Public-Private partnerships key to OTT growth : Gaurav Dwivedi

Time of India

02-05-2025

Gaurav Dwivedi
, CEO,
Prasar Bharati
, highlighted the urgent need to strengthen
public-private partnerships
to accelerate the growth of OTT platforms and
hyper-local content
.
In his keynote address at
WAVES Summit 2025
, he also traced the evolution of Indian broadcasting, offering insights into its journey and future potential.
The keynote, anchored on the session's theme Public-Private Collaborations for OTTs and Hyper-Local Content, began with a historical reflection.
Dwivedi took the audience back to 1936, when All India Radio (AIR) was formally established. He highlighted how, even in its early days, AIR adopted a collaborative model—airing not only internally produced content but also programmes sourced from external creators. He fondly recalled cultural milestones such as Binaca Geet Mala and the Bournvita Quiz Contest, which were produced externally but flourished on AIR and later on Doordarshan.
Dwivedi noted that this collaborative ethos carried into the television era of the 1980s and 90s, citing legendary shows like Ramayan, Mahabharat, Buniyaad, Hum Log, and Karamchand, which were externally produced and found widespread success via the national broadcaster's platform.
'In Doordarshan, we did not produce these programmes ourselves—they came from outside. We gave them the platform, and they went forward,' he said, establishing a clear precedent for today's discourse around
content partnerships
.
Turning to the present, Dwivedi detailed the expansive reach of Prasar Bharati today: over 250 radio stations, 30 television channels, broadcasting in more than 23 languages, 180 dialects, and 12 foreign languages. Despite this reach, he acknowledged the inherent limitations of linear broadcasting—chiefly the inability to offer multiple programmes simultaneously.
Speaking on Wave OTT –Prasar Bharati's new
digital streaming service
,he said that the platform was launched to address these limitations and to serve as a digital extension of Prasar Bharati's inclusive content ethos. He emphasised the need for an Indian-owned OTT service to host not just entertainment and news, but also educational and informational content.
'Think of Turning Point with Naseeruddin Shah,' Dwivedi said, referencing the iconic science programme from Doordarshan's past. 'Which OTT today would carry such content? None, probably. And yet, we need such programming for our audience.'
He also celebrated the enduring legacy of
Krishi Darshan
, the longest-running television programme globally, which continues to air on multiple Prasar Bharati channels and slots—proof, he argued, of strong audience demand for hyper-local and informative content.
Reflecting on the liberalisation of news content and the gradual opening of space for private news partners—once monopolised by Doordarshan and Akashvani—Dwivedi cited examples like The World This Week and News Track, which evolved into independent news channels.
'The question is not whether we need public-private partnerships. That has already been answered by our history. The real question is: how do we do it right?' Dwivedi concluded.