In a move that could reshape India’s television distribution landscape, Dish TV India has approached the Kerala High Court seeking regulatory parity between public broadcaster Prasar Bharati’s free-to-air platform DD Free Dish and private direct-to-home (DTH) operators.
In its petition, Dish TV has urged the court to direct the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to bring DD Free Dish under the same regulatory framework governing private DTH platforms. This includes mandatory encryption and compliance with the Digital Addressable System (DAS) under statutes such as the Indian Telegraph Act and the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act.
The company has argued that DD Free Dish’s continued operation in an unencrypted, non-addressable format is “arbitrary and discriminatory,” and violates constitutional guarantees of equality, freedom of speech, and the right to carry on trade. According to sources, the Kerala High Court has admitted the petition and scheduled the next hearing for June 2.
DD Free Dish’s November 28, 2025 notice—inviting applications from regional language channels for uplinking on its platform in an unencrypted format and without carriage fee until March 31, 2026—will remain subject to the final outcome of the case.
Encrypted DTH services require authorised set-top boxes, subscriber management systems, and regulatory compliance, while DD Free Dish operates as a free-to-air platform that can be accessed with basic equipment, bypassing subscription frameworks.
The regulatory gap has been acknowledged earlier by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), which in its July 2024 recommendations proposed a transition of DD Free Dish towards an addressable system. However, these recommendations are non-binding, and the MIB has yet to take a final decision, mindful of the potential disruption to over 53 million households dependent on the platform.
Industry stakeholders say the issue has been simmering for years. Private DTH operators, along with the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF), have repeatedly flagged what they describe as an uneven playing field.
A senior executive at a leading private DTH operator, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the lack of regulatory parity distorts competition. “We operate under stringent licensing conditions, invest heavily in encryption infrastructure, and pay multiple levies. DD Free Dish, on the other hand, continues to expand without being subject to the same obligations, even as it competes for the same viewers and broadcasters,” the executive said.
Cable operators echoed similar concerns. An executive associated with a large multi-system operator noted that DD Free Dish’s free-to-air model has steadily eroded the pay-TV subscriber base in price-sensitive markets.
“In many rural and semi-urban areas, consumers are migrating to DD Free Dish because it offers a wide bouquet of channels without monthly fees. This puts pressure on cable and DTH operators who have to recover costs through subscriptions,” the executive said.
Dish TV, in its petition, has underscored the scale of this shift. It argued that DD Free Dish, originally conceived as a platform to distribute Doordarshan channels, has evolved into a quasi-commercial platform carrying around 120 private channels and generating significant revenues through channel auctions—without comparable regulatory oversight.
Legal experts say the case could have far-reaching implications for India’s broadcasting ecosystem. If the court directs the government to enforce encryption and addressability norms on DD Free Dish, it could alter the economics of free-to-air television and impact millions of households.
However, policymakers face a delicate balancing act. While private operators are pushing for a level playing field, any abrupt regulatory shift could disrupt access for millions of low-income viewers who rely on DD Free Dish for free television services.
The outcome of the case is therefore likely to test not just the contours of regulatory parity, but also the broader question of public service broadcasting in a rapidly evolving media market.
