DD’s FreeDish ramps up capacity, calls for locally made STBs

India’s public broadcaster Doordarshan is now able to carry 104 TV channels on its free direct-to-home (DTH) service FreeDish and is calling for local manufactures to supply iCAS-enabled set-top boxes (STBs).Doordarshan (DD) is implementing the Indian conditional access system (iCAS) on its FreeDish platform. An initiative of central Government, iCAS infrastructure is being initially introduced to the new 24 MPEG-4 channels to provide an enhanced viewing experience. Existing FreeDish viewers will continue to receive 80 channels, free-to-air, in standard definition, but will have to obtain an iCAS-enabled authorised STB to access all 104 channels.

As part of the Government’s Made in India and Digital India initiatives, DD is now inviting applications to manufacture, sell and distribute approved iCAS-enabled DD FreeDish STBs in India. Once authorised, STB manufacturing and distribution will begin across India, ready to sell to FreeDish viewers three months later. Capacity on FreeDish is allocated to private channels through an e-auction system. Its private channels now number 55 and include Sony Pictures Television Networks, Star India, and Zee TV, B4U and the SAB group. Doordarshan earned INR980 million in 2014-15, INR1800 million in 2015-16, and until September 2016 had this year raised INR1040 million from the slot rental process. DD’s next FreeDish e-auction is scheduled for 5 October.Eventually the DTH satellite service, which has an estimated 25 million viewers, plans to carry 250 TV channels, according to the public broadcaster.