New Delhi: The Centre has stepped up efforts to enhance the presence of South Indian language channels on DD Free Dish, the country's only free-to-air Direct-To-Home (DTH) platform, which now reaches nearly 49 million households across India.

According to data shared by Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, DD Free Dish's reach has grown steadily from 33 million homes in 2018 to approximately 49 million in 2024.

As part of its expansion strategy, Prasar Bharati has taken several steps to improve regional representation. Slots were reserved for South Indian language channels in the 2025 e-auctions. The eligibility criteria for private broadcasters from the southern states were also simplified to encourage wider participation.

Dedicated slots for Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam language channels were allocated, resulting in the onboarding of three private channels — TV9 Telugu, Aastha Kannada, and Aastha Telugu — since April 1, 2025.

Doordarshan's own regional channels, including DD Tamil, DD Saptagiri (Telugu), DD Chandana (Kannada), DD Yadagiri (Telugu), and DD Malayalam, have also been added to the platform. These channels are undergoing technological upgrades and are being actively promoted to boost viewership.

In addition to entertainment and public awareness content, DD Free Dish also offers 27 educational channels broadcasting in various South Indian languages, further strengthening its regional outreach.