Prasar Bharati invites applications from TV channels for DD Free Dish’s MPEG-2 slots

India’s public service broadcaster Prasar Bharati has invited applications from satellite TV channels to fill up vacant MPEG-2 slots of DD Free Dish platforms on a pro-rata basis for the period from January 2022 to March 2022.
According to a Prasar Bharati notice, the slots will be allotted based on an online e-auction process and as per procedure explained in Clause (r) of Annexure-2 of the policy guidelines for allotment of DD Free Dish slots, notified on January 2019, which are available on the Prasar Bharati websites.
Only satellite channels licensed by the Ministry of I&B for downlinking in India would be allotted slots on DD Free Dish, said the public broadcaster. Only license holder companies or their authorised distributor partners can apply for allocation of DD Free Dish slots.
In case the applicant company is other than licensee, the document/agreement signed between license holder company and applicant company authorizing the applicant/bidder for distribution of the channel and bidding on behalf of the licensee must be submitted.
Broadcasters desirous of allotment of slots on DD Free Dish have to provide clear and unambiguous proof in support of genre classification of their channel. In case of lack of clarity, ambiguity or conflicting information, applications will be deemed ineligible and may be summarily rejected, said the notice.
Successful bidders shall be required to make the payments in two monthly installments as per the payment schedule prescribed under clause (5) of the policy guidelines for allotment of DD Free Dish slots. Each installment will be 1/2 of the difference of bid amount and participation fee.
Broadcasters can apply online at https://fdslots.prasarbharati.org and upload all requisite documents as prescribed in the application.
For unsuccessful bidders, the participation fee will be refunded within three weeks after the declaration of the results of e-auction. For successful bidders, participation fee will be adjusted in the final installment of the carriage fee/bid amount. Successful channels will be required to arrange their own IRD Box in advance at DTH Earth Station, New Delhi, to place their channels on DD Free Dish Platform.
The last date for submission of applications is 23 December 2021.