Prasar Bharati’s OTT Platform WAVES offers inclusive infotainment to young and old viewers in both urban and rural areas: DDG, Doordarshan, Chandigarh

‘WAVES’, the OTT platform of the national public broadcaster, Prasar Bharati, has a diverse content library comprising more than 1,850 feature films, 590 shows, around 9295 e-books and Journals, encompassing genres that cater to both the youth and the older generation. The OTT platform offers access to more than 74 live TV channels and various radio stations, ensuring real-time entertainment and information. Interactive games, live events, and even online shopping are available, thus positioning WAVES as a one-stop entertainment hub. These key features of the public broadcaster’s OTT platform were explained to the media, at a press conference held by Prasar Bharati in Chandigarh today, April 25, 2025. The platform was launched by the Chief Minister of Goa Shri Pramod Sawant, at the opening ceremony of 55^th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, on 20^th November, 2024.

Briefing the media, the Deputy Director General, Doordarshan, Shri Sumeet Goyal informed that the platform offers content, which includes TV shows, documentaries, regional content and movies in over 12 Indian languages, which includes Hindi, English, Bengali, Marathi, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati, Punjabi, and Assamese. The platform is aimed at bringing inclusive entertainment to a diverse range of viewers, including those in rural areas, through the BharatNet infrastructure, he added. The content available on Waves is spread across 10 genres of infotainment and includes old classic shows such as Ramayan, Mahabharat, Shaktimaan, and Hum Log to name a few. It will also provide video on demand, free-to-play gaming, radio streaming, live TV streaming, 65 live channels, several in-app integrations for video and gaming content, and online shopping through Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) supported Government’s e-commerce platform.

Additionally, Waves will also offer its platform to content creators such as National Creator Awardees like Kamiya Jani, RJ Raunac, and Shraddha Sharma and will also livestream events such as the monthly Mann Ki Baat by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The platform was launched by the Chief Minister of Goa Shri Pramod Sawant, at the opening ceremony of 55^th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, on 20^th November, 2024.

The DDG, Doordarshan said that the WAVES OTT platform has been described as a game-changer for Indian entertainment, combining innovation with cultural preservation under the tagline “Waves – Family Entertainment Ki Nayi Lehar.” “As India’s national public broadcaster, Prasar Bharati has consistently endeavoured to evolve with the changing media landscape. The introduction of the WAVE platform is a testament to this commitment, aiming to bridge the rich legacy of Doordarshan and Akashvani with the dynamic demands of today’s digital audience.”

Prasar Bharti’s Waves can be accessed at https://www.wavespb.com/ and is available to Android users via Google Play Store and iPhone and iPad users via Apple’s App Store. It offers three subscription plans, as given below.

• Platinum Plan: This plan costs Rs. 999/- a year and it offers Ultra HD streaming along with unlimited access to all content with support for up to four devices. Adds free download facility is available in this plan.

• Diamond Plan: This plan costs Rs. 350/- a year and it offers access to limited content, which includes movies, radio and live TV in HD quality on up to two devices. Download facility with adds is available in this plan.

• Gold Plan: This plan is a free plan and it offers live TV and radio access on two devices. No download facility is available in this plan.

Prasar Bharati’s OTT Platform is feature-rich, ensuring an enhanced video-viewing and multi-purpose experience through cutting-edge functionalities, including smart search, display of trending content, extensive content library, livestreaming, gaming hub, ONDC shopping integration, flexible viewing options, seamless playback, affordable subscription plans and dedicated customer support.

The DDG said that the platform is not just a digital venture but a movement to rejuvenate our cultural narratives and present them through modern mediums. “By combining nostalgia with contemporary content, WAVES aspires to be a holistic entertainment destination for every Indian. The platform also integrates social awareness campaigns, such as a cybersecurity initiative in collaboration with CDAC, making Waves more than just an entertainment app.”