WAVES OTT and India’s Digital Public Broadcasting Transformation
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WAVES OTT was launched on 20 November 2024 at the 55th International Film Festival of India in Goa as Prasar Bharati’s public-service Over-the-Top (OTT) platform.
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WAVES OTT integrates live television, radio, on-demand programmes, archival content, educational programmes, devotional content, publications, games and shopping on a single digital platform.
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The platform contains more than 20,000 content titles and around 18,000 hours of films, series, documentaries, shorts, archival and public-service content sourced from over 480 content partners.
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WAVES OTT provides access to more than 140 television channels and 220 radio services and carries all 35 Doordarshan satellite channels along with other broadcasters.
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Educational content includes PM eVidya channels, while its digital reading section provides more than 9,300 e-books, publications and magazines including Yojana and Kurukshetra.
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WAVES OTT has over 1.4 crore registered users and more than 1.7 crore downloads and reaches audiences in over 130 countries.
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Its interface supports more than 10 languages, while content is available in over 26 languages through mobile applications, websites and connected televisions.
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WAVES OTT aims to widen digital access, preserve India’s broadcasting heritage and promote linguistic and cultural diversity while taking public broadcasting beyond fixed television schedules.
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The Pay-Per-View Content Sourcing Policy provides a mechanism for producers and rights holders to offer content to WAVES OTT, while Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) integration and railway-linked digital distribution broaden content access and distribution.
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MyWAVES was launched on 23 March 2026 within WAVES OTT, enabling citizens to create, upload and share original short videos, vertical videos and episodic content through a national digital platform.
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MyWAVES particularly supports emerging and regional creators and enables participation in national programmes such as the Create in India Challenge, thereby contributing to India’s creator economy.
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The Gems of India Challenge pilot was launched on 21 July 2026 across six States and Union Territories, with one-to-three-minute original video submissions accepted from 1 to 31 August 2026.
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Gems of India focuses on district-level stories covering culture, heritage, historical places, tourism, nature, folk traditions, festivals, performing arts, handicrafts, handlooms, cuisine, local personalities, innovations and achievements.
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The first World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) was held in Mumbai from 1–4 May 2025 and brought together participants from over 100 countries, 10,000+ delegates, 1,000 creators, 300+ companies and 350+ start-ups, with more than one lakh participants.
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WAVES 2025 produced major outcomes including the WAVES Declaration adopted by 77 countries, nearly one lakh registrations for Create in India Challenges from over 60 countries, 750+ finalists, 150+ awardees, ₹1,328 crore business transactions through 3,000+ meetings, 100 films from eight countries in the Viewing Room, and 30+ start-ups pitching through WaveX.
Must Know Terms
1. WAVES OTT
WAVES OTT is Prasar Bharati’s public-service digital streaming platform that combines television, radio, on-demand programmes, archives, education and publications.
2. MyWAVES
MyWAVES is a creator-focused feature within WAVES OTT that allows citizens to create, upload and share original digital content.
3. Gems of India
Gems of India is a creator initiative under MyWAVES that promotes district-level stories on culture, heritage, tourism, traditions, cuisine, local personalities and achievements.
4. Pay-Per-View Content Sourcing Policy
This policy provides a structured mechanism for producers and rights holders to offer content for distribution on WAVES OTT.
5. World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit
The World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) is India’s global platform for media and entertainment, connecting creators, businesses, investors, policymakers and technology leaders.
6. Open Network for Digital Commerce
Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) integration expands WAVES OTT beyond conventional streaming by enabling wider digital distribution and commerce-related functionality.
Multiple-Choice Questions
1. With reference to WAVES OTT, consider the following statements:
1. It was launched on 20 November 2024.
2. It was launched at the 55th International Film Festival of India in Goa.
3. It is Prasar Bharati’s public-service Over-the-Top (OTT) platform.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 and 3 only
2. Which of the following are available through WAVES OTT?
1. Live television
2. Radio services
3. Archival content
4. Digital publications
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
3. Consider the following statements regarding the content available on WAVES OTT:
1. It contains more than 20,000 content titles.
2. It provides around 18,000 hours of content.
3. Its content is sourced from more than 480 content partners.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 and 3 only
4. Consider the following pairs:
1. Television channels — More than 140
2. Radio services — 220
3. Doordarshan satellite channels — All 35
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
5. With reference to educational and reading content on WAVES OTT, consider the following statements:
1. It provides access to PM eVidya channels.
2. It provides more than 9,300 e-books, publications and magazines.
3. Yojana and Kurukshetra are among the publications available on the platform.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 and 2 only
6. Which one of the following correctly describes the reach of WAVES OTT?
(a) More than 1.4 crore registered users, more than 1.7 crore downloads and reach across over 130 countries
(b) More than 1.7 crore registered users and operations restricted to India
(c) More than 1.4 crore downloads and reach across fewer than 50 countries
(d) More than 2 crore registered users and reach across 100 countries
7. With reference to linguistic and technological accessibility of WAVES OTT, consider the following statements:
1. Its interface supports more than 10 languages.
2. Its content is available in more than 26 languages.
3. It can be accessed through mobile applications, websites and connected televisions.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1 and 3 only
8. Which of the following are among the broader objectives associated with WAVES OTT?
1. Wider digital access
2. Preservation of broadcasting heritage
3. Promotion of linguistic and cultural diversity
4. Restricting public broadcasting to fixed television schedules
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 and 4 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(d) 1, 2 and 3 only
9. Consider the following statements:
Statement-I:
The Pay-Per-View Content Sourcing Policy enables producers and rights holders to offer content to WAVES OTT.
Statement-II:
Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) integration and railway-linked digital distribution broaden content access and distribution.
Which one of the following is correct?
(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct.
(b) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.
(c) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.
(d) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are incorrect.
10. With reference to MyWAVES, consider the following statements:
1. It was launched on 23 March 2026.
2. It operates within WAVES OTT.
3. It enables citizens to upload short videos, vertical videos and episodic content.
4. It is restricted exclusively to established media organisations.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 3 and 4 only
11. MyWAVES is particularly associated with:
(a) Regulation of private television channels
(b) Promotion of emerging and regional creators and participation in initiatives such as the Create in India Challenge
(c) Licensing of foreign streaming platforms
(d) Exclusive digitisation of government documents
12. With reference to the Gems of India Challenge, consider the following statements:
1. Its pilot was launched on 21 July 2026.
2. The pilot covered six States and Union Territories.
3. Original videos of one to three minutes could be submitted.
4. Pilot submissions were accepted from 1 to 31 August 2026.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
13. Which of the following themes are covered under the Gems of India initiative?
1. Culture and heritage
2. Tourism and nature
3. Folk traditions and performing arts
4. Handicrafts, handlooms and regional cuisine
5. Local personalities, innovations and achievements
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
(c) 2, 4 and 5 only
(d) 1, 3 and 5 only
14. With reference to the first World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES), consider the following statements:
1. It was held in Mumbai from 1–4 May 2025.
2. Participants came from more than 100 countries.
3. It included more than 10,000 delegates and 1,000 creators.
4. More than 350 start-ups participated.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(d) 1, 3 and 4 only
15. Consider the following outcomes of WAVES 2025:
1. The WAVES Declaration was adopted by 77 countries.
2. Create in India Challenges received nearly one lakh registrations from over 60 countries.
3. WAVES Bazaar generated ₹1,328 crore in business transactions through more than 3,000 meetings.
4. The Viewing Room featured 100 films from eight countries.
5. More than 30 start-ups pitched through WaveX.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
(c) 1, 3 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
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