E-auction for vacant DD Free Dish MPEG-2 slots tomorrow
The slots are for the period between July 24, 2024 and March 31, 2025
Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has invited applications for the allotment of vacant MPEG-2 slots of DD Free Dish DTH Platform for the period between July 24, 2024 and March 31, 2025 through 79th online e- auction process. The auction will be conducted tomorrow (July 16, 2024).
“The e-auction will be conducted in accordance with E-auction Methodology for allotment of DD Free Dish slots to private TV channels, notified by Prasar Bharati
“Only satellite channels licensed by the Ministry of I&B would be allowed to participate in the e-auction. Only companies holding valid permission from Ministry of I&B can apply for participation in e-auction for allocation of DD Free Dish slot,” Prasar Bharati said in its notification released last week.
International Public Broadcasters licensed by the Ministry of I&B can also participate in e-auction.
It said that broadcasters desirous of allotment of slot on DD Free Dish are required to provide clear and unambiguous proof in support of genre and language classification of their channel.
“In case of lack of clarity, ambiguity or conflicting information, applications will be deemed ineligible and may be summarily rejected,” it said.
The public broadcaster has categorised TV channels in different buckets in accordance with genres and language of the channel for the allotment period.
Bucket A+ will feature GEC (Hindi/Urdu) channels, Bucket A will host movie (Hindi/Urdu) channels.
Bucket B will include music (Hindi/Urdu), sports (Hindi/Urdu), all channels of Bhojpuri language, and other remaining Hindi/Urdu genres.
Bucket C is for news and current affairs channels (Hindi/Urdu), while Bucket D will include devotional/spiritual/Ayush, all genres of Marathi and Punjabi channels, and news and current affairs channels (English).
Bucket R1 is for all channels in languages not covered in other buckets.
The starting Reserve Price for the Round 1 (Bucket A+) is Rs 14,61,31,000, Round 2 (Bucket C) is Rs 13,03, 14,000; Round 3 (Bucket A) is Rs 12,58,44,000; Round 4 (Bucket D) is Rs 12,44,69,000; Round 5 (Bucket B) is Rs 12,37,81,000 and Round 6 (Bucket R1) is Rs 9,14,61,000.
The last date of submission of the applications is July 15th and an online training will be provided to all eligible participants before the commencement of the actual auction.
“If required, Prasar Bharati can extend e-Auction to the next day or as the case may be,” it said.
According to the notification, Prasar Bharati can accept/reject/cancel/amend the e-Auction/slot at any time during the e-Auction or after e- Auction.
“For unsuccessful bidders, participation fee will be refunded within three weeks after the declaration of the results of e-auction.
“After the successful conduct of e-auction, a 'Letter of Allotment' will be issued by Prasar Bharati to the successful bidder along with the 'Payment Schedule' for payment of bid amount and prescribed format of agreement to be signed between Prasar Bharati & bidder,” it said.
It said that a successful channel will be placed on DD Free Dish after receipt of payment for 1st instalment of carriage fee, as provided in the allotment of letter.
“In case the 'Channel Provider' fails to place its channel on its allocated slot within one month of the allotment commencement date, the allotment shall stand cancelled automatically and the Participation Fee along with any instalment already deposited shall be forfeited,” it said.
