, the Tata Sky Karaoke service is affordable and definitely worth the investment. The service will be available from 20th February 2014 and can be enjoyed by subscribers with the Tata Sky+ HD box.
Salient features
• A Karaoke mic along with 12 month subscription will cost Rs.1990
• On-going annual subscription will cost only Rs. 600/-. One album will always be available free for subscribers to sample the service
• Albums available on the service include popular songs of Salman Khan, romantic hits, party hits and a range of foot tapping nos. from Sonu, Shreya & others
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.
