PolicyRegulatory ActionMay 19, 2026
Prasar Bharati opens bidding for 99th DD Free Dish slots
Prasar Bharati, India's public broadcaster, has initiated applications for the 99th e-auction of vacant MPEG-4 slots on its DD Free Dish direct-to-home platform. The auction process is scheduled to commence on May 26, determining which broadcasters will secure slots on the platform.
Key Takeaways
- Applications are open for vacant MPEG-4 slots on DD Free Dish.
- The auction is the 99th e-auction for the platform.
- The mid-year auction process is scheduled to begin on May 26.
- Successful broadcasters will secure slots on DD Free Dish.
Why It Matters
This is the latest allocation round for DD Free Dish’s vacant MPEG-4 capacity, so broadcasters that want carriage on the platform now have a defined application window. Because DD Free Dish is a public DTH service run by Prasar Bharati, the auction outcome directly determines which channels gain access to those slots. The key near-term signal is the May 26 start of the 99th e-auction and which broadcasters emerge with slots once the process concludes.
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