Prasar Bharati’s WAVES OTT has crossed 1.2 crore registered users and 1.5 crore downloads, offering TV, radio, education, culture and digital content.
New Delhi: Prasar Bharati’s WAVES OTT has emerged as a growing public-service digital platform, recording 1.2 crore registered users and more than 1.5 crore downloads since its launch in November 2024.
The platform brings together live television, radio, on-demand programmes, archives, educational resources, publications and cultural content within a single digital ecosystem.
Launched on November 20, 2024, WAVES OTT now offers a library of more than 24,000 titles and 15,000 hours of content, reaching audiences in over 130 countries. The platform supports content in more than 26 languages, with regional programming and subtitles aimed at expanding accessibility.
WAVES OTT brings together more than 140 television channels and 220 radio services, providing users access to live broadcasts as well as on-demand programming.
The platform carries all 35 Doordarshan satellite channels and draws on Akashvani’s national and regional radio networks.
Its programming includes coverage of major national events, sports, cultural and devotional programmes, besides news, educational content and public information.
Educational offerings include PM eVidya channels, while the platform also provides e-books, photo collections and publications including Yojana and Kurukshetra.
Unlike commercial streaming services that primarily focus on entertainment, WAVES OTT combines entertainment with education, news, culture, heritage and public-service broadcasting. It also provides access to archives built through decades of Doordarshan and Akashvani broadcasting.
The service is available through mobile applications, websites and connected televisions.
WAVES OTT was unveiled during the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa as Prasar Bharati’s public-service OTT platform.
The platform has subsequently expanded its content and distribution ecosystem through partnerships and new initiatives.
Prasar Bharati has introduced a Pay-Per-View Content Sourcing Policy, providing producers and rights holders with a mechanism to offer content through WAVES OTT.
ONDC integration and railway-related digital distribution initiatives have also been introduced as part of efforts to expand the platform's reach and content partnerships.
The ecosystem expanded further with the launch of MyWAVES on March 23, 2026.
The platform allows citizens to create, upload and share original content, including short-form videos, vertical videos and episodic programming.
With a multilingual interface, MyWAVES is intended to create opportunities for emerging creators, particularly those outside established media networks.
The platform also supports participation in national initiatives such as the Create in India Challenge.
One of the initiatives launched through MyWAVES is the Gems of India Challenge, introduced in July 2026 across six pilot States and Union Territories.
The initiative invited creators to submit one- to three-minute videos highlighting their districts, covering themes such as culture, heritage, tourism, folk traditions, handicrafts, local personalities and achievements.
Prasar Bharati, My Bharat and State and district administrations are involved in the initiative, with cultural and educational institutions supporting creator participation. YouTube and Meta are also supporting outreach through their creator communities.
The programme is expected to expand to all States and Union Territories.
The broader World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) ecosystem aims to connect creators, businesses, investors, policymakers and technology leaders.
The inaugural WAVES summit was held in Mumbai from May 1 to 4, 2025, covering areas including broadcasting and infotainment, AVGC-XR, digital media and films.
The 2025 edition brought together more than 10,000 delegates from over 100 countries, along with 1,000 creators, 300 companies and more than 350 start-ups. The event also attracted more than one lakh participants.
The ecosystem includes initiatives such as the Global Media Dialogue, CreatoSphere, Create in India Challenges, WAVES Bazaar and WaveX.
The WAVES Declaration was adopted by 77 countries, while the Create in India Challenges recorded nearly one lakh registrations from more than 60 countries.
WAVES Bazaar recorded Rs. 1,328 crore in business transactions through more than 3,000 meetings. WaveX provided a platform for more than 30 start-ups to pitch their ventures.
With WAVES OTT, MyWAVES and the wider WAVES ecosystem, Prasar Bharati is combining its extensive broadcasting archives and public-service content with newer forms of digital participation.
The initiatives are also intended to provide greater visibility to regional stories, emerging creators and India's diverse cultural traditions.
The growth in registered users and downloads positions WAVES OTT as an increasingly significant component of Prasar Bharati's digital transition, bringing television, radio, archives, education, culture and citizen-generated content together on a common platform.
