New Delhi: India’s public service broadcaster, Prasar Bharati, has initiated the process for the 89th online e-auction of MPEG-4 slots on the DD Free Dish platform, inviting applications from eligible satellite TV channels. The e-auction is expected to begin on July 2, 2025, with successful bidders gaining slot access for the period from July 11, 2025 to March 31, 2026.
The latest auction is a strategic step in Prasar Bharati’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the DD Free Dish DTH service, which delivers free-to-air television content to millions across India, particularly in remote and rural areas.
Eligibility and Application Deadline
Participation in the auction is limited to channels that are duly licensed and permitted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. This includes private broadcasters as well as international public broadcasters. Interested participants must submit their applications and accompanying physical documents no later than 3:00 PM on June 30, 2025.
Fee Structure and Auction Format
Broadcasters are required to pay a non-refundable processing fee of ₹25,000, along with a participation fee of ₹3 lakh, payable through demand draft or RTGS.
The channels have been categorized into five buckets based on language and content genre:
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R1, R2, and R3 for regional language channels
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G1 and G2 for news and non-news content respectively
Reserve prices for the slots start at ₹3.62 lakh for regional channels (R1 and R3) and go up to ₹57.14 lakh for news channels under the G1 category. The bidding will progress in increments ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh.
Content Integrity and Compliance
In a move to ensure authenticity and relevance of programming, broadcasters are now required to maintain that at least 75% of their monthly content aligns with the declared language and genre. Non-compliance could result in penalties, including potential cancellation of slot allotment.
Driving Access, Diversity, and Reach
This auction forms a crucial part of Prasar Bharati’s roadmap to increase the platform’s diversity and accessibility. By reinforcing content integrity and enabling a wider range of regional and genre-based offerings, the broadcaster aims to deliver high-quality, relevant television experiences to Indian households—free of cost.
