Prasar Bharati invites NIA for allotment of vacant MPEG-4 slots

Prasar Bharati has invited Notice Inviting Applications for allotment of vacant MPEG-4 slots of DD Free Dish on pro-rata basis for the period from July 5 to March 31, 2022 on June 20, 2022.

This is the 60th online e-auction process to be tentatively held on June 28, 2022.

The slots will be allotted as per policy guidelines for allotment of DD Free Dish slots, notified on 15.01.2019 and as amended from time to time which are available on the website, http://prasarbharati.gov.in.

Only satellite channels licensed by the Ministry of l&B would be allowed to participate in the e-auction. Only companies holding valid permission from Ministry of l&B or their authorized distributor partners can apply for participation in e-auction for allocation of DD Free Dish slot. In case the applicant company is other than licensee, the document/agreement signed between license Holder Company and applicant company authorizing the applicant/bidder for distribution of the channel and bidding on behalf of the licensee must be submitted. .

International Public Broadcasters licensed/registered/permitted by the Ministry of l&B can also participate in e-auction.

The channel provider shall be required to notify viewers of the need to use the Prasar Bharati authorized Set-top-Boxes (STBs).

Prasar Bharati reserves all rights to restrict access of MPEG-4 signals to unauthorized STBs at any point of time.

Change of name and or logo of a channel placed on DD Free Dish may be allowed subject to necessary permissions from Ministry of I & B. However. no change in genre (Language) of channel, declared by applicant at the time of bidding, will be permissible.

Bidding in the e-auction of MPEG-4 slots will be open to all genre (language) Channels at starting reserve price of Rs. 1,20,11,000/- for the period from July 5 to March 31, 2022.

After the successful conduct of e-auction, a Letter of Allotment will be issued by Prasar Bharati to the successful bidder along with the payment schedule for payment of bid amount and prescribed format of agreement to be signed between Prasar Bharati & bidder.

Successful channels will be placed on vacant Logical Channel Numbers (LCNs) of DD Free Dish. After completion of e-auction, successful channel may apply giving three options in the order of preference for allotment of LCN. However, this does not guarantee for placement of successful channel on preferences given for LCN.

Successful Channels will be required to arrange their own IRD Box in advance at DTH Earth Station. Todapur, New Delhi, to place their Channel on DD Free Dish Platform. BCS Bureau