DD Free Dish: Prasar Bharati invites applications for MPEG-4 slots

The auction has been tentatively scheduled for October

by e4m Desk
Published: Oct 21, 2025 2:06 PM | 1 min read

Prasar Bharati has opened applications for the 92nd online e-auction of MPEG-4 slots on its free-to-air direct-to-home (DTH) platform, DD Free Dish.

The auction is tentatively scheduled for October 29, 2025, with broadcasters required to submit applications — along with the processing fee and necessary documentation — by 3 PM on October 27, 2025, media networks have reported.

Successful bidders will be allotted slots on a pro-rata basis from November 7, 2025, to March 31, 2026. Channel placement will be categorised into specific buckets — R1, R2, R3, G1, and G2 — based on genre and language.

Participation is open to private satellite TV channels holding valid licenses and downlinking permissions from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB). Foreign broadcasters may also participate, provided they obtain MIB approval and comply with Indian broadcasting regulations.

Prasar Bharati has emphasised the need for clarity and accuracy in applications, stating that broadcasters must submit “clear and unambiguous proof” of their channel’s genre and language classification. Any inconsistencies or unclear information, it warned, could lead to summary rejection of the application.

The detailed guidelines and bucket rate structures for the e-auction have been made available on the official Prasar Bharati and DD Free Dish websites.