DD Free Dish, also known as DD Direct+, is India’s exclusive Free Direct-To-Home Service introduced in December 16, 2004. This DTH service is owned and managed by the Public Service Broadcaster Prasar Bharati, which operates Doordarshan. The ownership and operation of DD Free Dish DTH service rest with the Public Service Broadcaster Prasar Bharati. DD Free Dish stands out as the sole Free-to-Air (FTA) Direct-To-Home (DTH) Service, exempting viewers from monthly subscription fees. Its affordability is noteworthy, requiring only a modest one-time investment of approximately Rs. 2000/- for the purchase of a Set-top Box (STB) along with a compact Dish Antenna and accessories.
This distinctive free-to-air model has propelled DD Free Dish to become the largest DTH platform. Let’s know about the scheme in detail. We will also talk about free dish tv yojana apply online, DD free dish scheme price, DD free dish scheme channel list, DD free dish scheme amount, DD free dish set top box, DD free dish, DD free dish price, DD free dish new channel coming soon list
What is the DD Free Dish Scheme 2024?
DD Free Dish, sanctioned by the Government of India and administered through Prasar Bharati, received Cabinet approval on November 19, 2003. The formal inauguration of DD Free Dish took place on December 16, 2004, with the Honourable Prime Minister of India leading the ceremony. Unlike DTH operators worldwide, who typically impose activation and monthly subscription charges based on the channels/bouquets chosen by the subscriber, DD Free Dish is a unique Free-to-Air (FTA) DTH platform that does not levy such fees. This service covers the entire country, excluding Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and extends its reach to areas without access to terrestrial or cable TV, including border, remote, and tribal regions.
Notably, DD Free Dish is available across the nation except in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. However, a dedicated 10-channel DTH service in C-Band has been established by Prasar Bharati exclusively for Andaman & Nicobar Islands, also operating on a Free-To-Air basis.
As of 2023 market estimates, more than 4.50 Crore households are tuned in to DD Free Dish.
DD Free Dish Scheme 2024 Key Highlights | |
DD Free Dish Scheme Launch Date | December 16, 2004 |
DD Free Dish Scheme Official Website | Prashar Bharti Official Website |
DD Free Dish Scheme Objective | To provide free dishes all across the country with zero subscription fees. |
DD Free Dish Scheme Beneficiary | Every citizen of India |
DD Free Dish Scheme Subscription Fee | Rs 0 |
DD Free Dish Scheme Set Top Box Cost | Rs 2000 (One Time) |
DD Free Dish Scheme Channels | 250 ( as per 2024) |
DD Free Dish Scheme Availability | at all nearby stores and e-Commerce websites |
DD Free Dish Scheme Mode of Application | Online/Offline |
DD Free Dish Scheme Customer Care Number | 1800114554 (Toll-Free)011-25806200 (From 08:00 AM to 08:PM) |
DD Free Dish Scheme Benefits 2024
- DD Free Dish ensures high-quality pictures for all channels in the bouquet.
- Signals are received directly from broadcasters, eliminating intermediaries.
- Subscribers are not required to pay recurring charges to access any programs.
- DD Free Dish is a lifetime-free service with no monthly or annual subscription fees.
- Unlike private DTH operators, DD Free Dish offers a complete bouquet, including HD channels, without additional charges.
- To access DD Free Dish channels, viewers need to purchase a DD Free Dish Set-Top Box and a dish with accessories from the open market.
- The complete set typically costs around Rs. 2000, depending on the type of set-top box.
- The DD Free Dish Receive System includes a Set-Top-Box, a small-sized Dish Antenna, LNBC, RF cable, and other necessary accessories.
DD Free Dish Scheme In News | BIND Scheme
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) Scheme proposed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. This central sector scheme, with an allocated budget of Rs. 2,539.61 crore until 2025-26, aims to support Prasar Bharati, specifically in the expansion and enhancement of its broadcasting infrastructure, content development, and organizational civil work.
Prasar Bharati, serving as the primary public broadcaster in the country through Doordarshan (DD) and All India Radio (AIR), holds a crucial role in providing information, education, entertainment, and engagement, especially in remote areas. Notably, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Prasar Bharati played a pivotal role in disseminating public health messages and awareness.
The DD Free Dish Scheme under the BIND Scheme seeks to extend Prasar Bharati’s outreach, including in Left Wing Extremism (LWE), border, and strategic areas, offering high-quality content to viewers. This initiative also aims to enhance the coverage of AIR FM transmitters in the country to 66% by geographical area and 80% by population, surpassing the current figures of 59% and 68%, respectively.
As part of the BIND Scheme, over 8 lakh DD Free Dish Set-Top Boxes (STBs) will be distributed freely to individuals residing in remote, tribal, LWE, and border areas, contributing to increased accessibility and viewership.
Good News for Journalist Welfare Scheme Beneficiaries 2023 | Now You Can Also Apply OnlineÂ
DD Free Dish Scheme TV Channels List (Full)
The DD Free Dish channels are categorized into seven groups: national, regional, state, entertainment, Hindi music, news, devotional, and Doordarshan parliamentary. Let’s explore these categories in more detail and examine the channels available, along with their respective channel numbers.
Doordarshan Channel List 2024
CHANNEL NUMBER | CHANNEL NAME |
001 | DD News |
002 | DD National |
113 | DD National HD |
003 | DD Retro |
004 | DD Kisan |
005 | DD India |
079 | DD Sports |
077 | DD Bharati |
114 | DD Urdu |
CHANNEL NUMBER | CHANNEL NAME |
090 | DD Assam |
093 | DD Bangla |
086 | DD Chandana |
008 | DD Girnar |
009 | DD Kishar |
089 | DD Malayalam |
091 | DD Odia |
021 | DD Phodhigai |
022 | DD Punjabi |
023 | DD Sahyadri |
088 | DD Saptagiri |
024 | DD Yadagiri |
092 | DD Arun Prabha |
080 | DD Bihar |
082 | DD Madhya Pradesh |
078 | DD Rajasthan |
076 | DD Uttar Pradesh |
Regional Channel List 2024
CHANNEL NUMBER | CHANNEL NAME |
084 | DD Chhattisgarh |
081 | DD Jharkhand |
097 | DD Goa |
098 | DD Haryana |
087 | DD Uttarakhand |
105 | DD Manipur |
104 | DD Meghalaya |
107 | DD Mizoram |
106 | DD Nagaland |
083 | DD Tripura |
General Entertainment Channel List 2024
CHANNEL NUMBER | CHANNEL NAME |
38 | Colors Rishtey |
48 | Zee Anmol |
41 | Big Magic |
29 | Dangal TV |
28 | Shemaroo TV |
37 | Sony Pal |
33 | Star Utsav |
58 | Sony Wah |
82 | Filmachi |
19 | Manoranjan Grand |
34 | The Q |
50 | Azaad |
9 | Ishara TV |
Music Channel List 2024
CHANNEL NUMBER | CHANNEL NAME |
061 | MTV Beats |
063 | B4U Music |
057 | 9XM |
062 | Mastiii |
007 | Showbox |
Movies Channel List 2024
CHANNEL NUMBER | CHANNEL NAME |
55 | Star Utsav movies |
19 | ABZY Dhakad |
10 | ABZY Movies |
32 | ABZY Cool |
42 | B4U Kadak |
12 | B4U Movies |
15 | Dhinchaak |
51 | Enterr10 Movies |
58 | Maha Movie |
43 | Manoranjan TV |
52 | Goldmines Movies |
39 | Movie Plus |
35 | Rishtey Cineplex |
34 | Surya Cinema |
48 | Zee Anmol Cinema |
35 | Cineplex Bollywood |
110 | BFlix Movies |
33 | Dhinchaak 2 |
News Channel List 2024
CHANNEL NUMBER | CHANNEL NAME |
068 | Aaj Tak |
013 | Aajtak Tez |
069 | ABP News |
064 | India TV |
049 | NDTV India |
066 | Times Now Navbharat |
073 | News 24 Think First |
065 | News Nation |
056 | News18 India |
067 | Republic Bharat |
044 | TV9 Bharatvarsh |
059 | Zee Hindustan |
070 | Zee News |
115 | Swadesh News |
100 | Samay |
060 | India News |
101 | India News UP/UK |
108 | News State UP/UK |
102 | Sudarshan News |
103 | News 18 UP/UK |
116 | Raftaar Media |
13 | Good News Today |
Educational Channel List 2024
CHANNEL NUMBER | CHANNEL LIST |
DD SWAYAM Prabha 1 | 117 |
DD SWAYAM Prabha 2 | 118 |
DD SWAYAM Prabha 3 | 119 |
DD SWAYAM Prabha 4 | 120 |
DD SWAYAM Prabha 5 | 121 |
DD SWAYAM Prabha 6 | 122 |
DD SWAYAM Prabha 7 | 123 |
DD SWAYAM Prabha 8 | 124 |
DD SWAYAM Prabha 9 | 125 |
DD SWAYAM Prabha 10 | 126 |
DD SWAYAM Prabha 11 | 127 |
DD SWAYAM Prabha 12 | 128 |
DD SWAYAM Prabha 13 | 129 |
DD SWAYAM Prabha 14 | 130 |
DD SWAYAM Prabha 15 | 131 |
DD SWAYAM Prabha 16 | 132 |
DD SWAYAM Prabha 17 | 133 |
DD SWAYAM Prabha 18 | 134 |
DD SWAYAM Prabha 19 | 135 |
DD SWAYAM Prabha 20 | 136 |
DD SWAYAM Prabha 21 | 137 |
DD SWAYAM Prabha 22 | 138 |
DD eVidya 1 | 139 |
DD eVidya 2 | 140 |
DD eVidya 3 | 141 |
DD eVidya 4 | 142 |
DD eVidya 5 | 143 |
DD eVidya 6 | 144 |
DD eVidya 7 | 145 |
DD eVidya 8 | 146 |
DD eVidya 9 | 147 |
DD eVidya 10 | 148 |
DD eVidya 11 | 149 |
DD eVidya 12 | 150 |
DD Vande Gujarat 1 | 151 |
DD Vande Gujarat 2 | 152 |
DD Vande Gujarat 3 | 153 |
DD Vande Gujarat 4 | 154 |
DD Vande Gujarat 5 | 155 |
DD Vande Gujarat 6 | 156 |
DD Vande Gujarat 7 | 157 |
DD Vande Gujarat 8 | 158 |
DD Vande Gujarat 9 | 159 |
DD Vande Gujarat 10 | 160 |
DD Vande Gujarat 11 | 161 |
DD Vande Gujarat 12 | 162 |
DD Vande Gujarat 13 | 163 |
DD Vande Gujarat 14 | 164 |
DD Vande Gujarat 15 | 165 |
DD Vande Gujarat 16 | 166 |
Bhojpuri Channel List 2024
CHANNEL NUMBER | CHANNEL LIST |
Bhojpuri Cinema | 30 |
B4U Bhojpuri | 14 |
Big Ganga | 16 |
Zee Biskope | 31 |
Filamchi Bhojpuri | 46 |
Goldmines Bhojpuri | 17 |
Manoranjan Prime | 18 |
Marathi Channel List 2024
CHANNEL NUMBER | CHANNEL LIST |
Sun Marathi | 6 |
Shemaroo Marathibana | 20 |
Fakt Marathi | 24 |
Zee Chitramandir | 71 |
Punjabi Channel List 2024
CHANNEL NUMBER | CHANNEL LIST |
Zee Punjabi | 72 |
Manoranjan Movies | 40 |
Chardikala Time TV | 96 |
Popcorn Movies | 53 |
Devotional Channel List 2024
CHANNEL NUMBER | CHANNEL NAME |
75 | Sadhana Bhakti |
85 | Lord Buddha TV |
45 | Aastha TV |
53 | Sadhana TV |
54 | Sanskar TV |
11 | Vedic |
Parliamentary Channel List 2024
CHANNEL NUMBER | CHANNEL NAME |
026 | Lok Sabha TV |
027 | Rajya Sabha TV |
DD Free Dish Scheme How to Apply Online 2024
To apply for the DD Free Dish scheme, you must be aware of the one-time fees that will be applicable for the Set Top Box and Dish. You have to pay a one-time amount for the DD Free Dish which total amounts to Rs 2000 as of now. After that the whole subscription is free of cost, you can enjoy 250+ channels from the bouquet without paying a single rupee. Prasar Bharati has enlisted 11 manufacturers of Set-Top-Boxes (STBs) authorized to sell DD Free Dish STBs in India. The authorized DD Free Dish STB is accessible in the open market. Individuals looking to purchase the authorized DD Free Dish STB can reach out to any of the enlisted STB manufacturers.
You can also buy it from your nearby STB Dealers.
DD Free Dish Scheme FAQs
Will DD Free Dish Signal be available in remote villages, where no TV tower is installed?
Yes, the DD Free Dish signal is accessible through satellite and doesn’t necessitate any tower or cable for distribution.
What is the composition of DD Free Dish bouquet?
The DD Free Dish bouquet includes a diverse range of Doordarshan TV channels, Private TV Channels in various genres such as GEC, Movies, Music, Sports, News & Current affairs, Devotional/Spiritual/Ayush, etc. in multiple Indian languages and English. It also comprises Educational channels and Radio channels of All India Radio.
Once the Dish & Set Top Box are installed, will it be possible to receive all channels, or do I have to pay to see Private TV channels?
DD Free Dish platform is entirely free, and viewers are not required to pay for any channels on the DD Free Dish platform, including private TV channels. Once the receive equipment is installed, all channels in the bouquet can be accessed without any additional cost.
If one shifts his residence or moves to another city, can he continue to use the same STB and Dish to receive DD Free Dish?
Yes, it is possible to carry the equipment anywhere in India and continue enjoying DD Free Dish after installing the dish at the new location through a local installer.
What is the cost of the Receive Equipment for DD Free Dish?
The indicative price of a Receive System (comprising Set-Top Box, Dish Antenna, LNB, cable, and other associated accessories) may be less than Rs. 2000. However, the actual cost can vary based on the equipment’s make and is subject to local taxes and prevailing custom duty.