Prasar Bharati is one of the strangest entities in the Indian entertainment space. Back in the 1980s, it was a mighty force to reckon with. Most importantly, it marked the very beginning of television in India, with no competition in sight.
But things have changed. Prasar Bharati failed miserably to keep up with the times and was gradually overshadowed by the competition around it.
However, in a bid to stay relevant, the platform stepped into the OTT space with the launch of Waves.
There are countless ways Prasar Bharati could emerge as a strong and formidable force in the OTT market. Yet, it seems the organization has little interest in becoming a competitive platform.
Why are we saying this?
Because they are killing themselves.
The moment you try to watch something on Prasar Bharati, you’re bombarded with 10 ads.
Yes, 10 ads, each lasting between 25 to 30 seconds. These ads show up before you start streaming and continue interrupting at regular intervals.
This is a serious turn-off for users who can’t afford premium services. Worse, Prasar Bharati is primarily known for archival content, and its original programming isn’t compelling enough to justify paying for the platform.
That’s why streaming on Prasar Bharati’s Waves feels like a nightmare.
The sad truth? It seems clear that becoming a powerful force in the OTT space was never even a priority for Prasar Bharati.