New Delhi: Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has announced the list of television channels selected under its 93rd allotment cycle for MPEG-4 slots on DD Free Dish, extending carriage to a range of regional language broadcasters on a pilot basis until March 31, 2026.
The move follows Prasar Bharati’s decision to open up free MPEG-4 capacity on the free-to-air platform to address gaps in regional representation and improve visibility for channels operating in under-served linguistic markets. The pilot programme prioritises regional news and public-interest content, with eligibility linked to operational track record and programming credentials.
According to the published allotment list, Kannada channels TV9 Kannada and Public TV have secured slots, alongside Malayalam broadcaster Mazhavil Manorama. Bengali language channels feature prominently, with ABP Ananda, R Bangla, TV9 Bangla, R Plus Gold, Kolkata TV, R Plus, Enterr 10 Bangla and Khushboo Bangla included in the successful bidders.
The allotment also covers Odia channel Kanak News, Marathi broadcasters ABP Majha and 9X Jhakaas, Gujarati news channels ABP Asmita and Gujarat First, and News State Punjab-Haryana-Himachal representing the Punjabi language segment.
Prasar Bharati had earlier clarified that the pilot-phase allotment is designed to strengthen linguistic diversity on DD Free Dish, particularly by enabling greater access for regional news channels that meet defined content and compliance norms. The current allocation will remain valid through the end of the financial year 2025-26, after which the initiative is expected to be reviewed.
The latest round underscores DD Free Dish’s role as a key distribution platform for regional broadcasters seeking nationwide reach without carriage fees, even as Prasar Bharati continues to recalibrate the platform’s channel mix to reflect India’s evolving media consumption landscape.
