NBDA submits comments on FreeDish e-auction method to Prasar Bharati

NBDA has stated there should be procedural fairness, screening & eligibility checks should be completed in advance, and applicants should not be rejected mid-auction

by e4m Staff
Published: Sep 2, 2025 4:15 PM | 2 min read

The News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA) has submitted its comprehensive comments to Prasar Bharati in response to its recent consultation on the e-auction methodology for the allotment of slots on the DD Free Dish DTH platform.

NBDA welcomed the opportunity for constructive dialogue and stated that its comments aimed to assist Prasar Bharati in developing a new e-auction framework that is transparent, equitable and robust.

NBDA advocated for the disclosure of the following information before the start of any future e-auction: (i) the total number of slots available during the e-auction and the slots available before each round of the e-auction; (ii) a complete list of all applicants, categorized by their respective buckets; and (iii) the final list of all eligible and ineligible applicants.

NBDA additionally stated that there should be procedural fairness, all screening and eligibility checks should be completed in advance of the auction, and applicants should not be rejected mid-auction. NBDA also suggested reviewing the categorization and reserve pricing for Bucket C (News & Current Affairs), increasing the slots available for News channels to at least fourteen (14), increasing MPEG-2 channel capacity by adding a new transport stream, converting some of the currently unutilized MPEG-4 slots to the MPEG-2 standard and for Prasar Bharati to undertake a separate scientific study to ascertain viewership on the DD Free Dish platform to provide stakeholders with robust, empirical data on the service's actual market penetration.