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Ministry of Information & Broadcasting | Prasar Bharati | Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
India’s public broadcaster is undergoing a strategic shift from traditional broadcasting to digital content distribution. Announced on February 6, 2026, this transition is underpinned by the Content Sourcing Policy 2024 and the Pay-Per-View Framework launched in 2025. These policies enable Prasar Bharati to acquire content specifically tailored for digital platforms, including the WAVES OTT service, significantly expanding its reach among younger demographics.
Hardware Shifts and Resource Optimization Parallel to its content strategy, the government is modernizing technical delivery and asset management:
Integrated Tuner Mandate: MeitY has notified that all television sets sold in India must now feature a built-in satellite tuner, eliminating the need for the planned distribution of DD Free Dish set-top boxes (STBs).
Asset Monetization: Prasar Bharati has engaged an expert agency to enhance the monetization of its vast land assets across the country.
Institutional Gaps: The broadcaster reported significant personnel vacancies in the North Eastern region, with 1,994 vacancies in Doordarshan and 1,636 in Akashvani.
What is the “Pay-Per-View Framework” in the context of Prasar Bharati’s digital transition? The Pay-Per-View (PPV) Framework is a strategic content acquisition model launched in 2025 to enable Prasar Bharati to compete in the modern OTT landscape. Unlike traditional public broadcasting models where content is funded through fixed grants or universal service mandates, the PPV framework allows the broadcaster to license premium, digital-first content where users pay for specific access. This approach facilitates the sourcing of high-value cinema, sports, and educational programming specifically for the WAVES OTT platform, helping the institution remain relevant to “youth” audiences who prefer on-demand digital consumption over linear TV.
What is WAVES OTT? WAVES is the flagship Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming platform launched by Prasar Bharati, India’s public service broadcaster, to modernize the delivery of its extensive content library. Launched in November 2024 at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), the platform serves as a digital bridge between the legacy of Doordarshan and Akashvani (All India Radio) and the consumption habits of today’s “digital-first” youth.
Policy Relevance
The digital-first mandate represents a transition from linear state broadcasting to a competitive digital public service provider. By institutionalizing digital-first sourcing, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting is ensuring that public service media remains a vital pillar of the “India Stack” in an era dominated by private global streaming giants.
Strategic Impact:
Bridging the Digital Divide: The MeitY mandate for built-in tuners democratizes access to information by enabling households to receive DD Free Dish content without the financial or technical hurdle of external hardware.
Expanding Cultural Reach: Tailoring content for WAVES OTT allows Prasar Bharati to serve as a digital archive and distributor of India’s regional and cultural heritage to a global youth audience.
Fiscal Sustainability: Moving toward land asset monetization and Pay-Per-View revenues reduces the broadcaster’s long-term reliance on central exchequer grants, promoting a self-sustaining financial model.
Regional Institutional Strengthening: Addressing the 3,600+ vacancies in the North East is critical for ensuring that the “whole-of-nation” digital transition includes marginalized and border regions.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can Prasar Bharati leverage its new ‘Content Sourcing Policy’ to create an ‘Open Content Marketplace’ that specifically empowers independent creators from the North Eastern region to upload content directly to WAVES?
Follow the full news here: Prasar Bharati Digital-First Content Strategy | PIB