India’s Public Broadcaster Prasar Bharati Unveils Waves Streaming Platform at Goa Festival

As a seasoned movie buff who has traversed the cinematic landscapes of Bollywood, Hollywood, and everything in between, I must admit that the launch of Waves OTT by Prasar Bharati has piqued my curiosity. Coming from India’s public broadcasting powerhouse, this streaming platform promises a diverse range of content spanning 12+ languages and 10+ genres, which is truly a testament to our vibrant and multifaceted entertainment industry.


India’s leading public broadcaster, Prasar Bharati, debuted its streaming service called Waves during the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) held in Goa. This move signifies Prasar Bharati stepping into the highly competitive streaming market within India.

The platform debuts offering content in over a dozen languages and more than ten genres, encompassing video-on-demand services, free gaming options, radio broadcasts, and 65 live channels. To set itself apart from other streamers, Waves additionally incorporates e-commerce functionalities through a collaboration with ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce).

Pramod Sawant, Goa’s Chief Minister, expressed his excitement at the launch of Waves OTT in the Indian entertainment industry, stating it as a significant milestone. He was pleased to notice the variety of content available on the platform, such as movies and shows in multiple languages, including Konkani. In India and other Asian nations, this kind of streaming service is often called OTT, which stands for Over The Top.

The service’s launch lineup showcases a variety of titles, such as the fantasy action series “Monkey King Returns,” the award-winning film “Fouja,” and Vipul Shah’s suspenseful series “Bhed Bharam.” Additionally, you will find “Fauji 2.0,” an updated version of the 1980s classic featuring Gauhar Khan, directed by Sandeep Singh. The family drama “Thode Door Thode Paas” starring Pankaj Kapoor, the music reality show “Bharat ka Amrit Kalash,” headed by Kailash Kher, and the social impact film “Kicking Balls,” produced by Oscar winner Guneet Monga Kapoor, complete the impressive lineup.

For younger viewers, the platform offers animation programming including “Doggy Adventure,” “Chota Bheem,” “Tenaliram,” and “Akbar Birbal,” alongside games like “Krishna Jump,” “Fruit Chef,” “Ram the Yodha,” and the U.S. Cricket Premier League tournament.

“Waves offers a diverse selection of content designed for family viewing, making it accessible for every Indian household to enjoy, listen, read, play, and shop in a carefully selected environment.

The platform boasts collaborations with numerous content creators, ranging from movie studio Lionsgate for video material, several game developers like Mud Games and Tag Labs, to educational providers such as PACE, who offer test preparation guides.

Sanjay Jaju, the Information & Broadcasting Secretary, framed the launch as part of India’s overall digital plan: “The debut of Waves OTT represents a substantial advancement in India’s Digital India concept. This extensive, inclusive, and varied OTT platform will help narrow the gap between digital media and entertainment, especially by partnering with BharatNet for rural audience connectivity through the final leg.

The service is designed to broadcast real-time happenings, such as the sacred ritual of Prabhu Shriram Lalla Aarti in Ayodhya, as well as the regular “Mann ki Baat” addresses by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I’d like to highlight that among the numerous Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms available, Waves stands out uniquely. It serves as my personal gateway not just to a realm of family entertainment that maintains clean standards, but also offers engaging shopping experiences, captivating games, and enlightening news and current affairs tailored specifically for children and young adults.

The 2024 strategy for the platform focuses on delivering content to urban, metropolitan, central India, and expatriate Indian audiences. Collaborations have been established with various government ministries such as External Affairs, Finance, and Culture, providing programming for the platform. Additionally, the service will showcase films produced by renowned film schools like FTII and collaborative projects with National Creator award winners, including Kamiya Jani and Gaurav Chaudhary.

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2024-11-21 06:16