Five channels win MPEG-4 slots in DD Free Dish’s 88th e-auction

The Prasar Bharati-backed DD Free Dish platform has concluded its 88th e-auction for MPEG-4 slots, bringing five more channels onboard for the upcoming allotment period. The new slots, secured through a competitive bidding process, are valid from June 13, 2025, to March 31, 2026.

According to DD FreeDish, the following channels emerged successful: Dabangg, Sandesh News, Punjabi Hits, Argus, and Tabbar Hits. These additions are expected to expand both the regional and entertainment offerings available to millions of DD Free Dish users across India.

DD Free Dish, India’s only free-to-air DTH platform operated by Prasar Bharati, holds frequent e-auctions to allot available MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 slots to broadcasters. The MPEG-4 category, in particular, provides improved video quality and spectrum efficiency, and is accessible on MPEG-4 compatible set-top boxes.

Channels like Dabangg and Tabbar Hits will cater to the Hindi-speaking belt with general entertainment content, while Punjabi Hits continues to strengthen regional music offerings. News channel Sandesh News will bring current affairs and updates, and Argus adds another flavour to the bouquet with its unique programming.

With each auction, DD Free Dish continues to enhance its channel line-up, especially for rural and cost-conscious viewers. The addition of these channels will further broaden the platform’s diversity in terms of language, genre, and regional appeal.

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“This initiative will empower subscribers to pay online and subscribe to the channels they want to watch and get it activated on their TV sets in real-time without any delay. Without needing to undertake any software development, LMOs can approach Mobiezy for their pre-built and pre-integrated solution that uses NXTDigital’s news APIs and can be up and running with their own mobile apps within just a few days.”

RU Ediriwira, Group CTO, NXTDigital Limited

“With the launch of Partnership for Growth 3.0 we intend to expand our network with 40 new NXTHUBs, each offering up to 650 live TV channels and broadband. Our efforts are focused on harnessing the convergence of technologies, developing robust apps and creating new business models that will help the overall ecosystem, delivering the best experience to our subscribers. We hope to achieve a stronger foothold in the rural regions of the country and grow our subscriber base.”

N.K. Rouse, COO, NXT Digital Ltd

“One of the key principles of the Hinduja Group is ‘Partnership for Growth’. After 2.0 saw the launch of HITS to connect LMOs in even the most remote locations through the only satellite-based cable TV platform in India; 3.0 focuses not just on strengthening the overall ecosystem we have built, but harnessing the convergence of technologies – to be delivered through a national network of NXTHUBs. Video and broadband are only the beginning of the digital highway of services that we have developed for roll-out backed by a robust suite of innovative apps developed by service providers exclusively for our LMOs and subscribers.”

Vynsley Fernandes, MD & CEO, NXTDigital Limited

“Wireline broadband is becoming ever more important not only in connecting homes across the country but also small to large enterprises-to the digital economy. The NXTHUBs will be the perfect point-of-presence to offer broadband services to cater to these consumer needs.”

Yugal Kishore Sharma CEO, ONEOTT Intertainment Limited

Amazing and grim battle for survival. Guess it will end up in Supreme Court. All that NCLT asked Zee to do was to file a reply to Invesco petition for a EGM. Now this is getting too serious. So far Invesco has been hammered for demanding an EGM. What is Zee upto? Ofcourse my lawyer community knows better!