Public service broadcaster Prasar Bharati has allotted vacant MPEG-4 slots on pro-rata basis to four channels on its direct-to-home (DTH) platform DD Free Dish in the 43rd e-auction. Three Hindi and one Bengali channel won the slots in this e-auction.
Hindi news channels Samay and JK 24X7 News along with Hindi music channel 9X Jalwa and Bengali music channel Sangeet Bangla have been allotted MPEG-4 slots for a period from 1st February 2020 to 14th May 2020.
Only channels licensed by the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) were allowed to participate in the 43rd online e-Auction process while companies holding valid permission from MIB or their authorized distributor partners could apply for the allocation of DD Free Dish slot.
Samay and JK 24X7 News are national Hindi news channels from Sahara News Network and JK Media Network respectively. 9X Jalwa is a popular channel for Bollywood music lovers by 9X Media while Sangeet Bangla caters to Bengali audience, it offers the best of Tollywood music and filmy content.
All 4 channels will be placed on DD Free Dish from 1st February 2020 and they can participate in the next auction if they are willing to stay on DD Free Dish after 14th May 2020.
