WAVES OTT Crosses 1 Crore Users, Marking a New Phase for India’s Public Digital Media

India’s public service broadcasting ecosystem has entered a stronger digital phase with WAVES OTT crossing the milestone of 1 crore registered users. The platform, developed by Prasar Bharati, reached this mark less than two years after its launch in November 2024, showing the growing public appetite for Indian digital platforms that combine entertainment, information, education, culture and public-interest programming in one place.

WAVES OTT has emerged as a broad public streaming destination rather than a narrow entertainment app. It now hosts more than 24,000 content titles and over 15,000 hours of programming across multiple categories such as news, education, spirituality, culture, entertainment and public service content. This scale gives the platform a distinctive character because it brings together television, radio, archival programming, live events, digital publications and educational streams under one public digital umbrella.

A major strength of the platform is its live media ecosystem. WAVES OTT currently offers more than 140 live TV channels and over 200 radio services, making it a digital gateway for audiences who want access to public broadcasting without depending only on traditional television or radio sets. The inclusion of live event streaming also gives the platform relevance during major national, cultural, educational and public-interest events.

The education and knowledge segment adds another important layer to its growth. Through PM eVidya channels, digital editions of Yojana, Kurukshetra and Rozgar Samachar, the platform serves students, job aspirants, researchers and general readers. This makes WAVES OTT more than a streaming service; it becomes a public knowledge platform that supports learning, awareness and access to government-backed educational resources.

The cultural and spiritual dimension also strengthens the platform’s Indian identity. Devotional live streams from prominent temples, regional-language content and archival material from Prasar Bharati help preserve and circulate India’s cultural memory. In a digital market dominated by commercial entertainment platforms, WAVES OTT positions itself as a public-interest alternative rooted in Indian languages, heritage and social relevance.

The platform’s global reach is another notable achievement. WAVES OTT is now available across mobile, web and connected TV devices and reaches audiences in more than 130 countries. This gives the Indian diaspora easy access to Indian public broadcasting, regional content, devotional streams, news programming and heritage material from a single digital platform.

The user milestone also reflects a wider shift in media consumption. Indian audiences are increasingly moving toward mobile-first and app-based viewing, while connected television is expanding in urban and semi-urban households. WAVES OTT’s growth shows that public broadcasters can remain relevant in this changing environment by combining trust, free access, regional diversity and digital convenience.

According to the release, WAVES OTT has crossed more than 1.4 crore downloads along with its 1 crore registered-user base. The platform is now aiming for its next major target: reaching 2 crore registered users by March 2027. Its future growth plan includes more content partnerships, wider distribution across devices and platforms, and stronger regional and educational content offerings.

The rise of WAVES OTT is significant because it expands the meaning of public broadcasting in the digital age. Prasar Bharati’s traditional role was built around radio and television, but the digital era demands accessibility across screens, languages and formats. WAVES OTT answers that need by bringing Doordarshan, All India Radio, educational resources, cultural programming and archival content into a modern streaming environment.

This milestone marks an important moment for India’s digital public media architecture. WAVES OTT’s growth shows that a public platform can compete for attention by offering trust, diversity, free access and cultural depth. As it moves toward its 2 crore-user target, the platform is likely to become a stronger digital showcase of India’s knowledge systems, democratic communication, regional creativity and public service broadcasting tradition.

Source: PIB