DD Free Dish: TDSAT to hear plea against Prasar Bharati on Feb 28

The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) will hear Vision Corporation Ltd.’s petition against Prasar Bharati on February 28, following the broadcaster’s disqualification from the DD Free Dish MPEG-2 slot e-auction. 

The case stems from the sudden cancellation of all Bucket R1 applications midway through the auction process, which has left many broadcasters frustrated.

Several TV channels, including Popular TV and Movieplex, were among those rejected without prior notice, with disqualified broadcasters receiving official communication of their rejection as late as 10 PM on February 12. The rest of the industry only became aware of the mass disqualifications after Round 2 bidding had already begun. This abrupt decision triggered legal action from at least one affected broadcaster, Vision Corporation Ltd., which operates House Full Movies, Multiplex, and Movie Plus.

The broadcaster’s Bucket R1 application was rejected on the grounds of allegedly misleading information about the channel’s genre and language classification. Prasar Bharati maintained that Movie Plus did not meet the eligibility criteria for a predominantly Bangla-language channel, as non-Bangla content was found to dominate programming for up to 19 hours per day.

In response, Vision Corporation challenged the rejection at TDSAT, arguing that the decision was discriminatory and procedurally flawed. 

As per TDSAT’s February 13 order, the petitioner emphasised to the respondent that they ‘may not send such requirements at the last hour as the same amounts to victimisation of bonafide bidder and we find it discriminating.’

Prasar Bharati, however, pointed out that the broadcaster failed to submit the required video recordings verifying its content before the deadline.

TDSAT issued an interim order, directing Vision Corporation to immediately submit the video recordings. The tribunal instructed Prasar Bharati to review the content and determine the broadcaster’s eligibility.

On February 17, Vision Corporation requested interim relief to participate in the bidding process, but TDSAT denied the request, citing that the auction had already concluded.

"Learned senior counsel appearing for the respondent upon instructions from their client, submits that Mr. Ashok Kumar Jha, Deputy Director General, Prasar Bharati submits that the bidding process is over,” said the order from February 17.

“In view of this statement, we see no reason to grant interim relief to the effect that this appellant be permitted to participate in the ongoing bidding process,” the order added. 

As a result, Vision remains out of the current auction, though the tribunal has ruled that the bidding outcome remains subject to the final verdict in this case and B.P. No. 184 of 2024.

B.P. No. 184 of 2024 is another broadcasting petition pending before the Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), which is being heard alongside B.P. No. 78 of 2025 (Vision Corporation vs. Prasar Bharati).

This means that if Vision Corporation ultimately wins its case, Prasar Bharati may have to reconsider its decision regarding the broadcaster's participation.

What’s next?

The next hearing is scheduled for February 28, where the tribunal is expected to review Prasar Bharati’s response and determine whether Vision Corporation was unfairly excluded. The outcome could have major implications for future DD Free Dish auctions, especially regarding how Prasar Bharati handles broadcaster disqualifications and auction transparency.

With broadcasters and industry stakeholders closely watching, the February 28 ruling could set a precedent for future disputes over DD Free Dish slot allocations.