12 channels have been allocated the MPEG-4 slots on DD Freedish at the fourth annual e-auction conducted on Thursday and Friday. The results are for the period of one year, starting April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023.

The channels that secured a slot are: Aastha Bhajan, Bflix Movies, Chardikala Time TV, India News UP/UK and News18 UP/UK, News 24 Think First. News India 24x7, News State UP/UK, Raftar, Samay, Sudarshan News and Swadesh News.

In Week 5 of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India, SUN TV reigned the across genre category with 2700.09 (000) AMA. Star Utsav jumped to the second spot with 2625.86 (000) AMA and Star Maa slipped to the third spot with 2402.56 (000) AMA. Star Plus retained its fourth spot with 2354.13 (000) AMA followed by Dhinchaak at the fifth spot with 1797.93 (000) AMA and Star Vijay with 1691.56 (000) AMA at the sixth spot. Colors shifted one spot up and claimed the 7th spot with 1661.92 (000) AMA. Sony Sab slipped to 8th spot with 1611.51 (000) AMA. Zee TV retained its 9th spot with 1555.31 (000) AMA compared to week 4. Sony Pal was the new entrant in the Top 10 list with 1513.92 (000) AMA at the 10th spot.

BARC India has said that it intends to restart the release of news channel ratings from March 17.

“BARC India is currently working towards ensuring the seamless release of individual news channel data and intends to commence release with effect from our reporting Week 10, 2022. As per our reporting cycle, this data will be released to the market on Thursday, 17th March 2022. We have communicated the same to our clients and stakeholders,” BARC said in a statement.

The news channels pay up to three times the reserve price to get a slot on DD Freedish. Broadcasters claim that if Prasar Bharati mentioned the number of slots available for news channels to bid, it would streamline the process and create a fairer playing ground

In the Week 1 of Broadcast Audience Research Council India data, SUN TV dominated the top spot in the across genre category with 3020.98 (000) AMA. Star Utsav jumped to the second spot with 2637.26 (000) AMA. Star Plus stood at the third spot with 2541.77 (000) AMA. Star Maa retained the fourth spot with 2461.24 (000) AMA followed by Star Vijay at the fifth spot with 1805.25 (000) AMA. Dhinchaak took a steep leap from 10th spot to 6th spot with 1794.06 (000) AMA compared to Week 52. Sony Sab retained its 7th spot with 1764.95 (000) AMA. Colors further dropped from 6th spot to 8th spot with 1752.99 (000) AMA followed by Zee TV from 8th spot to 9th spot with 1652.49 (000) AMA compared to week 52. Star Pravah is the new entrant in the top 10 list with 1617.21 (000) AMA at the 10th spot.

A Delhi-based cable operators’ association has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to stop the implementation of NTO 2.0.

In its letter dated December 28, the All Local Cable Operators Association, has claimed that the implementation of NTO 2.0 will lead to unemployment of lakhs of families connected with the cable TV industry. They have alleged that TRAI and broadcasters are “forcibly pressurizing” MSOs to implement the new tariff order, which will lead to cable TV operators, national MSOs and independent MSOs incur huge losses.

Four private direct to home (DTH) operators have attracted foreign direct investment (FDI) worth Rs 7047 crore till date, Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Anurag Thakur informed the Lok Sabha. The break-up of FDI received by each DTH operator is as follows: Dish TV India + Videocon d2h (Rs 2170 crore), Bharati Telemedia (Rs 2165.06 crore), Tata Sky (Rs 1869.89 crore), and Sun Direct TV (Rs 841.55 crore).

Sony Pictures Networks India Private Limited (SPNI) and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEEL) today announced that they have signed definitive agreements to merge ZEEL with and into SPNI and combine their linear networks, digital assets, production operations and program libraries. The agreements follow the conclusion of an exclusive negotiation period during which ZEEL and SPNI conducted mutual due diligence. After closing, the new combined company will be publicly listed in India. The closing of the transaction is subject to certain customary closing conditions, including regulatory, shareholder, and third-party approvals.

TV9 Network is gearing up to launch an English language online platform for long shelf-life narratives and news-based factual content. According to sources, the platform’s beta version will be launched in December, followed by a formal launch in January 2022.

Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati is inviting applications for allotment of vacant MPEG-2 slots of DD Free Dish for the period from 01.01.2022 to 31.03.2022 through the 56th online e-auction process which is likely to be held on 24th December.

The Pro-rata starting reserve price for News & Current Affairs (Hindi) Channels, News & Current Affairs (English), and News & Current Affairs (Punjabi) Channels are Rs 5,51,25,000.