There is good news for DD Free Dish viewers; Prasar Bharati has issued a notice inviting applications for the 102nd e-Auction—a mid-year event—to fill vacant MPEG-4 slots on the platform. This notice was issued on September 16, 2026.
According to the official notification, successful TV channels will be allotted DD Free Dish MPEG-4 slots on a pro-rata basis for the period from October 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027. The online e-Auction is expected to commence on September 24, 2026.
The auction comprises five categories (buckets), as Prasar Bharati has classified participating channels based on their genre and language.
- The G1 category is for News and Current Affairs TV channels.
- The G2 category is for channels of all genres other than News and Current Affairs.
Regional language channels are divided into three additional categories:
- R1 includes Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam channels.
- R2 includes Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, and Odia channels.
- R3 includes other regional languages listed in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution (excluding Hindi and Urdu) that do not fall under R1 and R2.
For channels applying under categories R1, R2, and R3, it is mandatory to provide proof of their presence on MSO or DTH platforms, as well as evidence of their genre and language.
These private channels on DD Free Dish are required to broadcast content primarily in the same genre and language declared during the e-Auction process. As per the rules, 75% of the content (excluding approved advertisements and promos) must align with the declared genre and language, and this declared content must constitute at least 60% of the channel's total monthly content. This was because it was observed that most channels would air teleshopping advertisements throughout the day.
Last date for applications by private channels –
Interested private TV channels or broadcasters must submit their applications and proof of participation fee payment by 3:00 PM on September 22, 2026.
TV channels that win this e-auction will be allotted vacant MPEG-4 slots and Logical Channel Numbers on DD Free Dish, in accordance with Prasar Bharati's applicable allotment process.
Source: Prasar Bharati's notice dated September 16, 2026, regarding the mid-year 102nd e-auction for MPEG-4 slots on DD Free Dish.