New Delhi: Prasar Bharati, India’s public broadcaster, has announced an e-auction to fill vacant MPEG-2 slots on its free Direct-to-Home (DTH) platform, DD Free Dish. The auction is scheduled for August 28, 2024, with the winning channels set to broadcast from September 5, 2024, to March 31, 2025.
Battle for Free Dish Slots
Satellite TV channels looking to expand their reach can participate in this auction. To ensure fair competition, channels will be categorized based on their genre and language, including Hindi/Urdu General Entertainment Channels (GECs), movie channels, sports channels, regional language channels (Marathi, Punjabi, etc.), and others.
The stakes are high, with the reserve price for the most coveted slot, Hindi/Urdu GECs, starting at a hefty Rs. 12,10,96,000. Other categories have reserve prices ranging from Rs. 7,57,92,000 to Rs. 10,79,90,000.
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Eligibility and Process
Only satellite TV channels with a valid license from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) can participate. Detailed auction guidelines and eligibility criteria are available on the Prasar Bharati website.
It’s crucial for channels to accurately classify their genre and language to avoid disqualification. Supporting evidence is mandatory.
A Massive Audience Opportunity
With over 38 million households tuned in, DD Free Dish offers a massive platform for channels to reach a wide audience. This auction presents a golden opportunity for private TV channels to tap into this vast subscriber base.
The outcome of the auction will significantly impact the free-to-air TV landscape in India, with potential implications for viewership patterns and advertising revenues.
