India’s public broadcaster, Prasar Bharati, has set its sights on digital streaming with the announcement of its own OTT platform. However, this is old news and we have traced the proposed features of Prasar Bharati OTT. Have a look:
1. Content Accessibility for All: Prasar Bharati intends to make its content available to every Indian citizen, irrespective of their location, including remote villages.
2. Ad-Supported Video-On-Demand: The platform plans to offer an ad-supported VoD service, making content accessible to users in up to 4K resolution.
3. Multi-Screen Experience: Prasar Bharati’s OTT platform aims to provide a seamless multi-screen experience. Users can access the service on their mobile devices tablets, or even laptops.
4. To each its own: Users will have the flexibility to purchase channels, packages, and specific content, including shows and cricket tournaments. This a la carte feature caters to individual preferences and ensures that users pay for the content they want.
5. Scalability: The platform is designed to scale up to accommodate up to 10 crore users. This scalability is crucial to meet the demands of a potentially vast user base. This is very very ambitious as no Indian OTT platform is halfway close to achieving that number.
6. High Security: The platform will incorporate security features that align with industry standards, ensuring the safety of user data and content.
7. Digital Rights Management (DRM): The proposed solution includes DRM technology, which is widely used to manage access to intellectual property. Prasar Bharati aims to implement a highly scalable and reliable DRM solution that is globally accepted by renowned content providers, such as HBO, SONY, CNN, ESPN, Discovery, STAR India, and more.
8. In-App Messaging: The platform will also feature in-app messaging, enabling users to communicate and engage with content and other users directly within the platform. This adds a social dimension to the viewing experience.
Prasar Bharati’s foray into the world of OTT streaming is a testament to the growing importance of digital media in India, and it has the potential to become a significant player in the industry. Let’s see how the actual OTT platform works once it is out.