Longest-ever DD Free Dish auction gives Prasar Bharati Rs 1069 crore
The average price per slot stands at Rs 16.5 crore

Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has mopped up Rs 1069.60 crore from the e-auction of 65 MPEG-2 slots on DD Free Dish. The broadcaster's total revenue has seen a 66 per cent jump compared to last year's auction.
On the last day of the auction on Monday, seven slots were sold, with the highest bid of Rs 18.7 crore coming from Bflix. Other channels that secured the slots on the last day were Enterr10 (Rs 17 crore), GNT (Rs 17.9 crore), India TV (Rs 18.65 crore), Bharat 24 (Rs 17.15 crore), ABZY Cool (Rs 16 crore) and Sun Marathi (Rs 18.5 crore).
This is the first time in the history of DD Free Dish auction that the process went on for eight days. The auction was conducted over the weekend as well.
The auction saw participation of broadcasters from different genres. However, the big four networks' Hindi general entertainment channels Star Utsav, Zee Anmol, Sony Pal and Colors Rishtey stayed out of the auction.
"The revenue could have gone up if these four channels had participated," said industry sources.
The average price per slot this year stands at Rs 16.5 crore.
In the Bucket A+ category, which comprises Hindi GECs, 11 slots were sold for Rs 189.65 crore.
Last year, there were six slots in this category which were sold for Rs 91.1 crore. The highest bid in this genre was made by The Q India for Rs 17.9 crore. Other channels that bagged the slots were Dangal, Shemaroo TV, Manoranjan Grand, Manoranjan TV, Big Magic, Shemaroo Umang, Nazara, Dangal 2, Ishara TV and Shemaroo Ashirwad. The base price for this category last year was Rs 15 crore.
Under the Bucket A (movie channels), 19 slots were sold for Rs 329.55 crore this year. The highest bid in this category was made by Zee Anmol Cinema for Rs 24.05 crore. In fact this was the highest price ever paid for a movie channel slot in the history of DD Free Dish auction. Last year, 16 slots were sold for a total of Rs 166.55 crore in this category.
Under Bucket B, which comprises (music Hindi channels, sports, and all channels of Bhojpuri languages), 12 channels were sold for Rs 206.85 crore. The highest bid in this category was by Zee Biskope for Rs 22.1 crore. The lowest bid in the music genre was made by 9XM for Rs 15.2 crore.
Sources said, “The best bid came from 9XM, a music channel. They strategically waited for their turn and took a slot at Rs 15.2 crore, which is well below the average price paid for the other six music channel slots.”
Under Bucket C (Hindi news channels), 12 channels secured slots for Rs 199.1 crore in this year's auction. News18 India paid the highest price for the first slot at Rs 19.85 crore. Other channels that secured slots were Aaj Tak, TV9 Bharatvarsh, R Bharat, Zee News, ABP News, NDTV India, News Nation, Times Now Navbharat, Bharat 24, India TV and GNT.
In the 2022 e-auction, the pubcaster earned Rs 120 crore from the sale of 14 slots in this category.
Under Bucket D (all other remaining genre of Hindi, devotional channels, all genre of marathi, Punjabi and Urdu channels and news english channels), 10 slots sold out for Rs 144.45 crore. At Rs 18.5 crore, the top bidder in this category was Sun Marathi. Under Bucket R1 only one channel, Popular TV, bagged the slot for Rs 3.05 crore.
Compared to 2023, in 2022, the pubcaster earned Rs 645 crore from the allotment of 59 MPEG-2 slots.
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Rubika Liyaquat to join Bharat 24 as VP, set to launch her independent YouTube channel
Liyaquat recently quit ABP News after a five-year stint
By Ruhail Amin | Jun 7, 2023 2:24 PM | 1 min read
Well-known anchor and Senior Journalist Rubika Liyaquat who was associated with ABP news for over 5 years is joining Bharat 24 as Vice President. She will also be launching her independent YouTube Channel soon.
Bharat 24's, CEO & Editor in Chief Jagdish Chandra confirmed this development.
"The channel is about to complete a year in August 2023 and with the run up to the upcoming elections, Bharat 24 is building a strong team of experienced professionals starting with Liyaquat", said Chandra.
Liyaquat completed her graduation from Mumbai University and her media education from Futuristic Media Communication Centre (FMCC). She started her career in 2007 and has worked with media houses like News 24, Aaj Tak, Zee News, and Live India TV. She is known for her popular shows, Taal Thok Ke and Master Stroke.
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CNN-News18’s Political Editor and Sr. Anchor Marya Shakil quits
Shakil is an award-winning journalist with over 17 years of experience
By exchange4media Staff | Jun 7, 2023 1:34 PM | 1 min read
Marya Shakil, Political Editor and Senior Anchor at CNN-News18 has quit.
Highly placed sources have confirmed this development to e4m.
Shakil is an award-winning journalist with over 17 years of experience. Her show on the Muslim yearning to be part of the mainstream earned her the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Award in politics and government category in 2012. She also received the award in the same category for her coverage of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Her show NewsEpicentre has won multiple ENBA awards.
She joined CNN-News18 after completing her Masters in Mass Communication from Jamia Millia’s AJK Mass Communication Research Centre in 2005. She also won the Chevening South Asia Journalism Fellowship in 2016.
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Shemaroo and Seven Network team up to launch Shemaroo Bollywood in Australia
Shemaroo Bollywood will be available for free on Seven Network's streaming platform, 7plus+
By exchange4media Staff | Jun 7, 2023 1:21 PM | 3 min read
Shemaroo Entertainment Limited has joined with the Seven Network, one of Australia's leading media companies to launch Shemaroo Bollywood, the first-ever Bollywood F.A.S.T. (free ad-supported streaming TV) channel in Australia. This strategic collaboration marks Shemaroo's first venture with a major broadcaster in the region and sets the stage for an immersive Indian entertainment experience for Australian viewers. Shemaroo Bollywood will be available for free on Seven Network's streaming platform, 7plus+, providing seamless access to a vast library of iconic Indian/Bollywood movies.
With a remarkable six-decade-old legacy and an unparalleled content repository, Shemaroo is all-set to entertain the large Indian diaspora present in Australia. With Seven Network’s association, Shemaroo continues to establish its long-term and mutually beneficial relationships with renowned broadcasters across the globe. By venturing into key markets like Australia, Shemaroo aims to expand its reach and diversify its business portfolio and this latest venture demonstrates Shemaroo's commitment to realizing this vision.
Bollywood's timeless songs, compelling storytelling and ability to portray diverse cultures have captivated audiences worldwide and across all age groups. The launch in Australia holds immense significance, particularly for the vibrant Indian diaspora in the country. The launch also coincides perfectly with the forthcoming finals of World Test Championship of Cricket where India and Australia will lock horns for the coveted trophy. As cricket enthusiasts anticipate this thrilling event, Shemaroo Bollywood will complement the excitement by offering captivating movies that showcase the rich tapestry of Indian culture.
This first-of-its-kind association aims to forge a long-term and mutually profitable partnership between Shemaroo and the Seven Network, bolstering Shemaroo's consumer centric approach in key markets outside India. Shemaroo will harness Seven’s strong presence in broadcast television, publishing and digital platforms, while benefiting from Seven Network's dominance in TV and BVOD across Australia. Together, they aim to redefine entertainment experiences for audiences in Australia and beyond.
Nishith Varshneya, Head of International Business & India Digital Syndication - Shemaroo, said, “At Shemaroo, we are constantly exploring new opportunities to showcase our vast library of Bollywood to audiences across the globe. Our collaboration with Seven Network to launch Shemaroo Bollywood in Australia is a significant step towards achieving this goal. We believe that Bollywood movies and songs have the power to connect varied cultures. With Seven Network's established presence and expertise in the Australia, we are confident that this partnership will enable us to reach a wider audience and provide them with a delightful entertainment experience. We are excited about the possibilities this collaboration holds and look forward to a successful journey together.”
Seven West Media Chief Digital Officer, Gereurd Roberts, said: “Shemaroo Bollywood on 7plus symbolises Seven’s commitment to bring the most compelling, diverse and global content to
Australian audiences, for free. Through our unique collaboration with Shemaroo Entertainment, we are incredibly proud to introduce 7plus viewers to Australia’s first premium Hindi FAST channel and enrich 7plus with a colourful tapestry of captivating Indian cinema. Seven is Australia’s leader in FAST channels. So far in 2023 we have streamed over 250 million FAST channel minutes, up 195% on the same period last year,” he said.
Shemaroo Entertainment's 60-year-old legacy, built on a foundation of delivering high-quality entertainment experiences, solidifies its position as a trusted industry leader. The launch of Shemaroo Bollywood in Australia is just one of the many exciting developments taking place worldwide as Shemaroo expands its global footprint.
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Sreenivasan Jain begins new innings with Jindal School of Journalism
Jain stepped down as Group Editor of NDTV in Jan 2023
By exchange4media Staff | Jun 7, 2023 11:50 AM | 2 min read
Sreenivasan Jain, former Group Editor of NDTV, has joined Jindal School of Journalism and Communication as Faculty.
Speaking about the appointment, JGU’s founding Vice Chancellor Professor (Dr) C. Raj Kumar said, “Sreenivasan Jain is an outstanding journalist in the best traditions of the practice and his experience will enrich JSJC and JGU in many ways. He has spoken truth to power during his career as a journalist and his joining our university as a faculty member will instil confidence among the students in pursuing a career in journalism and public affairs on the edifice of ethics and integrity. The students of JSJC have had a unique experience of studying at an exciting school with an innovative and interdisciplinary curriculum in cinema, journalism and communication that offers a wide range of national and international opportunities.”
Commenting on his new role Sreenivasan Jain said, “In my three decades in TV news and journalism, one of the most rewarding aspects of the experience was the opportunity to work with and train younger entrants into our newsroom. I look forward to extending that experience in this new innings as a faculty member at the Jindal School of Journalism & Communication of O.P. Jindal Global University.”
Jain had been with the television channel since 1995. He is the recipient of Journalist of the Year by the Ramnath Goenka Awards in 2014, by the Red Ink Awards in 2015, and anchor of the year at ENBA Awards, 2016.
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News24 appoints Mayur Aggarwal as VP Sales
Aggarwal has earlier served stints at Zee Media, NDTV, Zee Entertainment and Times Television
By exchange4media Staff | Jun 6, 2023 10:02 PM | 1 min read
News24 has appointed Mayur Aggarwal as Vice President, Sales.
As Vice President of Sales, Aggarwal will be responsible for leading the company's sales efforts, developing and executing effective sales strategies, and driving revenue growth. With over 17 years of experience, Aggarwal has earlier served stints at Zee Media, NDTV, Zee Entertainment & Times Television.
"We are delighted to welcome Mr. Mayur Aggarwal to News24 as our new Vice President of Sales," Anuradha Prasad, Editor in Chief of News24 Broadcast India Limited.
"His impressive track record and strategic vision make him the ideal candidate to lead our sales team. We are confident that Mayur Aggarwal's expertise will propel our sales initiatives forward and drive our company's growth", she added.
Commenting on his role, Aggarwal said, "I am honoured to join News24 and be part of this dynamic team. I look forward to leveraging my experience to enhance our sales strategies, strengthen customer relationships, and drive revenue growth. Together, we will achieve great success."
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ABP’s news anchor Jiya Sharma quits
Prior to ABP News she was associated with Zee News
By exchange4media Staff | Jun 5, 2023 9:25 AM | 1 min read
ABP’s news anchor Jiya Sharma, who was the face of the show 'Namaste Bharat', has quit. Sharma confirmed this development to e4m.
Sharma has nearly a decade of experience in news media. Prior to 'ABP News', she was associated with 'Zee' (UP/UK and MP/Chhattisgarh) for about four years. She has also worked with 'IBC24', 'Bansal News', 'Red FM and Doordarshan' in the past.
Sharma holds Masters in Mass Communication from Makhanlal Chaturvedi University
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Rubika Liyaquat quits ABP News
She was associated with the network for over five years
By Ruhail Amin | Jun 3, 2023 11:58 PM | 1 min read
Well-known anchor and Sr Journalist Rubika Liyaquat has resigned from 'ABP News'.
If sources are to be believed, she is now planning to step into the world of entrepreneurship. Some industry sources have told e4m that Liyaquat has taken this decision since she was not given a salary raise.
Sources also say that Liyaquat has got a big offer from a newly launched Hindi news channel. However, this channel is not doing well at the moment.
She was associated with 'ABP News' since 2018.
Hailing from Udaipur, Liyaquat completed her graduation from Mumbai University, she also holds a degree in Mass Communication. Liyaquat began her career with 'Live India'. She was associated with 'Live India' from June 2007 to September 2008. In 2008, she joined 'News24'.
She has also served stint at 'Zee News' and was associated with the network before joining ABP News.
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