Prasar Bharati invites creators to supply WAVES content
India's public broadcaster, Prasar Bharati, is expanding its streaming presence by inviting filmmakers, studios, and creators to supply content for its OTT platform, WAVES. A new policy document released on May 22 outlines a pay-per-view-style revenue-sharing framework that links content payouts directly to viewer engagement.
Key Takeaways
- Prasar Bharati released a new policy document on May 22 for its OTT platform WAVES.
- The policy invites filmmakers, studios, influencers, production houses, and digital creators to supply content.
- WAVES will use a pay-per-view-style revenue-sharing framework.
- Content payouts will be linked directly to viewer engagement.
Why It Matters
Prasar Bharati is turning WAVES into a more open content pipeline, with payouts tied directly to how viewers engage with each title. That matters because the platform is now explicitly courting a broad supply base — from filmmakers and studios to influencers and digital creators — rather than relying on a narrower commissioning model. The key detail to watch is how the engagement-linked revenue share is implemented in practice, especially whether the May 22 policy document translates into visible content additions on WAVES.
Additional Context
Following its launch at the International Film Festival of India in November 2024, Prasar Bharati’s WAVES platform has rapidly expanded its footprint. By June 2026, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced the platform had surpassed 10 million registered users and recorded over 14 million downloads. This growth is supported by a library that includes over 24,000 titles and 15,000 hours of programming, ranging from classic archives like 'Ramayan' to modern reboots like 'Fauji 2.0.' per Swarajya, June 2026. To drive this scale, the broadcaster has implemented specific technical and financial tiers. According to BestMediaInfo in May 2026, the refined Pay-Per-View (PPV) policy offers a base rate of 6 rupees per streaming minute for exclusive content. This rate is designed to fluctuate based on the platform’s total user count, incentivize retention, and reward creators for active viewing time rather than simple clicks. Strategic partnerships have also been a core focus to keep WAVES competitive against private rivals. In early 2026, Prasar Bharati secured an alliance with Sri Adhikari Brothers to bring popular channels like Mastiii and Dabangg to the app’s live TV section, which now features over 140 channels. Additionally, WAVES uses an 'app-in-app' model to integrate third-party services like Lionsgate Play and Eros Now, effectively positioning the state-owned platform as a multi-service digital aggregator. per The Economic Times, January 2026.
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