DD FreeDish is a FTA DTH service for which subscribers don’t have to pay any monthly subscription, except making a one-time payment for the dish antennae and the STB. The platform presently carries about 80 TV channels that pay huge amounts of money in an auction to bag slots. FreeDish’s massive reach in rural India ensuring eyeballs, which are helpful in shoring up advertising revenues of TV channels.
The enquiry report confirmed the use of DD FreeDish by Bhusawal Cable Network for re-transmission of certain mandatory and private satellite channels with incontrovertible video evidence, establishing violation of cable TV rules. A show-cause notice was served on the MSO on 24 September 2021.
Though the MSO concerned termed the video recording and the allegations as being not genuine, but could not furnish any evidence to the contrary. The MSO had also blamed its competitors trying to oust it of business.
Thus, M/s Bhusawal Cable Network Pvt. Ltd. failed to give any satisfactory reply with documentary support in favor of its denial of all the charges levelled against it. Therefore, taking cognizance of the offences committed by M/s Bhusawal Cable Network Pvt. Ltd., the MSO registration granted to it on 04.1I .2015 by this Ministry is terminated/cancelled with immediate effect,” the MIB said in an official communication. The MSO can still appeal to the MIB Secretary against the registration cancellation order.
