Prasar Bharati has officially invited applications for the 100th e-Auction of MPEG-2 slots on the DD Free Dish DTH Platform. According to the notification issued on 9 July 2026, the auction will allocate vacant MPEG-2 slots to eligible private television channels for the period 23 July 2026 to 31 March 2027. The online e-auction is tentatively scheduled to be held on 16 July 2026 (Thursday).
The DD Free Dish e-auction is a major event for broadcasters, as it determines which private television channels will be available on India’s largest free-to-air DTH platform.
DD Free Dish 100th e-Auction – Highlights
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Platform | DD Free Dish |
| Auction | 100th e-Auction |
| Notification Date | 9 July 2026 |
| Auction Type | MPEG-2 Slot Allocation |
| Tentative Auction Date | 16 July 2026 |
| Slot Validity | 23 July 2026 – 31 March 2027 |
| Organiser | Prasar Bharati |
| Mode | Online e-Auction |
Who Can Participate?
According to the notification, only satellite television channels that are licensed by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) are eligible to participate.
International public broadcasters that are licensed by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting are also permitted to participate in the e-auction.
Channel Categories (Buckets)
Prasar Bharati has classified channels into five bidding categories based on genre and language.
| Bucket | Eligible Channels |
|---|---|
| Bucket A+ | Hindi / Urdu General Entertainment Channels (GEC) |
| Bucket A | Hindi / Urdu Movie Channels |
| Bucket B | Hindi / Urdu Music Channels, Sports Channels, Bhojpuri Channels and Other Hindi/Urdu Genres |
| Bucket C | Hindi / Urdu News & Current Affairs Channels |
| Bucket D | Devotional, Spiritual, Ayush Channels, Marathi Channels, Punjabi Channels, English News Channels and eligible Regional Language Channels |
Reserve Prices
The notification specifies the following starting reserve prices for each auction round.
| Auction Round | Starting Reserve Price |
|---|---|
| Bucket A+ | ₹11,21,92,000 |
| Bucket A | ₹9,00,99,000 |
| Bucket B | ₹7,04,22,000 |
| Bucket C | ₹5,62,69,000 |
| Bucket D | ₹4,86,74,000 |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Issued | 9 July 2026 |
| Last Date for Application Submission | 15 July 2026 (3:00 PM) |
| Tentative e-Auction Date | 16 July 2026 |
| Slot Period Begins | 23 July 2026 |
| Slot Valid Till | 31 March 2027 |
Documents Required
Broadcasters participating in the auction must submit various documents, including:
- Ministry of Information & Broadcasting downlink permission
- Uplink permission (where applicable)
- Channel logo
- Proof of participation fee payment
- Documents supporting channel genre and language classification
- Programme schedule
- PAN and GST details
- Signed undertaking and integrity pact
- Authorization letter for the bidding representative
Participation Fee
Applicants are required to pay:
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Non-refundable Processing Fee | ₹25,000 |
| Participation Fee | ₹1,50,00,000 |
The notification states that the participation fee must be paid through RTGS/Electronic Transfer or Demand Draft, and payment proof must be uploaded along with the application.
Content Compliance Requirements
Prasar Bharati has reiterated that successful bidders must maintain the declared genre and language throughout the allotment period.
The notification specifies that:
- At least 75% of telecast content should belong to the declared genre and language (excluding advertisements and promos).
- The monthly content in the declared genre and language should not fall below 60% of the total programming.
What This Means for DD Free Dish Viewers
The 100th e-Auction is expected to determine the lineup of private television channels available on DD Free Dish for the upcoming carriage period. Depending on the auction results, viewers may see:
- New entertainment channels
- Movie channels
- Sports channels
- Regional language channels
- News channels
- Devotional services
The final list of successful broadcasters will be announced after the completion of the e-auction process.
Final Thoughts
The 100th DD Free Dish MPEG-2 e-Auction marks another important milestone for India’s free-to-air DTH platform. With applications now open and the online auction scheduled for 16 July 2026, broadcasters have the opportunity to secure carriage on one of the country’s largest television distribution platforms. Viewers can expect updates on participating channels and the final auction winners once the bidding process concludes.
