Dish TV has approached the Kerala High Court, seeking directions to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to bring DD Free Dish under the same regulatory framework as private direct-to-home (DTH) operators.

According to an Economic Times report, the move highlights a long-standing industry concern over what private players see as regulatory disparity between state-run and private DTH services. Dish TV, in its petition, has urged that DD Free Dish—operated by Prasar Bharati—should be mandated to comply with existing laws applicable to the sector.

The company has specifically sought the enforcement of encryption norms and the implementation of the Digital Addressable System (DAS) for DD Free Dish. It has argued that these requirements are already applicable to private DTH operators under provisions of the Indian Telegraph Act and the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, and that a level playing field is essential for fair competition.

At present, DD Free Dish operates as a free-to-air platform without mandatory encryption, enabling it to reach millions of households, particularly in price-sensitive markets. Private DTH operators, however, are bound by stricter compliance norms, including subscriber-level addressability and encryption, which add to operational costs.

Industry observers note that the outcome of this case could have wider implications for the broadcasting and distribution ecosystem. A directive in favour of Dish TV may lead to significant regulatory changes for DD Free Dish, potentially altering its cost structure and accessibility, while also reshaping competition dynamics in the DTH market.

The case now places the spotlight on how regulators balance public service broadcasting objectives with the need for equitable policy enforcement across private and state-run platforms.