Get ready for a colorful TV explosion on DD Free Dish! Prasar Bharati, India’s public broadcaster, is rolling out a vibrant pilot scheme where popular regional language channels can grab some empty spots on the newly upgraded MPEG-4 platform. What’s MPEG-4? It’s a cool new tech that packs high-quality videos into smaller spaces, making your viewing sharper and smoother. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said this move aims to create a stronger bridge with underrepresented and remote areas in India. “Prasar Bharati’s endeavour for outreach in unrepresented and under-represented areas is driven by a commitment to bridge gaps in access, opportunity, and awareness through promoting regional languages apart from other activities,” the Ministry added. What’s the yummy masala here? Regional channels in languages like Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bangla, Assamese, and Odia will be given first dibs! Even better, regional news channels get a special spot ahead of non-news ones. And guess what? The slots will be allotted free of cost — yes, free! But only for the pilot period ending March 31, 2026. Right now, DD Free Dish dazzles with a whopping 482 TV channels, including 320 Doordarshan co-branded educational channels like PM eVidya and Swayam Prabha, plus 48 radio channels. You’ll find everything here — entertainment, news, devotion, movies, sports — all without emptying your pockets. No monthly or annual subscription fees! This affordable magic has helped DD Free Dish become India’s largest DTH platform, reaching about 65 million households, even in the farthest corners of rural and border areas, according to market research firm Chrome DM. So, if you love your regional stories and vibrant culture, this new pilot scheme is great news! Stay tuned as your favorite local channels shine bright on your screens, thanks to Prasar Bharati’s exciting new leap into the future of free TV.