WAVES OTT and MyWAVES Platform
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Key takeaways
- Officials launched WAVES OTT on 20th November 2024 at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa to transition Prasar Bharati toward on-demand public streaming.
- The streaming library hosts over 20,000 titles and 15,000 hours of content in more than 26 languages, delivering over 140 television channels and 220 radio services.
- The platform has secured 1.2 crore registered users and over 1.5 crore downloads across more than 130 countries.
- The creator-focused platform MyWAVES launched on 23rd March 2026 to enable citizens to upload original short-form and serialized video content.
- The Gems of India Challenge began its pilot phase on 21st July 2026 across six States and Union Territories to document district heritage and local culture.
Why in News
- The WAVES ecosystem marks the shift of Prasar Bharati from standard broadcasting on Doordarshan and Akashvani to an integrated digital public platform that blends television, radio, archives, education, and magazines.
- The WAVES OTT portal gives multilingual access to real-time broadcast channels, video on demand, and rich historical archives of Prasar Bharati.
- The MyWAVES portal broadens this network by inviting citizens and creators to share content, while programs like the Gems of India Challenge highlight regional culture, traditions, and local heritage.
Key Facts About WAVES OTT
- Officials launched WAVES OTT on 20th November 2024 at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa as the official public-service streaming app of Prasar Bharati, moving beyond rigid broadcast timetables toward flexible digital viewing.
- Unlike commercial entertainment platforms, this public service platform brings together entertainment, news, schooling, heritage, and government announcements into one unified interface.
- The platform safeguards broadcast history by providing direct access to the vast archives of Prasar Bharati, linking young citizens and global viewers to traditional Indian programming.
- It fosters digital access across regions and tongues by operating seamlessly on smartphones, web browsers, and smart television sets.
- Its combined library includes movies, episodic shows, informational documentaries, and timeless archival recordings for viewers on demand.
- The streaming service delivers live coverage from more than 140 television channels and 220 radio services.
- The platform hosts specialized learning resources, including PM eVidya channels and various digital instruction modules.
- Users can read digital government publications, including official magazines like Yojana and Kurukshetra, alongside selected photo archives.
- The portal also supplies interactive video games and an integrated digital shopping experience powered by ONDC.
- The service hosts over 20,000 titles and 15,000 hours of content, serving 1.2 crore registered users with over 1.5 crore downloads across more than 130 countries.
- The user interface runs in over 10 languages and offers multimedia content across more than 26 languages to honor the linguistic variety of India.
- The platform acts as a digital cultural gateway for the Indian diaspora, sharing traditional philosophy, creative talents, and regional arts with overseas communities.
- Through the Pay-Per-View Content Sourcing Policy, independent producers can pitch their productions through an open process, opening opportunities for regional storytellers.
Key Facts About MyWAVES
- Authorities launched MyWAVES on 23rd March 2026 inside the main streaming hub, turning a passive viewing app into an active digital community for public creators.
- This community portal allows regular citizens to create, publish, and circulate their original media across a coordinated national stage.
- The system nurtures grassroots storytellers outside conventional studio channels, presenting district stories and folk customs to nationwide and international viewers.
- It accepts vertical snippets, short-form clips, and serialized videos, supported by an interface that encourages regional language creators.
- By empowering regular citizens at the village level, the platform powers the country's rising creator economy and expands citizen participation in digital media.
Showcasing Local Heritage Through MyWAVES
- The Gems of India Challenge illustrates how the platform works by asking local residents to film short videos about the cultural identity of their districts.
- The trial stage started on 21st July 2026 across six States and Union Territories, collecting video entries from 1st-31st August 2026 through the app.
- Submissions center on ancient monuments, historic sites, and regional culture.
- The competition highlights natural wonders, tourist spots, and unmapped destinations.
- It archives local rituals, community celebrations, and traditional theater arts.
- Creators showcase authentic handlooms, village handicrafts, and regional food varieties.
- The challenge celebrates prominent local leaders, grassroots inventions, and village milestones.
- Multiple bodies including Prasar Bharati, My Bharat, State and district administrations, and art academies partner to organize this effort.
- Leading tech companies like YouTube and Meta help coordinate outreach using their creator groups to build broader public engagement.
Conclusion
- The initiative represents a fundamental shift from traditional government broadcasting to direct citizen involvement in media creation.
- While WAVES OTT preserves national broadcasting heritage and broadens access, MyWAVES turns everyday citizens into active cultural storytellers.
- Together, these programs unite historic arts with modern creative industries, establishing an inclusive, multilingual, and globally connected digital network.