Prasar Bharati
Prasar Bharati is India's autonomous statutory public service broadcaster, operating Doordarshan television and Akashvani radio networks that reach 92% of India's population across 23 languages, supplemented by the DD Free Dish DTH service and the WAVES OTT streaming platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Prasar Bharati does
Prasar Bharati is India's autonomous statutory public service broadcaster, established by the Prasar Bharati Act of 1997 and operating under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It runs two flagship broadcast networks — Doordarshan (television) and Akashvani/All India Radio — reaching 92% of India's population through 23 languages and 182 dialects via terrestrial, satellite, FM/AM and digital transmission. The core product portfolio includes six national TV channels (DD National, DD News, DD India, DD Sports, DD Kisan, DD Urdu/DD Bharti), 25 regional satellite channels, the All India Radio network including Vividh Bharati, and the free-to-air DD Free Dish DTH service.
The broadcaster's technology stack spans traditional broadcast infrastructure and emerging digital platforms. WAVES OTT, launched in 2024, is an ad-supported streaming platform with 15-language content that surpassed 80 lakh downloads in its first year and integrated into Indian Railways' RailOne app serving 2.3 crore daily passengers. Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) broadcasting, developed with IIT Kanpur and Tejas Networks, successfully cleared laboratory and field tests in June 2026, enabling TV, emergency alerts and data delivery to mobile devices without internet. AI-driven capabilities are being piloted through the MIB AI Hub and the BhashaSetu and Kalaa Setu multilingual translation and dubbing services.
Prasar Bharati's revenue model combines government budget allocation (Rs 2,291.88 crore in Union Budget FY 2026-27 covering salaries, pensions and operations), commercial advertising across DD and AIR, emerging OTT revenue on WAVES (ad-supported plus watch-time-based creator payouts), the Content Syndication Policy 2025 (SVOD/TVOD/licensing structures), B2G program sponsorships (IEPFA, SIDBI, AIFF), and real estate monetization including the approved 150-acre Integrated Film and Television Media Hub in Mumbai on AIR-owned land. The broadcaster serves India's general population as its primary audience plus four secondary segments: digital content creators (via Creator's Corner and MyWAVES), rural and agricultural communities (via DD Kisan and AIR's FM network in remote areas), and MSMEs (via the SIDBI co-produced MSME Samvaad programme). Customer engagement channels span free-to-air television and radio, DD Free Dish, WAVES OTT, mobile apps, social media and embedded integrations on RailOne.
Prasar Bharati firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Prasar Bharati
- Legal name
- Prasar Bharati
- Website
- https://prasarbharati.gov.in
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Prasar Bharati is India's autonomous statutory public service broadcaster, operating Doordarshan television and Akashvani radio networks that reach 92% of India's population across 23 languages, supplemented by the DD Free Dish DTH service and the WAVES OTT streaming platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Prasar Bharati industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Broadcasting Services
- NAICS
- Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161)
- SIC
- Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Broadcasting Content Distribution & Interconnection (Sat/IP feeds) (MPABADAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style) (MPABADAB), Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Network/Studio Streaming Channels (MPABAHAG), International/Multilingual Streaming Channels (MPABAHAI), Digital Radio Broadcasting (DAB/DAB+, HD Radio) (MPAIAEAD), Satellite Video & Media Distribution (DTH, Contribution/Distribution, Occasional Use) (HDAIAJAG)
Keywords
Where Prasar Bharati is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Delhi
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Prasar Bharati business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Advertising Revenue: Commercial advertising on Doordarshan TV channels and All India Radio stations across national and regional markets.
- OTT Platform Revenue: WAVES OTT platform operates primarily on an advertising revenue model, with pay-per-view content sourcing framework introduced for content creators.
- Government Funding: Annual government allocation for operational expenses including salaries and pensions. Union Budget 2026-27 allocated Rs 2,291.88 crore for Prasar Bharati.
- Real Estate Development: Joint development projects such as the Integrated Film and Television Media Hub in Mumbai on 150 acres of AIR-owned land.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Creator's Corner content creator payments |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | WAVES OTT Watch-time based payouts |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
Prasar Bharati product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Prasar Bharati operates India's public broadcasting network through Doordarshan television (national and 15+ regional channels) and Akashvani/All India Radio (FM/AM reaching 92% of India's population across 23 languages and 182 dialects). It delivers free-to-air content via DD Free Dish DTH service and the WAVES OTT streaming platform, providing news, entertainment, educational, agricultural, and cultural programming to mass audiences across India.
Product overview
Prasar Bharati operates as India's public service broadcaster with a multi-platform architecture comprising Doordarshan (television) and Akashvani/All India Radio (radio). The core television network includes national channels (DD National, DD News, DD India, DD Sports, DD Kisan, DD Urdu, DD Bharti) and 25 regional satellite channels serving specific states and languages. The radio network reaches 92% of India's population through 23 languages and 182 dialects via FM, AM, and digital streaming. Digital initiatives include the WAVES OTT platform for streaming video content, the MyWAVES citizen creator platform, Creator's Corner on DD News, and emerging Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) broadcasting technology. The broadcaster also operates DD Free Dish, a free-to-air DTH service, and has launched AI-powered initiatives including BhashaSetu for multilingual translation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- WAVES OTT: Over-the-top streaming platform launched by Prasar Bharati offering live TV, movies, radio stations, and original content in 15 Indian languages, with over 80 lakh downloads in its first year.
- Creator's Corner
Products and services
- WAVES OTT India's public broadcaster-owned OTT streaming platform offering Live TV, Akashvani radio, movies, and on-demand content across 15 Indian languages. Operates on an advertising revenue model with watch-time-based payout models for content creators.
- DD News National 24-hour news television channel operated by Prasar Bharati, providing comprehensive coverage of national and international news with a focus on balanced and objective journalism.
- DD National India's oldest and most-watched free-to-air satellite television channel, serving as the primary national channel of Doordarshan with entertainment, news, and educational programming.
- DD India International satellite channel of Doordarshan broadcasting Indian content globally, presenting news, culture, and entertainment programming for the Indian diaspora and international audiences.
- DD Sports Sports channel of Doordarshan broadcasting sporting events including football, cricket, and other national and international sports. Secured broadcast rights for Indian Football League 2025-26 and FIFA World Cup 2026 matches.
- DD Kisan Dedicated agricultural channel of Doordarshan focusing on farming-related content, agricultural news, weather updates, and rural development programs for India's farming community.
- Akashvani (All India Radio) National public service radio broadcaster operating across 23 languages and 182 dialects, reaching 92% of India's population through FM, AM, and digital streaming services.
- DD Free Dish Free-to-air direct-to-home (DTH) service operated by Prasar Bharati, providing free television channels to viewers without subscription costs. Recently upgraded with built-in satellite tuners.
- Regional Doordarshan Channels Network of regional satellite channels including DD Bangla, DD Bihar, DD Chandana (Kannada), DD Girnar (Gujarati), DD Madhya Pradesh, DD Malayalam, DD North East, DD Oriya, DD Podhigai (Tamil), DD Punjabi, DD Rajasthan, DD Sahyadri (Marathi), DD Saptagiri (Telugu), DD Uttar Pradesh, DD Yadagiri (Telugu), DD Kashir (Kashmiri), DD Arunprabha (Arunachal Pradesh), and DD Bharti, each serving their respective state and regional audiences with local content, news, and entertainment.
- NewsOnAIR App Mobile application for listening to All India Radio stations, providing access to news broadcasts and radio content on mobile devices. Available on Google Play and App Store.
- Vividh Bharati Popular film and entertainment service of All India Radio, broadcasting film songs, film news, and entertainment content across AIR stations nationwide.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reaches 92% of India's population through All India Radio
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Prasar Bharati
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Prasar Bharati technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
AI capability2 records
Feature4 records
Prasar Bharati partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Maharashtra Government and Film CitycoreApproved project to develop an Integrated Film and Television Media Hub in Mumbai on 150 acres of land owned by All India Radio (Prasar Bharati). Includes media facilities such as film studios, sound stages, training centers, and tourism development with plans for collaboration with international educational institutions.
- IEPFA (Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority)coreMoU signed to deploy investor awareness scroll messages on Doordarshan's national and regional channels. Initiative aims to provide guidance on reclaiming unclaimed dividends and shares transferred to IEPFA, as well as fraud prevention and safe investing practices targeting remote and underserved regions.
- SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India)coreLaunched 'MSME Samvaad', a television programme in collaboration with Prasar Bharati to provide practical business insights and expert guidance to MSMEs across India. Programme airs every second and fourth Saturday on Doordarshan National and regional channels.
- Google and YouTubecoreGovernment launched national AI skilling program in collaboration with Google and YouTube as part of initiatives to enhance India's media, broadcasting, and digital sectors.
- Zee5, Eros Now, Lionsgate Play, Klikk, Shucae FilmscoreWAVES OTT platform licensed content from partners including Zee5, Eros Now, Lionsgate Play, Klikk, and Shucae Films as part of its content library expansion strategy.
- CRIS (Centre for Railway Information Systems)coreWAVES OTT partnered with CRIS to integrate its content library into the RailOne app, Indian Railways' official passenger services platform. Enables approximately 2.3 crore daily railway passengers to access Live TV, Akashvani radio, movies, and other content across 15 Indian languages during their journeys.
- RT India / TV-NovostiminorAddendum to pre-existing pact between Prasar Bharati and TV-Novosti signed during Russia-India Business Forum alongside launch of RT India studio.
- IIT Kanpur and Tejas NetworkscoreD2M technology trials conducted in collaboration with IIT Kanpur and Tejas Networks (Tata group) to develop Direct-to-Mobile broadcasting technology. Tests evaluated spectrum usage in 470-582 MHz frequency band.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Prasar Bharati competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Zee Entertainment Enterprises: One of India's largest private TV broadcasters and OTT operators (Zee5), competing directly with Doordarshan for Hindi and regional-language audiences and advertisers across India.
- Disney Star (Star India): Operates Star Plus, Star Sports, and Disney+ Hotstar — the dominant private competitor in Indian television and premium sports rights, directly contesting Doordarshan for advertisers and viewers.
- Sony Pictures Networks India: Operates Sony TV, SET, and SonyLIV; competes with Doordarshan in Hindi/general entertainment television and OTT streaming across India.
- Sun TV Network: India's largest regional broadcaster with dominant Tamil-language market share; comparable to Doordarshan's regional-language channel portfolio in scale and audience focus.
- JioCinema (Viacom18 / Reliance): Major Indian OTT platform streaming movies, originals, and live sports; competes directly with WAVES OTT for digital audiences and ad budgets.
- Netflix India: Global SVOD leader with a growing India-focused content slate; competes with WAVES OTT for premium digital viewers and creator attention.
- PBS (Public Broadcasting Service): US public broadcaster with PBS Kids, PBS Video app, and member-station model — directly comparable to Doordarshan's public-service mandate, educational programming, and station network.
Broad incumbents
- BBC: UK public service broadcaster operating BBC One, BBC iPlayer, and BBC Sounds — the closest international analogue to Prasar Bharati's mandate-driven, publicly-funded multi-platform model.
- NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation): Japan's national public broadcaster operating TV, radio, and NHK Plus streaming — comparable scale and mandate to Prasar Bharati as a multi-platform public service broadcaster.
Others
- All India Radio (AIR): Wholly-owned subsidiary/operating division of Prasar Bharati itself (not an external peer); included only because it is the radio counterpart to Doordarshan and reinforces the multi-platform structure but is not an independent comparator.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Prasar Bharati social profiles
Digital presencePrasar Bharati financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Prasar Bharati leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Prasar Bharati subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Prasar Bharati funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Prasar Bharati M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Prasar Bharati
What does Prasar Bharati do?
Prasar Bharati operates India's public broadcasting network through Doordarshan television (national and 15+ regional channels) and Akashvani/All India Radio (FM/AM reaching 92% of India's population across 23 languages and 182 dialects). It delivers free-to-air content via DD Free Dish DTH service and the WAVES OTT streaming platform, providing news, entertainment, educational, agricultural, and cultural programming to mass audiences across India.
Is Prasar Bharati a public or private company?
Prasar Bharati is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Prasar Bharati founded?
Prasar Bharati was founded in 1997. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Prasar Bharati based?
Prasar Bharati is headquartered in New Delhi, India, in the Asia region.
How does Prasar Bharati make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Advertising Revenue is the primary driver. The others are OTT Platform Revenue, government Funding and real Estate Development.
Who are Prasar Bharati's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Zee Entertainment Enterprises, Disney Star (Star India), Sony Pictures Networks India, Sun TV Network, JioCinema (Viacom18 / Reliance), Netflix India and PBS (Public Broadcasting Service). Broad incumbents are BBC and NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation). All India Radio (AIR) is listed as an others.
Does Prasar Bharati have an API?
No public API is recorded for Prasar Bharati.
What industry is Prasar Bharati in?
Prasar Bharati's product category is Public Broadcasting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABADAI, Public Broadcasting Content Distribution & Interconnection (Sat/IP feeds), with a secondary code of MPABADAB, National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style). Its NAICS code is 516120 and its SIC code is 4833.