DD Free Dish: Prasar Bharati Invites Bids for MPEG-2, MPEG-4 Slots

• Prasar Bharati has opened applications for the 95th and 96th online e-auctions for vacant DD Free Dish MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 slots.
• These mid-year auctions will allot slots on a pro-rata basis for two months, starting February 1, 2026.
• The e-auctions are tentatively scheduled to begin on January 27, 2026, with the application deadline on January 21, 2026, by 3:00 PM.
• Eligibility is restricted to satellite TV channels with valid downlinking and uplinking permissions from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
• Channels are categorized into 'Buckets' based on genre and language, with varying reserve prices for MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 slots.

Why It Matters: Prasar Bharati is auctioning DD Free Dish MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 slots for two months, starting February 2026.