Why in News?

The WAVES ecosystem marks Prasar Bharati's transition from traditional broadcasting through Doordarshan and Akashvani to an integrated digital public-service platform combining television, radio, archives, education and publications. The ecosystem comprises WAVES OTT (content consumption) and MyWAVES (citizen content creation), along with initiatives like the Gems of India Challenge.

Key Facts About WAVES OTT

Launch and Objective

  • Launched on 20 November 2024 during the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa
  • It is Prasar Bharati's public-service OTT platform, aiming to modernise public broadcasting by shifting from traditional television schedules to on-demand digital access

Public Service Orientation

  • Unlike commercial OTT platforms, WAVES OTT integrates entertainment, education, news, culture and public information, extending public broadcasting beyond conventional television

Preserving Broadcasting Heritage

  • Provides digital access to Prasar Bharati's extensive archives, connecting younger generations and global audiences with India's broadcasting history, cultural heritage and regional content

Promoting Digital Inclusion

  • Supports digital access, cultural preservation and linguistic diversity via mobile applications, websites and connected televisions

Integrated Content Ecosystem

  • On-demand content: Films, TV programmes, documentaries, web series and archival content
  • Live broadcasting: Over 140 television channels and 220 radio services
  • Educational resources: PM eVidya channels and learning programmes
  • Digital publications: E-books, magazines such as Yojana and Kurukshetra, photo collections
  • Additional services: Games and ONDC-integrated shopping facilities

Scale and Reach

  • Hosts over 20,000 titles and 15,000 hours of content
  • 1.2 crore registered users and over 1.5 crore downloads
  • Available across more than 130 countries

Language and Regional Outreach

  • Interface supports over 10 languages; content available in more than 26 languages

Global Cultural Outreach

  • Reaches audiences including the Indian diaspora, showcasing India's culture, knowledge traditions and creative expression

Content Partnership Model

  • The Pay-Per-View Content Sourcing Policy enables producers and rights holders to contribute quality content through a transparent mechanism, expanding opportunities for creators and regional content producers

Key Facts About MyWAVES

  • Launch: 23 March 2026, as a feature within WAVES OTT
  • Purpose: Transforms the platform from a content-consumption service into a citizen-driven digital creation ecosystem
  • Participatory platform: Enables citizens to create, upload and share original content through a structured national platform
  • Support for emerging creators: Promotes regional stories, local talent and community experiences beyond established media networks
  • Content formats: Short videos, vertical videos and episodic content, with a multilingual interface for Indian languages
  • Creator economy linkage: Strengthens grassroots participation in India's expanding creator economy

Showcasing Local Heritage: Gems of India Challenge

  • Objective: Encourages citizens to create short videos highlighting the cultural and social identity of their districts
  • Pilot phase: Launched on 21 July 2026 across six States and Union Territories; video submissions accepted from 1–31 August 2026 via the MyWAVES section of WAVES OTT
  • Content themes:
  • Culture, heritage and historical sites
  • Tourism, nature and unexplored destinations
  • Folk traditions, festivals and performing arts
  • Handicrafts, handlooms and regional cuisine
  • Local personalities, innovations and achievements
  • Institutional collaboration: Prasar Bharati, My Bharat, State and district administrations, cultural and educational institutions
  • Private sector role: YouTube and Meta support outreach through their creator communities

Significance for Governance and Policy

  • E-Governance milestone: Demonstrates use of digital public infrastructure for service delivery and citizen engagement, aligned with the Digital India programme
  • From broadcasting to participation: Represents a shift from one-way public broadcasting to two-way participatory digital ecosystems
  • Cultural preservation: Digitises and democratises access to India's broadcasting and cultural archives
  • Soft power and diaspora engagement: Acts as a global showcase of Indian culture and knowledge traditions
  • Creator economy boost: Provides a legitimate national platform for grassroots creators, complementing private platforms

Constitutional and Institutional Context

  • Prasar Bharati is a statutory autonomous body established under the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990
  • It comprises Doordarshan (television) and Akashvani/All India Radio (radio)
  • Its mandate includes public service broadcasting, which WAVES OTT extends into the digital domain

Conclusion

The WAVES ecosystem represents a shift from public broadcasting to public participation. While WAVES OTT preserves India's broadcasting legacy and expands digital access, MyWAVES empowers citizens to become creators and storytellers — connecting India's cultural heritage with the emerging creative economy through an inclusive, multilingual and globally connected digital ecosystem.

Practice Question (Mains)

Digital platforms like WAVES OTT and MyWAVES demonstrate how public broadcasting can evolve into participatory digital ecosystems. Discuss.