Prasar Bharati has released a draft Expression of Interest (EOI) for public consultation, proposing an empanelment framework to onboard agencies, studios, start-ups and technology companies for AI-enabled content creation, localisation, digital-human technologies, archive repurposing and related services across its broadcast, digital and OTT ecosystem including WAVES, Doordarshan and Akashvani.

The corporation has clarified that this is a draft for industry feedback only; it is not a tender, does not guarantee any work or financial commitment, and specific assignments will be invited later through limited RFPs, thematic briefs, pilots or direct work orders as approved.

The Prasar Bharati notice, issued earlier this week, explicitly states that the EOI document is being shared to seek industry feedback before finalisation, with the objective of creating a “broad, future-ready and diverse panel” capable of supporting Prasar Bharati’s evolving content and technology needs while upholding public-service values, editorial oversight and technological sovereignty.

The draft outlines nine empanelment categories: short-form content (30 sec-3 min), micro-dramas (1-5 min), music videos (2–6 min), intermediate series (8–10 min), regular series (25-30 min), feature films (90 min+), archive repurposing & restoration, AI localisation/translation/dubbing, and AI avatars/digital humans/virtual presenters.

Reflecting a “capability-first, turnover-agnostic” philosophy, the draft EOI proposes prioritising demonstrated output quality, workflow maturity, legal readiness and delivery capability over financial thresholds to keep the framework startup-friendly.

As and when empanelment happens, agencies must commit to accessibility deliverables including closed captions, audio description, SDH subtitles and, where required, sign-language overlays, along with on-screen text accessibility norms.