99th e-Auction - 10 Channels added in MPEG- Slot
As you know, Prasar Bharati has issued a fresh notice for the 99th online e-auction to allot vacant MPEG-4 slots on the DD Free Dish DTH platform. This mid-year auction will be conducted on a pro rata basis for the remainder of the current allotment cycle.
According to the notice, the vacant MPEG-4 slots will be allotted for the period from June 5, 2026, to March 31, 2027.
Auction Date -
The e-auction is tentatively scheduled to begin on May 26, 2026, Tuesday.
Broadcasters who are interested in taking part in this auction must complete the online application process and submit all required documents before the deadline.
Who Can Participate?
Only satellite TV channels that are permitted or licensed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting are eligible to participate in this e-auction.
International Public Broadcasters that are licensed by the Ministry of I&B are also allowed to take part.
Last Date to Apply
Interested broadcasters must submit their applications online along with all necessary documents, including proof of payment of the participation fee, by 3:00 PM on May 25, 2026, Monday.
Applications submitted after the deadline may not be considered.
Fees and Payment Details
Broadcasters need to pay a non-refundable processing fee of ₹25,000 through the official online portal.
Apart from this, a participation fee of ₹3,00,000 is also required. This can be paid through Demand Draft, RTGS, or other approved electronic payment methods.
For channels applying under R1 and R3 buckets, the participation fee will be 60% of the starting reserve price or ₹3,00,000, whichever is lower.
Genre and Language Declaration
Channels participating in the auction must clearly declare their genre and language category. They are also required to submit proper supporting documents for the same.
Prasar Bharati has made it clear that if the information related to genre or language is unclear, inconsistent, or unsupported by documents, the application may be rejected.
Content Rules for Successful Channels
Successful bidders will have to follow the declared genre and language guidelines after getting a slot on DD Free Dish.
The channel must broadcast content mainly in its declared genre and language. As per the notice, at least 75% of the content should match the declared genre and language. In any month, this content should not fall below 60% of the total monthly programming, excluding advertisements and promos.
Agreement and Technical Requirements
After receiving the Letter of Allotment, successful bidders must submit a signed agreement within 15 days.
They will also need to provide an IRD box with dual IP Multicast and SDI output at the Doordarshan DTH station in New Delhi. This must be done at least one week before the channel is placed on the DD Free Dish platform.
Interested broadcasters should carefully check the eligibility rules, payment requirements, genre classification conditions, and technical guidelines before applying on