I&B Ministry
Prasar Bharati invites proposals for integrating apps with the OTT Platform
Mumbai: Prasar Bharati, the largest public broadcaster in India, has issued a notice inviting proposals for integrating various application platforms with its OTT platform. This call for proposals encompasses several categories, including OTT applications, gaming applications, educational applications, and other types of apps.
The integration proposals can be based on a Revenue Share Model, offering two main options: sharing content from the applicant’s platform with Prasar Bharati’s OTT platform or exchanging content between the applicant’s platform and Prasar Bharati’s OTT service. Prasar Bharati retains the discretion to consider any submitted proposal, reflecting its flexible approach to content acquisition.
The application platform-owning companies are required to submit their proposals via email to ott-content@prasarbharati.gov.in, accompanied by a link to the application platform and login credentials to preview the app content.
All submissions will be evaluated according to the guidelines outlined in Chapter 11 of the Content Sourcing Policy – 2024, which was announced on August 9, 2024. Proposals that do not meet the policy’s eligibility conditions or other stipulated requirements will be rejected. Notably, gaming applications involving monetary transactions, betting, or games of chance are excluded from consideration.
Prasar Bharati has specified that no processing fee will be charged for proposal submissions. The content acquisition process will be ongoing, with proposals assessed on a first-come, first-served basis, according to Prasar Bharati’s content needs and the merits of each proposal. There is no set deadline for submissions, allowing for continuous evaluation and integration of new content.
I&B Ministry
Prasar Bharati sets EPG standards for DD Free Dish platform
New specs define 7-day guide, LCN mapping, and device compatibility.
MUMBAI: Your TV guide just got a backstage pass structured, scheduled, and far more in sync. Prasar Bharati has released detailed technical specifications for Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) services on DD Free Dish, laying down a standardised framework for how channels and programme information are organised and delivered. At the core of the update is a defined EPG data structure, covering genre-based categorisation, scheduling formats, and Logical Channel Numbering (LCN). The aim is simple: make navigation less guesswork and more guided experience across the platform’s over 40 million households.
The specifications also introduce a seven-day programme guide window for each channel, alongside clear rules for channel grouping and LCN mapping effectively deciding not just what you watch, but how easily you find it.
On the technical front, the document outlines requirements for Program Specific Information (PSI) and Service Information (SI), including descriptor usage across tables such as PAT, BAT and NIT. It further details service lists and network linkage parameters, giving OEMs and developers a clearer blueprint for integration.
Importantly, the framework is designed to work seamlessly with television sets equipped with in-built satellite tuners, enabling users to access DD Free Dish directly without additional hardware, an incremental but meaningful step towards simplifying access.
The platform will continue to operate on GSAT-15 transponders, using MPEG-4 compression and DVB-S2 transmission standards, ensuring continuity even as the interface evolves.
While largely technical, the move signals a broader push towards standardisation and user-friendly discovery in India’s free-to-air ecosystem because sometimes, the real upgrade isn’t what’s on screen, but how easily you get there.
