Mumbai: The Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation ( IBDF), the apex body representing leading broadcasters, urged Prasar Bharati to introduce a more transparent and predictable framework for the e-auction of slots on its free direct-to-home ( DTH) DD Free Dish platform.
In its submission to Prasar Bharati in response to the public broadcaster’s July 25 notice seeking suggestions on the auction methodology, the IBDF said the current process leaves participants with uncertainty that affects business decisions and undermines fair competition.
The IBDF recommended that before the commencement of every auction, Prasar Bharati publish critical details, such as the total number of slots available and that remaining before each successive round; a complete bucket-wise list of applicants and the final list of eligible and ineligible applicants.
“Mid-auction rejection of applicants should not be permitted, as it undermines the integrity of the process,” it said, stressing that all eligibility checks must be completed in advance.
Prasar Bharati earns roughly Rs 800 crore from auction of slots on DD Free Dish, which reached 49 million homes as of 2024.
The industry body argued that equal access to material information is essential for a level playing field. “Providing these disclosures will empower participants with the necessary information for a genuinely competitive and transparent bidding process,” it said.
The IBDF also flagged structural issues in the functioning of DD Free Dish and suggested corrective measures. It asked Prasar Bharati to commission an independent, scientific study to assess the actual viewership of DD Free Dish, arguing that reliable data would help broadcasters and advertisers make informed strategic and investment decisions.
To ease supply pressure, the IBDF recommended converting more than 25 unused MPEG-4 slots into MPEG-2, which is compatible with all set-top boxes. It also suggested that new transport streams be added to expand channel availability until MPEG-4 adoption becomes widespread.
The foundation noted that while channels bid for slots by genre, the Electronic Programme Guide does not follow genre-based clustering. It proposed grouping channels by genre-language combinations to improve discoverability and reinforce the intent of genre-based auctions.
It emphasised that as DD Free Dish is a public distribution platform, its auction framework should be guided by constitutional principles of transparency, fairness and non-discrimination. “The revised policy should balance commercial considerations with public service obligations, ensuring plurality of voices, consumer choice, and sustainable participation across genres,” the submission said.
It urged Prasar Bharati to publish a draft of the revised policy along with an explanatory memorandum and to hold further stakeholder consultations before finalising the framework.
DD Free Dish, India’s only free-to-air direct-to-home service, plays a significant role in reaching rural and remote audiences, especially households without access to pay-TV platforms.
In its submission to Prasar Bharati in response to the public broadcaster’s July 25 notice seeking suggestions on the auction methodology, the IBDF said the current process leaves participants with uncertainty that affects business decisions and undermines fair competition.
The IBDF recommended that before the commencement of every auction, Prasar Bharati publish critical details, such as the total number of slots available and that remaining before each successive round; a complete bucket-wise list of applicants and the final list of eligible and ineligible applicants.
“Mid-auction rejection of applicants should not be permitted, as it undermines the integrity of the process,” it said, stressing that all eligibility checks must be completed in advance.
Prasar Bharati earns roughly Rs 800 crore from auction of slots on DD Free Dish, which reached 49 million homes as of 2024.
The industry body argued that equal access to material information is essential for a level playing field. “Providing these disclosures will empower participants with the necessary information for a genuinely competitive and transparent bidding process,” it said.
The IBDF also flagged structural issues in the functioning of DD Free Dish and suggested corrective measures. It asked Prasar Bharati to commission an independent, scientific study to assess the actual viewership of DD Free Dish, arguing that reliable data would help broadcasters and advertisers make informed strategic and investment decisions.
To ease supply pressure, the IBDF recommended converting more than 25 unused MPEG-4 slots into MPEG-2, which is compatible with all set-top boxes. It also suggested that new transport streams be added to expand channel availability until MPEG-4 adoption becomes widespread.
The foundation noted that while channels bid for slots by genre, the Electronic Programme Guide does not follow genre-based clustering. It proposed grouping channels by genre-language combinations to improve discoverability and reinforce the intent of genre-based auctions.
It emphasised that as DD Free Dish is a public distribution platform, its auction framework should be guided by constitutional principles of transparency, fairness and non-discrimination. “The revised policy should balance commercial considerations with public service obligations, ensuring plurality of voices, consumer choice, and sustainable participation across genres,” the submission said.
It urged Prasar Bharati to publish a draft of the revised policy along with an explanatory memorandum and to hold further stakeholder consultations before finalising the framework.
DD Free Dish, India’s only free-to-air direct-to-home service, plays a significant role in reaching rural and remote audiences, especially households without access to pay-TV platforms.
You may also like
Lollapalooza India 2026 lineup: Linkin Park, Playboi Carti, Calum Scott and over 40 acts set to take over Mumbai on January 24-25
CJI Gavai administers oath of office to two newly appointed SC judges
Watch: First-ever Russian naval drone strike sinks Ukraine's largest warship since 2014
Vande Bharat trains with 20 coaches will run on these 7 routes. It will be easy for passengers to get tickets
Centre names former RBI governor Urjit Patel as IMF Executive Director for 3 years
