**Executive Summary**
Prasar Bharati is launching a pilot initiative to onboard popular regional language channels onto DD Free Dish, offering free MPEG-4 slots. This aims to improve access to information and education in under-represented areas and fulfill the objective of public service broadcasting. The allotment of slots is available until March 31, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Pilot Program Launch:**
* Prasar Bharati is launching a pilot scheme on DD Free Dish platform.
* Vacant DD Free Dish slots on newly upgraded MPEG-4 streams are available for allotment.
* **Eligibility and Preference:**
* Popular regional language channels (Schedule 8 languages except Hindi and Urdu) are invited to apply.
* Regional channels in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bangla, Assamese, and Odiya are given preference.
* Regional News channels are also preferred over Non-News Regional channels.
* **Slot Allotment:**
* Regional channels will be allotted slots free of cost on a pilot basis.
* The allotment period is valid until March 31, 2026.
* **DD Free Dish Overview:**
* DD Free Dish currently offers a variety of channels including 482 TV channels (320 educational) and 48 radio channels.
* The bouquet includes DD channels, private TV channels (General Entertainment, News, Devotional, Movies, Sports).
* DD Free Dish is a free-to-air DTH platform without monthly/annual subscription fees.
* It reaches approximately 65 million households, even in remote areas.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Information and Broadcasting**
* **Impact**: Supports the implementation of their policies related to broadcasting.
* **Action Required**: Oversee and support Prasar Bharati in launching the pilot program.
**Prasar Bharati**
* **Impact**: Strengthens their public service broadcasting mandate and expands their reach.
* **Action Required**: Implement the pilot scheme, allot slots to regional channels, and ensure the program aligns with objectives.
**Regional Language Channels (Schedule 8, excluding Hindi and Urdu)**
* **Impact**: Offers an opportunity to expand viewership and reach a wider audience without subscription fees.
* **Action Required**: Apply for allotment of vacant DD Free Dish slots and comply with the terms of the pilot program.
**Viewers in Under-Represented Areas**
* **Impact**: Increased access to information, education, and entertainment in their regional languages.
* **Action Required**: Access DD Free Dish to view the newly available regional language channels.
Key Entities Referenced
DD Free Dish: A free-to-air Direct-To-Home (DTH) platform of Prasar Bharati, offering access to television channels without subscription fees.
Prasar Bharati: An autonomous public service broadcaster responsible for the DD Free Dish platform.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting: The government ministry responsible for regulating and overseeing broadcasting activities, including permitting and licensing channels on DD Free Dish.
MPEG-4 Slots: Digital slots on DD Free Dish for regional language channels.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Prasar Bharati Launches Pilot Initiative to
Onboard Popular Regional Channels on DD Free
Dish
DD Free Dish Strengthens Access to Information and
Education; Reaches 65 Million Households Across India
DD Free Dish to Offer Free MPEG-4 Slots to Regional
Language Channels Under New Pilot Initiative Till 31st March
2026
प्रव तथ: 28 NOV 2025 7:26PM by PIB Delhi
Prasar Bharati is launching a pilot scheme on DD Free Dish platform, wherein popular regional language
channels (Schedule 8 languages except Hindi and Urdu), permitted and licensed by the Ministry of I&B,
are invited to apply for allotment of vacant DD Free Dish slots on newly upgraded MPEG-4 streams.
Prasar Bharati’s endeavour for outreach in unrepresented and under- represented areas is driven by a
commitment to bridge gaps in access, opportunity, and awareness through promoting regional languages
apart from other activities.
Regional Channels of Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bangla, Assamese and Odiya languages
which are underrepresented /unrepresented in DD Free Dish platform shall be given preference over other
regional language channels. Regional News channels will also be given preference over Non-News
Regional channels.
These regional channels will be allotted slots free of cost on pilot basis. The allotment will be only for the
period upto 31.03.2026.
Channel bouquet of DD Free Dish is varied and rich having most of the genres represented in it. Presently
DD Free Dish has bouquet of 482 TV channels (including 320 DD Co-Branded educational channels like
PM eVidya and Swayam Prabha ) and 48 radio channels. Apart from Doordarshan channels, the bouquet
consists of private TV channels of General Entertainment, News, Devotional, Movies, Sports etc.
“DD Free Dish” Direct-To-Home (DTH) Platform of Prasar Bharati , is a free to air platform, where no
monthly or annual subscription fee is charged from the viewers. This unique and affordable model has
made DD Free Dish the largest DTH platform, reaching about 65 million households (as per Chrome Data)
even in remote, rural, inaccessible and border areas. Through DD Free Dish, Prasar Bharati is
empowering masses by providing quality and free information, education and entertainment to the
remotest corner of the country benefitting even the marginalised and weaker sections of the society
thereby fulfilling its primary objective of Public Service broadcasting.
*****Mahesh Kumar
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2196028) आगंतुक पटल : 356
इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu , ही , Marathi , Assamese , Punjabi , Tamil , Kannada , Malayalam