Prasar Bharati invites applications to fill up vacant MPEG-2 slots

Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati on Wednesday invited applications to fill up the vacant MPEG-2 slots on DD Free Dish DTH platform for the period from 01 April 2020 to 31 March 2021.

The vacant slots will be filled up through the online e-auction process. The slots will be allotted as per the procedure which was notified last year with e-auction if required taking place on 31 March.

Channels licensed by the I&B Ministry will only be allowed to participate in the process. International broadcasters licensed by the I&B Ministry can also participate in the e-auction.

Bucket A+ reserve price has been set at Rs 15.2 crore. Bucket A reserve price has been set at Rs 13.6 crore. Bucket B reserve price has been set at Rs 12.3 crore. Bucket C reserve price has been set at Rs 12.25 crore. Bucket D reserve price has been set at Rs 6.25 crore. Bucket R1 isn’t involved in the e-auction since the three reserved R1 slots have been filled up in the 44th e-auction itself.

53 channels had earlier won MPEG 2 slots in the recently concluded 44th E-Auction which was held earlier this month. All channels will be going on air from April 1 on the DD Free Dish DTH platform.