Indian state broadcaster Doordarshan is set to outsource the operational and maintenance management of its free-to-air DTH platform DD Direct+ to private operators.
SatelliteFinance understands that the government is on the verge of releasing an RfP to…
Indian state broadcaster Doordarshan is set to outsource the operational and maintenance management of its free-to-air DTH platform DD Direct+ to private operators.
SatelliteFinance understands that the government is on the verge of releasing an RfP to invite bids from local DTH firms, teleport operators and turnkey groups to run the platform to save costs.
“[The RFP] may be issued soon, the exact date cannot be confirmed until final approval,” said a government source.
According to the source, any private company with sufficient experience will be able to bid for the tender.
Explaining how companies, such as Indian DTH firms Dish TV and Tata Sky, could profit from the tender, the source said: “Say they invest Rs 100 crore (US$20.7m) … [they could] earn a rental of Rs 150-180 crore (US$31m-US$37.3m) in five years.”
Doordarshan declined to comment, but the move would reduce costs at DD Direct+ as it reportedly aims to increase its channel capacity from 59 to 200 over the next 6-8 months.
It also follows the introduction of e-auctions this summer to allocate DD Direct+ channels to private DTH providers.
Two rounds of e-auctions for a total 26 slots have already generated record revenues from private broadcasters of Rs 63 crore (US$13m), reported local daily Financial Express.
Reports suggest Doordarshan plans to auction as many as 350 channels to private payTV providers.
