DD Free Dish vacant MPEG-2 slots: Prasar Bharati invites applications for allotment
The pubcaster has invited applications for the 81st e-auction for the period from September 5, 2024 to March 31, 2025. E- auction to be tentatively held on August 28.
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Prasar Bharati has invited applications for the allotment of vacant MPEG-2 slots of DD Free Dish. The online auction tentatively will take place on August 28.
The allotment is for the period between September 5, 2024 to March 31, 2025.
The e-auction will be conducted in accordance with 'E-auction Methodology' for the allotment of DD Free Dish slots to private TV channels, notified by Prasar Bharati on January 23, 2023 and subsequent amendment on December 13, 2023 which are available on pubcaster's website. Only satellite channels licensed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting would be allowed to participate in the e-auction.
Additionally, only companies holding valid permission from the MIB can apply for the participation in e-auction for allocation of the DD Free Dish slots.
International Public Broadcasters licensed by the Ministry can also participate in e-auction.
The last date of submission of the applications is August 27.
According to the revised methodology, Bucket A+ will now feature GEC (Hindi/Urdu) channels, Bucket A will host movie (Hindi/Urdu) channels, and Bucket B will include music (Hindi/Urdu), sports (Hindi/Urdu), Bhojpuri language, and other remaining Hindi/Urdu genres.
Bucket C is dedicated to news and current affairs (Hindi/Urdu), and Bucket D encompasses devotional/spiritual/Ayush, all genres of Marathi and Punjabi Channels, and news and current affairs (English). Additionally, Bucket R1 will cover languages not represented in other buckets.
In the circular, Prasar Bharati has mentioned that the broadcasters desirous of allotment of slot on DD Free Dish are required to provide clear and unambiguous proof in support of genre and language classification of their channel. In case of lack of clarity, ambiguity or conflicting information, applications will be deemed ineligible and may be summarily rejected.
The starting Reserve Price for Round 1 (Bucket A+) is Rs Rs.12,10,96,000, Round 2 (Bucket C) is Rs Rs.10,79,90,000; Round 3 (Bucket A) is Rs 10,31,46,000; Round 4 (Bucket D) is Rs 10,31,46,000; Round 5 (Bucket B) is Rs 10,25,76,000 and Round 6 (Bucket R1) is Rs 7,57,92,000.
Broadcasters who are applying for the slots are supposed to pay non-refundable processing fee of Rs 25,000 online and the participation fee of Rs 1,50,00,000 is to be paid only through Demand Draft.
It is to be noted that earlier, broadcasters have raised concerns over the steeped prices and during the 79th e-auction, none showed up.
