ITV

Tag: Waves

  • Cloud TV tunes into India’s Cultural Waves

    Cloud TV tunes into India’s Cultural Waves

    MUMBAI: Looks like Cloud TV just found its frequency for nostalgia. In a landmark partnership, India’s first homegrown Smart TV operating system has teamed up with Prasar Bharati’s OTT platform, Waves, to bring the nation’s cultural heartbeat and entertainment heritage straight to connected TVs across the country.

    The collaboration ensures that Cloud TV’s 12 plus million users, spanning popular TV brands like Lloyd, Micromax, and Croma, can now tune into Waves’ vast digital library. From Doordarshan and Akashvani’s iconic archives to new-age shows, music, and live events, the platform offers content in over 20 languages, uniting India’s timeless stories with today’s digital rhythm.

    Cloud TV COO & co-founder Abhijeet Rajpurohit called the alliance “a digital bridge connecting nostalgia with innovation, heritage with technology.” The goal, he said, is to let viewers experience India’s cultural narrative in a modern, accessible way.

    Echoing this sentiment, Prasar Bharati CEO Gaurav Dwivedi noted that Waves embodies India’s self-reliant digital vision, giving audiences a seamless way to engage with the nation’s rich cultural and creative ecosystem.

    With Cloud TV OS already powering millions of Smart TVs across brands, the move amplifies Waves’ reach into homes nationwide. Viewers can simply spot the Waves logo on their Cloud TV-powered sets and dive into a treasure trove of shows, radio, podcasts, and archives, where the old meets the new in perfect harmony.

    After all, with desh ka apna OTT meeting desh ka apna OS, India’s story just found its clearest signal yet.

  • Prasar Bharati inks handball broadcast deal to boost sport’s reach

    Prasar Bharati inks handball broadcast deal to boost sport’s reach

    NEW DELHI: India’s public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has signed a three-year memorandum of understanding with the Handball Association of India (HAI) to produce and beam all national and international handball events.
    The matches will be telecast on DD Sports, Waves OTT, and other Prasar Bharati platforms in a bid to expand the sport’s footprint and nurture emerging talent.

    The agreement was formally exchanged between Prasar Bharati chief executive officer Gaurav Dwivedi and HAI executive director Anandeshwar Pande. Prasar Bharati chairman Navneet Kumar Sehgal was also present at the signing.

    The move marks a major push to take the underdog sport mainstream and give Indian handball players a national stage.

    (If you are an Anime fan and love Anime like Demon Slayer, Spy X Family, Hunter X Hunter, Tokyo Revengers, Dan Da Dan and Slime, Buy your favourite Anime merchandise on AnimeOriginals.com.)

  • Dream Sports and Microsoft team up to play hard in India’s gaming market

    Dream Sports and Microsoft team up to play hard in India’s gaming market

    MUMBAI: Dream Sports is putting on its game face with Microsoft. At the inaugural World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (Waves) 2025 in Mumbai, the sports tech powerhouse inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the American software giant in a bid to supercharge India’s booming gaming industry.

    The tie-up will explore local publishing opportunities for Microsoft’s global gaming portfolio, while co-developing AI-fuelled innovations tailored to Indian tastes. The goal: build cutting-edge online experiences for the country’s 600 million-strong gamer base.

    Dream Sports co-founder & chief executive Harsh Jain said, “We are eager to build innovative & future ready experiences by leveraging Microsoft’s deep technical & AI expertise along with our base of 250 million Indian users. We look forward to working together to redefine the future of online gaming in India.”

    Microsoft India  and south Asia president Puneet Chandok echoed the enthusiasm: “We are excited to explore a collaboration with Dream Sports, leveraging their vast ecosystem of 250 million users. Together, Microsoft and Dream Sports aim to elevate the Indian gaming landscape by tailoring it to local needs and delivering transformative AI-driven experiences”

    The partnership lands as India’s gaming market hits a high score—$3.8 billion in FY24, with mobile users leading the charge. More than 66 per cent of gamers now hail from non-metro cities, and 44 per cent are women, according to the Leveling Up: State of India Interactive report.

    With cheap data, smartphone ubiquity, and growing backing from investors and policymakers alike, India is no longer just a player—it’s becoming the arena.

    Game on.

  • Netflix bets big on Bharat: Ted Sarandos touts $2bn impact, calls India the next Korea

    Netflix bets big on Bharat: Ted Sarandos touts $2bn impact, calls India the next Korea

    MUMBAI:  “Don’t globalise it. Localise it, then watch it fly.” That was Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos’ mantra to Indian creators at the government of India’s Waves  Global Summit 2025, where he shared the stage with actor Saif Ali Khan in a high-wattage fireside chat titled Streaming the New India: Culture, Connectivity & Creative Capital.

    Sarandos came bearing stats—and swagger. Netflix’s investments in India from 2021 to 2024, he revealed, have generated over $2 billion in economic impact, filming across 23 states and 100+ cities, and collaborating with over 25,000 local cast and crew. “That’s not just entertainment—it’s employment, infrastructure, and skill-building,” he said.

    And the viewership numbers? Eye-watering. In 2024 alone, three billion+ hours of Indian content were streamed globally on Netflix—nearly 60 million hours a week. An Indian title made it to the global Top 10 non-English list every single week of the year.

    Saif Ali Khan, now a veteran of both big screens and binge-worthy epics, waxed lyrical about the creative freedoms offered by streaming. “It’s a gift,” he said. “Long-form storytelling lets you explore characters with nuance and intimacy. Streaming is a creative playground—with no school bell ringing at the end.”

    When asked how Indian creators can crack global markets, Sarandos dropped the algorithmic truth: “If you try to engineer something for the world, you end up making it for no one,” he warned. “The most successful global stories—Korea’s Squid Game, Spain’s Money Heist—were deeply local. India must do the same. If it’s not loved here, it won’t work out there.”

    He didn’t mince words. “Don’t water it down for the west. Audiences don’t want diluted. They want real.”

    According to Sarandos, India is teetering on the edge of a Squid Game-scale global breakout. “Korea had years of storytelling before its global moment,” he said. “India is now at that inflection point. The creative base is solid. The reach is already here.”

    Netflix is doubling down on that bet, with buzzy upcoming titles like The Royals and The B*****s of Bollywood joining global juggernauts like Squid Game S2, Stranger Things, and Wednesday.

    When asked if streaming would cannibalise cinemas, Sarandos played diplomat. “India is fan-first,” he said. “Theatres and streaming aren’t rivals—they’re tag-team partners.” Streaming, he added, simply meets audiences where they are. “In India, films move from theatre to streaming at record speed. That’s not disruption—that’s democratisation. India, in many ways, was ahead of the curve.”

  • Information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlights growth of creator economy

    Information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlights growth of creator economy

    MUMBAI: Union minister of information & broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the media landscape is undergoing a significant shift due to the exponential growth of the creator economy. Speaking to representatives from approximately 20 national and regional media outlets on Saturday, he emphasised the fundamental changes occurring in content creation and its associated economy.

    “The world of creators and their economy is going through a fundamental change. With the advent of technology, the old model is giving way to the new model, creating opportunities as well as challenges,” said Vaishnaw.

    He highlighted how technology has enabled broader participation in content creation, noting, “Gone are the days when a large studio was necessary for producing content. Today, a creator from a remote village in Jharkhand or Kerala can produce high-quality content and garner millions of views.”

    Vaishnaw mentioned the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (Waves), scheduled to take place in Mumbai from 1-4 May, which has already received over 100,000 registrations. He explained that Waves aims to establish itself as a global platform for media and entertainment, similar to the role of Davos for economic policies. The summit will also recognize top innovators with awards for their contributions to the evolving global media and entertainment sector.

    Leaders from various media organisations expressed their appreciation for the government’s initiative in conceptualizing Waves as a platform to connect policymakers, creators, industry leaders, technology companies, and start-ups.

    Information and broadcasting secretary Sanjay Jaju welcomed the participants and emphasised the importance of collaborative dialogue in shaping the future of the media landscape. He underscored the ministry’s commitment to engaging with stakeholders across different platforms and acknowledged the active participation of media organizations in the lead-up to Waves 2025.

    Vaishnaw reiterated that the creator economy is experiencing rapid growth and that prime minister Narendra Modi has acknowledged the contributions of creators to the economy and in promoting India’s soft power globally. He stated that Waves is intended to become a global connector for creators, buyers, and markets, facilitating scalable creative solutions.

    Secretary Sanjay Jaju emphasized the significance of collective discussion in determining the future direction of the media industry and the ministry’s commitment to engaging with stakeholders.

  • Rising Bharat Summit 2025 fuels bold vision for India’s global future

    Rising Bharat Summit 2025 fuels bold vision for India’s global future

    MUMBAI: The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2025 unfolded as a dynamic exchange of ideas, direction and determination in New Delhi, spotlighting India’s youthful energy and its ambitions to become a developed nation by 2047.

    Centred on the theme ‘Youthful Aspirations, Dream Big, Achieve More, Rise Together,’ the summit brought together an influential line-up of ministers, policy shapers, global experts and cultural icons to present India’s vision across governance, trade, diplomacy, technology and social equity.

    In a charged keynote, prime minister Narendra Modi spoke of urgent, performance-based governance. “The Waqf Amendment Bill ensures true social justice, ending appeasement and protecting Pasmanda Muslims from land mafias. In our first 100 days, we’ve delivered tax relief for youth, reforms in space, nuclear, and gig sectors, and launched WAVES to boost creativity. India cannot afford delays, our progress must be driven by performance,” he said.

    Home minister Amit Shah, addressing electoral concerns and national unity, added, “I want to reassure our southern states that the delimitation process will be fair and proportionate. The opposition is creating fear to divert attention from its own failures… The idea of ‘One Nation, One Election’ is rooted in efficiency and unity, values our youth must uproot politics of appeasement.”

    Commerce & industry minister Piyush Goyal responded to global trade shifts stating, “We remain committed to fair and balanced trade relationships… Our trade policies, guided by the ‘India First’ principle, reflect growing strategic maturity.”

    On India’s evolving geopolitical stance, minister of external affairs S. Jaishankar said, “We see opportunities even amid global uncertainties… The global community increasingly acknowledges Pakistan’s role in terrorism, and India stands firm in defending its national interests.”

    Technology and infrastructure also took centre stage. IT and I&B minister for railways Ashwini Vaishnaw remarked, “This year, we will see India’s first indigenous semiconductor chip. In AI, India has the talent and vision to lead… Our approach is not just timely, but responsible.”

    On infrastructure and road safety, minister Nitin Gadkari shared, “The rules apply to everyone, including myself… Real progress comes from a sense of shared responsibility.”

    International insights came from professor Jeffrey Sachs, who said, “India is in a unique position… With its scale, talent, and resolve, India is poised to become the world’s second-largest economy, not by imitation, but on its own terms.”

    The summit also welcomed an eclectic mix of national figures including justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Scott Kelly, Abhinav Bindra, Aravind Srinivas, Børge Brende, Sunny Deol, and Kajol, reflecting the convergence of innovation, governance, space science, sports and culture.

    The 2025 edition of the Rising Bharat Summit stood as a clarion call for collaboration and purpose. It celebrated a confident, inclusive India, placing youth at the centre of policy, progress and global ambition.

  • India plays its game at GDC – San Francisco developer conference

    India plays its game at GDC – San Francisco developer conference

    MUMBAI: India has levelled up its presence in the global gaming industry with its  pavilion at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco. The showcase, inaugurated by India’s consul general in San Francisco K. Srikar Reddy, puts the spotlight on the country’s burgeoning gaming sector and its ambitions to become a worldwide content powerhouse.

    The India Pavilion features an impressive roster of exhibitors, including established players like Nazara Technologies and WinzO, alongside plucky award-winning upstarts such as Wala Interactive, Brewed Games, Xigma Games, and Singular Scheme. These companies are demonstrating that India’s gaming industry is no longer just pressing “play”—it’s pressing ahead.

    Several champions of the “Bharat Tech Triumph Season 3” challenge are also showcasing their wares, including Yudiz Solutions, Brahman Studios, and the whimsically named Over the Moon Studios. The pavilion serves as a matchmaking service of sorts, connecting Indian developers with global publishers, investors and potential collaborators.

    Beyond gaming, the pavilion is drumming up interest for the upcoming World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (Waves), scheduled for May in Mumbai. This flagship event, organised by the ministry of information and broadcasting through the National Film Development Corp (NFDC), aims to position India as the “Content Hub of the World”—a lofty ambition for a country already producing films and television at an industrial scale.

    The timing could hardly be better. GDC, running from 17 to 21 March, attracts the crème de la crème of the global gaming industry. By planting its flag at this influential gathering, India is signalling that its developers are ready to play in the big leagues.

    For a nation long associated with outsourced IT services, the pivot to creative digital content represents a strategic shift. India’s gaming companies are no longer content to be mere back-office operations—they’re designing the games, creating the characters, and writing the storylines that could captivate players worldwide.
    As one industry insider quipped, “India has been the world’s back office. Now it wants to be its arcade too.”

  • Waves and Eros Now stream into a new era with blockbuster partnership

    Waves and Eros Now stream into a new era with blockbuster partnership

    MUMBAI: Prasar Bharati’s Waves OTT platform is making a splash in the digital entertainment space by joining forces with Eros Now, bringing a treasure trove of Indian films, original series, and more to audiences worldwide. This partnership not only enhances Waves’ content library with Eros Now’s extensive 12,000 plus title collection but also introduces AI-driven personalisation powered by Immerso AI, ensuring an engaging and seamless viewing experience.

    With hit films like Bajirao Mastani, Tanu Weds Manu, and English Vinglish joining the platform, Waves is set to redefine entertainment accessibility, making high-quality content available for free, even in remote regions of India. Additionally, the collaboration will see Prasar Bharati’s sports and entertainment programming extend to Eros Now, enriching its global offerings.

    Prasar Bharati CEO Gaurav Dwivedi said, “Partnering with Eros Now marks an exciting milestone in our efforts to keep the nation entertained. This collaboration supports our commitment to offering diverse, high-quality programming, powered by cutting-edge technology and exceptional content. Together, we aim to set new benchmarks in digital entertainment and connect with viewers in more meaningful ways.”

    Eros Now CEO Vikram Tanna commented, “This partnership with Prasar Bharati represents a significant step in expanding our reach and delivering premium content to a broader audience. By combining our strengths, we aim to redefine the digital entertainment landscape and provide unparalleled experiences to viewers worldwide.”

    With Waves embracing blockchain-backed innovation and AI-driven recommendations, this alliance ensures that users get not just content, but a hyper-personalised entertainment journey.
     

  • India’s Waves conference finally scheduled from 1-4 May 2025

    India’s Waves conference finally scheduled from 1-4 May 2025

    MUMBAI: It required the intervention of some of the top industrialists and entertainment executives from India and globally, the information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and most of all the prime minister Narendra Modi to nail the final dates for the inaugural  World Audiovisual Entertainment Summit (Waves). Vaishnaw announced on 8 February that Waves would be held from 1-4 May 2025 in Mumbai.

    And the venue: the fabulous JioWorld Convention Centre and the JioWorld Gardens in the famous Bandra-Kurla Complex.

    Said Vaishnaw on X: India is laying the foundation for becoming the creative powerhouse of the world! #WAVES2025 Following an inspiring meeting of the Advisory Board with the PM  @narendramodiJi, the 1st World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) is levelling up to make India the global content hub! This summit will bring together the world’s top media CEOs, biggest entertainment icons, and creative minds from across the globe—unifying entertainment, creativity, and culture like never before! Mark your calendars. Pack your dreams. Get ready to ride the WAVES! 1st – 4th May 2025 .”

    Industry, can be assured now that Modi and Vaishnaw have stamped the dates, there will be no further postponments going forward like there were twice in the past.

  • Prime minister Modi chairs celeb laden Waves advisory panel meeting

    Prime minister Modi chairs celeb laden Waves advisory panel meeting

    MUMBAI: It’s happening. It’s not. It’s postponed. It’s not. With all the confusion going around prime minister Narendra Modi’s  pet project to promote India as a cultural and entertainment capital, Waves, he has decided to take the bull by the horns by himself.

    He had a meeting with the Waves advisory board on 7 February with minister Ashwni Vaishnaw in attendance. The meeting was conducted under the umbrella of Meity. Among those included in the video call figured: Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Anupam Kher, Ted Sarandos, Anil Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan, Shekar Kapur, Anand Mahindra, Hema Malini, Chiranjeevi, Mithun Chakravarty, Ekta Kapoor and many other celebrities.

    Let’s hope, some consensus was arrived at this time to avoid the embarrassments that two date changes have brought to Waves, to the ministry of information and broadcasting and to the country as a whole. .