MUMBAI: It’s hoping to make waves amongst streaming consumers and viewers of its linear TV network. State-owned pubcaster Prasar Bharati today announced the launch of its own OTT platform branded Waves, offering a broad spectrum of entertainment and news content at the opening ceremony of the International Film Festival of India in Goa.
Available for android and iOs devices, it offers around 70 live channels including B4U Bhojpuri, B4U Music, B4U Kadak, B4U Movies, GNT, Indian Today, ABP News, Divya, Republic, Republic Bharat, News Nation, Pitaara, News 24, PTC Punjabi Gold, PTC Punjabi, Times Now Navbharat, News 18 India, 9XM, NDTV India, TV9 Bharatvarsh, E24, News 24, Dabang, 9X Jalwa, 9X Jakhaas, 9X Tashan, Aaj Tak, Sanskar, Satsang, Raj TV, USPL, ABZY Movies, ABZY Dhaakad, Mayaboli, Masti, and NewsX. This apart, close to 34 of its own channels are available for viewing.
Waves also has a slew of original programmes from DD National including Fauji 2, an agricultural reality show Khet Khet May, Swarajya, Cybercrime, Rang mein Rang Ganga, among other shows. A new version of Ramayan from the house of Sagar is slated to launch soon. Old DD shows of the eighties and nineties, and others from PTC Punjabi complete the package on offer.
A catalogue of Hindi movies including Traffic Signal, Aarakshan, Khakee, Vodka Diaries, Phir Hera Pheri are available for viewing. The international film slate appears to be worth watching: The Goes Wrong Show, The Monkey King, Mr Johnson, and The Hunger Games. But both the Hindi and international films are powered by LionsgatePlay and are priced at Rs 399 per quarter. If viewers are not open to paying, they can consume a range of regional films which are dubbed in Hindi and can be watched for free.
Waves also has tabs offering live events, movies, shows, live TV, religious programming, archival documentaries, live radio, games, nostalgia, a shopping area linked to the open network for digital commerce, ebooks, a podcast and a creators’ corner.
The Waves app is available in three subscription offers. The first, a platinum annual subscription allows access to four devices simultaneously and is priced at 999 per annum while a diamond subscription has a sticker price of Rs 350 per annum for two devices. The gold pack which supposedly allows access to all content on Waves does not have a price tag attached in the subscription area.
In August, Prasar Bharati invited TV channels to join the platform, introducing a revenue-sharing model. Under this initiative, participating broadcasters receive 65 per cent of the ad revenue, while Prasar Bharati retains 35 per cent. Waves is offering t in SD, HD, and 4K, initially supporting 10 million concurrent users with scalability to 100 million.
