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News18 India Frequency on GSAT-15 2026 – Complete Settings Guide
News18 India broadcasts on GSAT-15 (93.5°E) at 11510 MHz, vertical polarization, 29500 symbol rate, 3/4 FEC with MPEG-2 SD format. DD Free Dish official channel with nationwide coverage.
News18 India is India’s number-one national Hindi news channel, delivering comprehensive 24×7 coverage of politics, business, regional developments, and breaking news across the Indian subcontinent. Part of the Network18 Media & Investment Limited group and integrated with the Jiostar network, News18 India reaches millions of Hindi-speaking households through satellite, digital, and DTH platforms. This complete tuning guide enables seamless reception on standard satellite television equipment across India and neighboring regions.
How to Tune News18 India
News18 India operates on India’s GSAT-15 satellite as part of the DD Free Dish multiplex, providing free-to-air reception throughout the subcontinent. The channel requires standard Ku-band satellite reception equipment with DVB-S compatibility, making tuning accessible for most Indian viewers with existing satellite television installations.
- Step 1 – Align satellite dish to GSAT-15 satellite at 93.5° East orbital position using satellite meter
- Step 2 – Input frequency 11510 MHz and symbol rate 29500 Ks/s into receiver’s manual tuning menu
- Step 3 – Configure vertical (V) polarization setting and FEC to 3/4 ratio
- Step 4 – Execute channel scan and save to receiver’s channel list with LCN assignment
Who Watches News18 India
News18 India commands India’s largest news viewership demographic, reaching educated urban professionals, middle-class households, farmers, and grassroots communities. The channel attracts audiences aged 20-75 seeking trusted national news analysis, election coverage, and breaking investigative reports on governance, crime, and development.
- Urban Professionals and Business Community – Working-class audiences aged 25-65 monitoring market impacts, policy changes, and political developments
- Rural and Semi-urban Households – Viewers in tier-2 and tier-3 cities relying on satellite television for national news access
- Election Cycle Viewers – Significant viewership surge during state and national elections for live coverage and analysis
- Peak Hours – Morning 7-9 AM breakfast slot, evening 6-9 PM prime-time block achieving highest viewership ratings
News18 India Coverage Map
GSAT-15 delivers exceptional coverage across the entire Indian subcontinent with strong signal reception in metropolitan areas, tier-2 cities, and rural regions. News18 India benefits from this robust footprint, ensuring nationwide accessibility with minimal reception degradation across diverse topographical terrain.
| Region | Satellite | Signal Quality | Dish Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan India (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore) | GSAT-15 (93.5°E) | Excellent | 45-60cm |
| Tier-2 Cities (All States) | GSAT-15 (93.5°E) | Excellent | 60-75cm |
| Rural India (All regions) | GSAT-15 (93.5°E) | Good | 90cm |
| Himalayan/Hilly Terrain | GSAT-15 (93.5°E) | Fair | 1.0m-1.2m |
| Middle East (Gulf region) | GSAT-15 (93.5°E) | Fair | 1.2m |
News18 India Alternative Satellites
News18 India primarily broadcasts via GSAT-15 for domestic Indian reach, with encrypted feeds available on premium DTH platforms like Intelsat 20 for subscriber distribution. Viewers seeking alternative reception pathways or backup options may reference multiple satellite infrastructure, though DD Free Dish GSAT-15 delivery remains the primary free-to-air source.
- GSAT-15 (93.5°E) – Primary DD Free Dish broadcast; frequency 11510 MHz vertical; nationwide free-to-air access
- Intelsat 20 (68.5°E) – Premium DTH encrypted feed at 4034 MHz vertical; serves paid DTH subscribers with additional video bitrate
- GSAT-15 Alt (93.5°E) – Secondary frequency 11090 MHz vertical carries ABP News India multiplex; shared transponder resources
- Hotbird 13E (13.0°E) – Historical European feed for diaspora communities; limited contemporary relevance
Similar Channels to News18 India
News18 India operates in India’s highly competitive Hindi news market dominated by established networks and emerging digital-native competitors. Viewers seeking alternative news sources find comparable editorial approaches and national news focus from major competing channels available on identical satellite infrastructure.
- Aaj Tak – Major Hindi news competitor on GSAT-15 11170 MHz vertical; strong entertainment and sports coverage integration
- ABP News India – Premium Hindi news at 11090 MHz vertical on GSAT-15; emphasis on political analysis and investigative reporting
- India TV – Hindi news on 11510 MHz vertical, same transponder; focuses on crime and human-interest journalism
- Zee News – Hindi news channel at 11470 MHz vertical; targets conservative-leaning audiences with nationalist editorial approach
News18 India vs Competitors
News18 India maintains competitive advantages through owned broadcasting infrastructure, comprehensive national news bureaus, and integrated digital-satellite distribution reaching both DTH and free-to-air audiences. Technical quality comparisons and editorial differentiation demonstrate market positioning among primary Hindi news networks.
| Feature | News18 India | Aaj Tak | ABP News India |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video Quality | SD (MPEG-2) | SD (MPEG-2) | SD (MPEG-2) |
| Encryption | FTA (Free-To-Air, DD Free Dish) | FTA (Free-To-Air, DD Free Dish) | FTA (Free-To-Air, DD Free Dish) |
| Content Focus | General News, Elections, Breaking News | Entertainment, Sports, Breaking News | Political Analysis, Investigation |
| Satellite Coverage | GSAT-15 (93.5°E) + Intelsat 20 | GSAT-15 (93.5°E) only | GSAT-15 (93.5°E) only |
| Parent Company | Network18/Jiostar | India Today Group | ABP Network |
News18 India Frequency Parameters
News18 India’s transmission specifications require accurate parameter entry into DVB-S receivers to achieve optimal picture quality and audio reception. Precise frequency, polarization, symbol rate, and forward error correction settings prevent signal acquisition failures and ensure continuous reception across varying atmospheric conditions.
| Parameter | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency | 11510 MHz | Ku-band transponder on GSAT-15; shared multiplex with multiple DD Free Dish channels |
| Polarization | V (Vertical) | Vertical polarization required; universal Ku-band LNB provides full compatibility |
| Symbol Rate | 29500 Ks/s | Standard DD Free Dish multiplex rate; mandatory for MPEG-2 video decoding |
| FEC | 3/4 | Forward error correction provides robust signal integrity in marginal reception zones |
| Modulation | QPSK | Quadrature Phase Shift Keying standard for DVB-S satellite broadcasting |
| System | DVB-S | Digital Video Broadcasting Satellite; compatible with all modern DVB-S/S2 receivers |
News18 India Programming Schedule
News18 India maintains a dynamic 24×7 broadcast schedule with distinct programming blocks for breakfast news, midday analysis, prime-time bulletins, and late-night investigative specials. The schedule adapts for major breaking news events, national elections, and crisis coverage, with continuous updates replacing scheduled programming during significant developments.
| Time Slot | Program Type | Target Audience |
|---|---|---|
| 06:00 – 09:00 | Breakfast News Bulletin, Market updates, Weather forecasts | Morning commuters, professionals |
| 09:00 – 13:00 | Business Analysis, Breaking news coverage, Interview shows | Investors, news professionals |
| 13:00 – 16:00 | Afternoon news bulletin, Regional news focus, Special reports | Afternoon viewers, rural audiences |
| 16:00 – 19:00 | Business news special, Stock market analysis, Tech updates | Investors, business professionals |
| 19:00 – 22:00 | Prime-time news hour, Feature investigations, Political analysis | General family audience |
| 22:00 – 06:00 | Late-night repeats, International news focus, Archive content | Night shift workers, insomniacs |
News18 India Technical Requirements
Receiving News18 India requires standard Ku-band satellite television infrastructure, with DVB-S receiver compatibility essential for DD Free Dish multiplex access. No additional decoding hardware or subscription services are required; the channel broadcasts as completely free-to-air content available to any viewer with basic satellite equipment.
- Dish Size – 45-60cm minimum for metropolitan areas; 75cm recommended for tier-2 cities; 90cm-1.2m for rural and hilly terrain
- LNB Type – Universal Ku-band LNB with 10.7-12.75 GHz reception range; single or multi-feed configurations supported
- Receiver – DVB-S compatible set-top box; DVB-S2 receivers offer superior signal acquisition and error correction capabilities
- Decoder – No decoder required; channel broadcast as free-to-air without conditional access or encryption systems
- Installation Hardware – Standard C-clamp mounting, coaxial cable (RG-6 recommended), cable terminations, and weatherproof outdoor enclosures
News18 India Support & Resources
News18 India provides multiple support channels for technical assistance, scheduling information, and content feedback. Viewers can access the official website for live streaming, on-demand content, and editorial coverage; social media platforms provide real-time news updates and viewer engagement opportunities.
- Official Website – news18.com/india provides live streaming, detailed news archive, breaking news alerts, and in-depth investigative features
- Live Stream – News18 mobile app (iOS/Android) offers free live TV streaming and on-demand content from News18 stable of channels
- Social Media – Active Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube accounts with real-time news updates and viewer interaction
- Troubleshooting – Common reception issues resolve through LNB reset, cable inspection, receiver software updates, and proper dish alignment
- DD Free Dish Helpline – Toll-free support (1800-121-3100) provides technical guidance for GSAT-15 reception and multiplex tuning