I&B Ministry
Doordarshan opens Rs 32 lakh tender to manage DD Free Dish e-auctions
Prasar Bharati pegs contract at Rs 32 lakh, with bids opening on 22 October
NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati’s Directorate General of Doordarshan has invited bids to appoint an agency to conduct e-auctions for slots on DD Free Dish and other platforms operated by the public service broadcaster.
According to a limited e-tender notice issued by Doordarshan on 1 October 2026, the estimated value of the contract is Rs 32 lakh, inclusive of taxes. The tender carries an earnest money deposit requirement of Rs 64,000, while the delivery period will be as specified in the request for proposal (RFP).
The tender, identified as NIT-23/2026-27 under file number DDFD/3(03)/2026/Platforms, follows a two-bid system. Interested agencies are required to submit their technical and financial bids concurrently through the Prasar Bharati e-procurement portal.
The bids are scheduled to be opened on 22 October at 1 pm. A pre-bid meeting will be held on 8 October at 3 pm at Malgudi, fifth floor, Tower-A, Doordarshan Bhawan, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi.
The appointed agency will be responsible for conducting e-auctions for slots on DD Free Dish and other Prasar Bharati platforms. The tender notice does not specify the number of slots or the platforms covered beyond the stated scope, with detailed requirements set out in the complete RFP documents.
DD Free Dish uses an e-auction mechanism to allocate available slots to private television channels. Under the system, broadcasters bid for access to slots on the free-to-air direct-to-home platform.
The latest tender is part of Doordarshan’s broader commercial slot allocation process across DD Free Dish and other Prasar Bharati platforms.
The complete bid documents, including the scope of work, terms and conditions and other requirements, are available through the Prasar Bharati e-procurement portal.
Bidders must submit digitally signed technical and financial bids simultaneously. They are also required to have a Class-III Digital Signature Certificate with signing and encryption components in the name of the person authorised to sign the bid documents.
Prasar Bharati has advised bidders not to wait until the final date to submit their bids, citing potential issues including internet connectivity, network problems, system crashes, power failures, browser compatibility and digital signature-related difficulties.
The broadcaster has stated that neither Prasar Bharati nor its e-procurement service provider will be responsible for such eventualities.
Any corrigendum, amendment or correction to the tender will be published on the Prasar Bharati e-procurement portal.
