Advanced Television

India’s FreeDish targets 250 DTH channels

October 6, 2016

By Chris Forrester

India’s FreeDish DTH platform is now carrying 104 channels thanks to the adoption of MPEG-4 transmission.  The previous total was 80 channels.  Public broadcaster Doordarshan coordinates the FreeDish offering, and says the target is to keep adding free channels up to about 250 services.

Viewers need a Conditional Access card, in order to comply with India’s rules on addressable boxes, and the extra channels – over the ‘basic’ 80 – can only be watched with suitable MPEG-4 boxes equipped with India’s CA system.

The FreeDish platform has a variety of channels comprising 22 Doordarshan channels, India’s two parliamentary channels, seven general entertainment and music channels each, 18 movie channels, 13 news channels and three religious channels among others.

Categories: Articles, DTH/Satellite