Prasar Bharati, the government’s public service broadcaster, is gearing up to introduce its own over-the-top (OTT) platform in August, marking a significant foray into the digital entertainment space.
According to ThePrint, the platform will offer free content initially, focusing on themes centered around Indian society, culture, and nationalism.
A senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the OTT platform aims to fill a void in the market by providing “clean” content suitable for family viewing. Expressing concern over the prevalence of explicit and offensive material on existing platforms, the official emphasized the need for an alternative that upholds traditional values and offers content that aligns with India’s cultural ethos.
“The current landscape of OTT content is often marred by vulgarity and abusive language, making it uncomfortable for families to watch together. Our platform will prioritize decency and promote Indian culture and nationalist values,” the official stated.
The platform’s content strategy will encompass a wide range of genres, including entertainment, current affairs, and cultural programming. Notably, renowned personalities such as producer-director Vipul Shah and actor Kabir Bedi are among the content providers enlisted by Prasar Bharati to contribute to the platform.