In a development that may shake the rapidly growing streaming services space in India, government-backed Prasar Bharati has now come up with its own OTT platform called WAVES, which might seriously challenge established players like Mukesh Ambani’s JioStar, Netflix, and Jeff Bezos’ Amazon Prime.
Launched on the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), WAVES has downloadable availability in multiple Indian languages from the Google Play and Apple Store. No subscription is required to access content on the app.
“WAVES is here! The platform aims to revive nostalgia while embracing modern digital trends by offering a rich mix of classic content and contemporary programming,” Prasar Bharati shared on X. The platform promotes itself as an inclusive aggregator offering “India stories embracing Indian culture with an international outlook, in 12+ Languages.”
Features of WAVES
WAVES offers video on demand, free-to-play games, live broadcasting of 65 TV channels, video and gaming apps, and even online shopping. The best thing is that it’s free and doesn’t require any subscription. It also offers ONDC facilities.
The app supports over 12 languages, with plans to add more regional languages in the future. According to Prasar Bharati, WAVES is designed to cater to India’s diverse cultural tastes.
Can WAVES Compete with JioStar, Netflix, and Amazon Prime?
Dominating India’s OTT market, JioStar, Amazon Prime, and Netflix face potential competition from WAVES. Unlike its paid competitors, WAVES is free to use, which may appeal to users seeking budget-friendly options.
However, it will all depend on content because the established players like Netflix and Amazon Prime have a wealth of libraries and original programming that WAVES would have to match to be competitive.
