Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has extended the deadline for linear satellite television channels to apply for distribution on its OTT platform WAVES, giving broadcasters additional time until March 31, 2026, at 5 pm to submit their applications.

The revised timeline, announced on February 19, relates to the original invitation issued on November 17, 2025, which had called for applications from permitted and licensed satellite television channels for onboarding onto the state-run streaming service. Prasar Bharati clarified that all submissions received so far will remain valid and will be evaluated under the same process.

The opportunity is open to satellite television channels holding valid permissions from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for downlinking and distribution in India. Applications are restricted to entities applying only for their own licensed channels. Broadcasters are required to submit completed application forms along with supporting documents via email by the revised deadline.

As part of the eligibility criteria, applicants must provide documentary proof specifying their channel’s genre and language classification. The broadcaster noted that applications may be rejected if classification details are unclear or inconsistent.

Under the commercial framework, selected channels will be streamed on WAVES for a period of one year from the date of onboarding. Channels will be ranked within their respective categories based on DAVP rate cards, with priority assigned to those quoting the highest advertising rates across time bands.

Prasar Bharati will carry a clean feed of the successful channels and will manage advertisement insertion on the platform. The net advertising revenue, after deducting expenses such as transcoding, content delivery network charges and agency commissions, will be shared in a 65:35 ratio, with 65 per cent allocated to the channel and 35 per cent retained by Prasar Bharati.

Broadcasters are also required to provide an SCTE-35 or ad-marker-enabled feed to indicate advertising breaks. Any unsold advertising inventory will be utilised for promoting Prasar Bharati and the streaming channels hosted on the platform.

Channels selected through the process will receive a Letter of Allotment and must execute the agreement with Prasar Bharati within 15 days of issuance. The broadcaster added that all other conditions outlined in the November 17 notice remain unchanged.