Indian public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has allocated slots for 40 channels on direct-to-home (DTH) platform DD Free Dish following an e-auction earlier this month.
“Subject to completion of all formalities, the channels that have successfully bid for slots will come on air on DD Free Dish platform from March 1, 2019,” said Prasar Bharati in a statement. “Consequently, the existing channels, which are on DD FreeDish platform on pro-rata basis, will be off-air after February 28, 2019.”The MPEG 2 slots were offered in five ‘buckets’. Namely, Bucket A+: All Hindi general entertainment channels (GEC) and teleshopping; Bucket A: All Hindi movie channels, 3); Bucket B: All Hindi music channels, Hindi sports channels, Bhojpuri movies, Bhojpuri GEC, 4) BUCKET C: All Hindi news and current affairs; all English news and current affairs dhannels and Punjabi news & current affairs; and 5) Bucket D: All other remaining genres (Language).
A total of 2 slots were sold under A+, 8 under A, 11 under B, 16 under C, and 3 under D.
For Bucket A+, the average slot price was INR15.025 crore and the highest bid price was INR15.05 crore.
For Bucket A, the average slot price was INR12.4 crore and the highest bid price was INR12.45 crore. For Bucket B, the average slot price was INR 10.6 crore and the highest bid price was INR 10.95 crore. For Bucket C, the average slot price was INR 8.15 crore and the highest bid price was INR 8.95 crore.For Bucket D, the average slot price was INR 6.08 crore and the highest bid price was INR 6.1 crore.
“The total earnings from the 38th e-auction of DD FreeDish is to the tune of INR395 crore. Though this is the first time we are having an annual auction, if we add up last year’s auctions, it is a 30 per cent hike in earnings,” said Shashi Shekhar Vempati, CEO, Prasar Bharati.
“Bucket C, which has news and current affairs channels in Hindi, English and Punjabi, has got the highest premium over reserved price. Initially, when there were only two divisions, there was a stiff competition between news and non-news channels. This time, it was slightly relaxed in that context. The premium over base price has also gone up against the last season.”
The dates of auction for MPEG 4 slots on DD Free Dish will be announced soon, he added.
