New Delhi: The News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA) has called on Prasar Bharati to overhaul the e-auction methodology for allocating slots on DD Free Dish, pressing for a more transparent, equitable, and public service–oriented framework.
In its formal response to the public broadcaster’s recent consultation, NBDA welcomed the dialogue but stressed that the current auction process creates opacity, artificial scarcity, and unfair outcomes for broadcasters, particularly in the news genre.
Push for Transparency
NBDA has recommended that Prasar Bharati disclose critical details before any auction begins, including the total number of slots available, slots remaining before each round, a complete list of applicants bucket-wise, and the final list of eligible and ineligible participants. The association also urged that all eligibility checks be completed prior to the auction to avoid mid-auction disqualifications.
Demand for More News Slots
Highlighting the pivotal role of news channels in a democracy, NBDA has sought to increase the number of news slots to at least 14, up from the current 12–13. It also urged a review of the categorization and reserve pricing of Bucket C (News & Current Affairs), which currently carries a reserve price of ₹7 crore per slot. According to NBDA, treating news broadcasters solely as commercial entities undermines their vital public service function.
Technical Expansion and Market Insights
To address capacity constraints, NBDA suggested adding a new transport stream to expand MPEG-2 channel capacity and converting more than 25 unused MPEG-4 slots to MPEG-2, which is compatible with all set-top boxes. It also called for a scientific study to assess Free Dish’s true market penetration and viewership, offering stakeholders robust data for business and policy decisions.
Public Service vs. Revenue Motives
The association argued that Prasar Bharati’s auction policy should not be guided solely by revenue considerations but should align with its constitutional mandate to uphold freedom of expression and equality. “The revised framework should serve the common good, ensuring diversity of voices and protecting citizens’ right to information,” NBDA stated.
NBDA has requested Prasar Bharati to publish a draft of the revised e-auction policy with an explanatory memorandum for stakeholder review, followed by consultations before final implementation.
With DD Free Dish enjoying vast reach in rural and media-dark regions, NBDA’s proposals underscore the growing tension between commercial imperatives and the public broadcaster’s mission to act as a facilitator of information and diversity of opinion.
