DD FreeDish: Prasar Bharati invites applications for vacant MPEG-2 slots

Prasar Bharati has invited applications for allotment of vacant MPEG-2 slots of DD FreeDish DTH platform. The slots are being allotted for a period of one year, from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.

The online e-auction will be tentatively held from February 19, 2024. 

The reserve price for General Entertainment Channels (GEC) in Hindi/ Urdu language in Bucket A+ is Rs 15 crore. The reserve price for Bucket A which consists of movie channels in Hindi/Urdu language priced at Rs 12 crore. Bucket B which comprises music, sports, all channels of bhojpuri language and all other remaining genres of Hindi/Urdu priced at Rs 10 crore. Bucket C and D which consist of News and current affairs (Hindi/Urdu) and devotional/spiritual/ayush, all genres of Marathi and Punjabi channels and news & current affairs (English) channels priced at Rs 7 crore and Rs 6 crore respectively.

Bucket R1 which includes all channels not covered in any bucket priced at Rs 3 crore. 

The reserve price for remaining rounds for bucket A+ priced at Rs 16 crore, Bucket A (Rs 13 crore), Bucket B priced at Rs 11 crore, Bucket C priced at Rs 6 crore, bucket d priced at Rs 7 crore and bucket R1 priced at Rs 4 crore.  

The e-auction will be conducted in accordance with e-auction methodology for allotment of DD free Dish slots to private channels, notified by Prasar Bharati on January 27, 2023.

Only satellite channels licensed by the Ministry of l&B would be allowed to participate in the e-auction. Only companies holding valid permission from the Ministry of I&B can apply for participation in e-auction for allocation of DD Free Dish slots. International Public Broadcasters licensed by the Ministry of | & B can also participate in e-auction.