Why in the News?
- Prasar Bharati’s WAVES ecosystem is expanding digital public broadcasting through WAVES OTT, MyWAVES and Gems of India, linking public broadcasting with India’s creative economy.
Key Highlights
- WAVES OTT launched on 20 November 2024 by Prasar Bharati.
- Launched at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa.
- Currently has 1.2 crore registered users, 1.5 crore+ downloads and 24,000+ titles.
- Content available in 26+ languages; interface supports 10+ languages.
- Reaches audiences in 130+ countries.
- Offers 140+ TV channels and 220 radio services.
- Carries all 35 Doordarshan satellite channels.
- Provides 15,000 hours of content.
- Content includes entertainment, education, news, culture, archives, e-books, magazines and live broadcasts.
WAVES OTT
- A public-service OTT platform of Prasar Bharati.
- Combines television, radio, streaming, learning and digital publications.
- Key objectives:
- Wider digital access
- Cultural preservation
- Linguistic diversity
- Unlike commercial OTT platforms, it integrates information, education, culture, news and selected entertainment.
MyWAVES
- Launched on 23 March 2026 within WAVES OTT.
- Enables citizens to create, upload and share original content.
- Supports:
- Short videos
- Vertical videos
- Episodic content
- Supports participation in programmes such as the Create in India Challenge.
- Aims to provide greater visibility to regional creators and local talent.
Gems of India Challenge
- Pilot launched on 21 July 2026 across 6 States/UTs.
- Submissions accepted from 1-31 August 2026.
- Videos had to be 1-3 minutes long.
- Focus areas include:
- Culture and heritage
- Tourism and nature
- Folk traditions and festivals
- Handicrafts and handlooms
- Regional cuisine
- Local personalities and innovations
- Expected to expand across all States and Union Territories.
WAVES Summit
- World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) is India’s global platform for the media and entertainment sector.
- First edition held in Mumbai, 1-4 May 2025.
- Covered broadcasting and infotainment, AVGC-XR, digital media and films.
- WAVES 2025:
- 100+ countries
- 10,000+ delegates
- 1,000 creators
- 300+ companies
- 350+ start-ups
- 1 lakh+ participants
- WAVES Declaration adopted by 77 countries.
- WAVES Bazaar generated ₹1,328 crore in business transactions.
Prelims Quick Revision
- WAVES OTT – launched 20 November 2024.
- MyWAVES – launched 23 March 2026.
- Gems of India pilot – launched 21 July 2026.
- WAVES OTT has 1.2 crore registered users and 1.5 crore+ downloads.
- WAVES OTT reaches 130+ countries and offers content in 26+ languages.
- WAVES OTT carries 35 Doordarshan satellite channels.
- WAVES Summit 2025 was held in Mumbai, 1-4 May 2025.
- WAVES Declaration was adopted by 77 countries.
UPSC Prelims Trap
- WAVES OTT vs MyWAVES: WAVES OTT is primarily the public-service digital broadcasting platform, while MyWAVES enables citizen-generated content.
- WAVES vs WAVES OTT: WAVES refers to the broader World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit/ecosystem, while WAVES OTT is the Prasar Bharati digital platform.
- Gems of India is a MyWAVES initiative, not a separate OTT platform.
- Do not confuse WAVES OTT’s 35 Doordarshan satellite channels with its 140+ television channels overall.
