In 2017,
Republic TV and the Zee Media Networkâs channels circumvented Prasar Bharatiâs auction system to gain viewership on DD Free Dish.
Free Dish is a free-to-air DTH service provided by the Indian government. In 2017, it reached 22 million subscribers in the country, mostly in rural, Hindi-speaking regions. To be available on this platform for a limited period, broadcasters have to bid for a slot and pay a fee amounting to crores of rupees.
Republic TV and Zee Media did not pay this fee, thanks to help from Dish TV, a private DTH service then owned by Zee Media. The three companies violated norms and, as a result, cost the public exchequer more than Rs 52 crore.