Lok Sabha Question No. 5244 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Auctions of DD-Direct
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: RAJENDRA AGRAWAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 5244 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2017)

## AUCTIONS OF DD-DIRECT

## 5244. SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL:

## Will  the  MINISTER  OF  INFORMATION  AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the 24th Auction of DD-Direct was held in November 2015 and if so, the details thereof along with details of the lowest and highest bids thereon;
- (b) whether the Doordarshan has not revised the reserve price of Rs. 6 crore in subsequent auctions after the 24th Auction for private TV channels to take slot on DD Free dish and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether the bids in subsequent auctions were around Rs. 4.3 crore indicating cartelization and the loss in possible revenue out of it;
- (d)  if so, the details of the maximum bid in the 32nd Auction of DD Free dish held on 14th February, 2017 along with the reasons for keeping the reserve bid artificially low; and
- (e)  whether there is any proposal to revise reserve prices to a minimum of Rs. 6-7 crore for subsequent auctions and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## {COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)}

- (a)   Prasar Bharati has informed that the 24 th  e-Auction was held on 09.11.2015. The details of 24 th  e-Auction are enclosed at Annexure .
- (b)   Doordarshan conducted 24 th  e-Auction to 31 st  e-Auction with a Reserve Price of  Rs.  4.30  Crores  per  DTH  Slot.  However,  in  the  32 nd   e-Auction  conducted  on 14.02.2017 the Reserve Price was revised to Rs.4.80 Crores.
- (c)   The bid amount ranged from Rs. 4.3 Crores to Rs 7.6 Crores.
- (d)    Does not arise in view of (b) & (c) above.
- (e)    The matter has not yet been decided.

*****

ANNEXURE AS REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5244 FOR ANSWER ON 05.04.2017

ANNEXURE

| 24th e-Auction conducted on 09th November, 2015   | 24th e-Auction conducted on 09th November, 2015   | 24th e-Auction conducted on 09th November, 2015   | 24th e-Auction conducted on 09th November, 2015   |
|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
| S. No                                             | Successful Channels                               | Reserve Price                                     | Bid Amount                                        |
| 1                                                 | News-24                                           | Rs.4.30 Cr.                                       | Rs. 6.50 cr.                                      |
| 2                                                 | Manoranjan TV                                     | Rs.4.30 Cr.                                       | Rs. 6.40 Cr.                                      |
| 3                                                 | India News                                        | Rs.4.30 Cr.                                       | Rs. 6.30 Cr.                                      |
| 4                                                 | Aaj Tak                                           | Rs.4.30 Cr.                                       | Rs. 6.00 Cr.                                      |
| 5                                                 | Big Magic                                         | Rs.4.30 Cr.                                       | Rs. 6.00 Cr.                                      |