DD FREE DISH 80th e-auction For MPEG-4 slots for the period from 01.08.2024 to 31.03.2025

DD FREE DISH 80th e-auction For MPEG-4 slots for the period from 01.08.2024 to 31.03.2025

Prasar Bharati
India's Public Service Broadcaster
Prasar Bharati Secretariat
Prasar Bharati House
Copenicus Marg
New Delhi-110001

No.: DDFD /3 (2) / 2024 /
P-VII /e-Auction (MPEG-4)
Dated: 15th, July 2024

Notice for 80TH e-auction of DD Free Dish MPEG-4 slots

Subject: Notice Inviting Applications for Allotment of Vacant MPEG-4 Slots of DD Free Dish Platform for the Period from 01.08.2024 to 31.03.2025 through 80TH e-Auction

1. Prasar Bharati invites applications for allotment of vacant MPEG-4 slots of DD Free Dish DTH Platform for the period from 01.08.2024 to 31.03.2025 through 80TH online e- auction process to be tentatively held from 24TH July 2024 (Wednesday).

2. The e-auction will be conducted in accordance with E-auction Methodology for allotment of DD Free Dish slots to private TV channels, notified by Prasar Bharati on 27.01.2023 and subsequent Amendment Dated 13.12.2023 which are available on the Prasar Bharati website, http://prasarbharati.gov.in.

3. Only satellite channels licensed by the Ministry of I&B would be allowed to participate in the e-auction. Only companies holding valid permission from Ministry of I & B can apply for participation in e-auction for allocation of DD Free Dish slot.

4. International Public Broadcasters licensed by the Ministry of I & B can also participate in e-auction.

5. Bidding in the e-Auction of MPEG-4 slots will be open to all Genre and Language Channels at Reserve Price of Rs. 1,34,49,000/- for the Period from 01.08.2024 to 31.03.2025.

6. Broadcasters desirous of allotment of slot on DD Free Dish are required to provideclear and unambiguous proof in support of Genre and Language classification of their channel. In case of lack of clarity, ambiguity or conflicting information, applications will be deemed ineligible and may be summarily rejected. For details, please refer checklist of documents provided with the application form. Further, the Channel shall contain content predominantly of Genre and Language as declared at the time
of e-Auction application. 'Predominantly means, 75 percent of content telecast on channel shall be in Genre and Language (audio), as declared by applicant Channel Provider at the time of e-auction, excluding the limit of advertisements/ promos on the channel as prescribed under rule (7) sub-rule (i) of Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 across a month.

6.1 This means that the content of declared Genre and Language of a Channel shall not be less than 60 percent of the entire content of the channel in a month.

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7. Before, starting filling up of online application, please ensure that copies of alldocuments provided in Annexure-1, including participation fee Demand Draft, are available in PDF format, not exceeding 1.0 MB, for uploading.

8. Satellite TV channels participating in e-auction shall be required to furnish an
undertaking in the prescribed formats as per Annexure-2.

9. Channel Provider will have to submit Certificate (For Authorized Signatories) on
Letter Head, as per Annexure-3, who will be authorized to sign the application and
for all necessary correspondence pre, during and post e Auction on Channel
Provider's behalf.

10. The successful Channel Provider, in the e-auction, will be required to submit a duly filled and signed Integrity Pact (if Bid Value is more than Rs.2,00,00,000/-), as per Annexure-4, along with the Agreement to be signed between Channel Provider &
Prasar Bharati within 15 days of issue of Allotment Letter, post e-Auction.

11. 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.

12. Interested broadcasters may apply online at https://fdslots.prasarbharati.org and upload all requisite documents as prescribed in the application. Please note that it is mandatory to pay the non-refundable processing fee of Rs.25,000/- online at above portal to submit the application. The participation fee of Rs.10,00,000/- (Rupees Ten Lakhs) only is to be paid only through Demand Draft. A copy of the participation fee demand draft is to be uploaded online.

13. After submission of online application, the original demand draft for participation fee along with printout of acknowledgement for submission of online application, which will be sent to you on your authorized e-mail, is to be submitted in sealed cover either in person or by Speed/Registered Post addressed to Deputy Director (Platforms), Room No. 601, Tower-A, Directorate General: Doordarshan, Doordarshan Bhawan, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi-110001 latest by 23TH July 2024 (Tuesday) by
15.00 Hrs.

14. Online training will be provided to all eligible participants before the commencement of actual e-Auction.

15. If required, Prasar Bharati can extend e-Auction to the next day or as the case may be.

16. For details like e-auction process, terms & conditions and payment schedule etc.please refer to E-auction Methodology
available On the website http://prasarbharati. gov.in.

17. Prasar Bharati reserve the rights to accept/reject/cancel/amend the e-Auction/slot at any time during the e-Auction or after e-Auction.

18. For unsuccessful bidders, participation fee will be refunded within three weeks after the declaration of the results of e-auction.

19. 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

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payment of bid amount and prescribed format of agreement to be signed between Prasar Bharati & bidder.

20. Every successful bidder will be required to sign an 'Agreement' with Prasar Bharati in two original copies within 15 days of issue of 'Letter of Allotment'. The prescribed format of the 'Agreement' is available on the website https://prasarbharati.gov.in.

21. 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. All such requests shall be considered by Prasar Bharati in accordance with prescribed procedure for allotment allotment/change of LCN to private TV channels, which is available on the website https://prasarbharati.gov.in. Prasar Bharati's decision in this regard shall be final.

22. Successful channels shall be required to make payments as per 'Payment Schedule' prescribed in 'Letter of Allotment' and clause (5) of the E-auction Methodology for allotment of DD Free Dish slots which will also be part of agreement to be signed between Prasar Bharati & successful bidders.

23. In case of any installments not paid within the scheduled dates, a notice to this effect shall be issued to the defaulter to deposit the payment due along with interest @ 14.5% per annum, as provided in clause 5.3 of E-auction Methodology, within seven days. Interest @ 14.5% per annum shall be charged from the due date of payment on the outstanding amount. In case the installment due along with the interest is not paid within seven days from its scheduled due date, the 'Participation Fee' along with any
installment already deposited by the Broadcaster/Channel till that date, will be
forfeited and the channel will be discontinued from DD Free Dish Platform without any further notice and the channel will have no right to be carried on DD Free Dish on vacated slot.

24. Successful channel will be placed on DD Free Dish after receipt of payment for 1sTinstallment of carriage fee, as provided in allotment of letter. In case the 'Channel Provider' fails to place its channel on its allocated slot within one month of the allotment commencement date, the allotment shall stand cancelled automatically and the Participation Fee along with any installment already deposited shall be forfeited.

25. In case the 'Channel Provider' withdraws its channel prematurely or terminates the contract prematurely, the 'Participation Fee' shall be forfeited along with any installment already deposited.

26. 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.

27. The Last Date fox submission of applications and original Demand Draft is 23th July 2024 (Tuesday) by 15.00 Hrs.

Neeraj Goyal
DDE (Platform)

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