In an apparent initiative to curtail the monopoly of cable operators, Prasar Bharati will launch its Direct to Home facility from August enabling viewers to get 40 free channels, including 23 private ones, under one platform, Information and Broadcasting Minister S Jaipal Reddy said on Thursday.

"The viewers will have to buy a dish, which costs Rs 3,000 to get 40 channels free and the DD DTH will be operational in the next few weeks," he told reporters.

Besides 14 DD channels and 3 HRD (educational) channels, Prasar Bharati, with the help of its four transponders, can have 40 channels in its platform and 12 private channels have reached an agreement for two years, Reddy said adding the exact date of launching will be announced soon.

During the first phase of DTH operations, Prasar Bharati will be spending Rs 165 crore (Rs 1.65 billion), which includes the cost of uplinking and set-top boxes, which go along with the dish, the minister said.

The dish, will however, be marketed by private companies, Reddy said adding that cost of dish has come down drastically in view of the growing demand.