DD Free Dish: In the eye of a brewing storm

For private TV channels and their Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs) like cable networks and DTH services, Prasar Bharati’s free-to-air DTH platform DD Free Dish is a no-win. DD Free Dish, the only unencrypted DTH platform in the country, has queered the pitch for private DTH operators, cable networks and broadcasters who encrypt or code their signals as per the cable law, distorting the regulatory and commercial landscape for them. “The friction arises because DD Free Dish is a free, unencrypted, government-backed platform competing with paid, regulated private TV platforms. Private players have been arguing that this creates an uneven playing field, impacting subscriptions and advertising revenues. In essence, the argument is that a state-backed platform competing in the same market, under a different regulatory regime, creates a structural bias,” said Tony Verghese, partner, JSA Advocates & Solicitors. Read more