Prasar Bharati has 48 active MoUs with global broadcasters

MUMBAI: India’s broadcasting ties are going global, one MoU at a time. Prasar Bharati currently has 48 active Memoranda of Understanding with broadcasters from different countries, as the Centre looks to deepen international media cooperation through content sharing, professional expertise and the exchange of broadcasting practices.

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that the public broadcaster maintains international engagement through content-sharing arrangements and bilateral broadcasting agreements.

“In the broadcasting sector, Prasar Bharati maintains active engagement with broadcasting organisations across the world through content-sharing arrangements with international broadcasters and broadcasting agreements with partner organisations,” Murugan said in a written reply.

He added that the 48 active MoUs facilitate cooperation between Prasar Bharati and international broadcasters, including the exchange of content, professional expertise and best practices.

The response came to a question from MP Dr Alok Kumar Suman on the government’s efforts to strengthen international media cooperation.

Beyond broadcasting partnerships, the Centre is also positioning India as a destination for global media and entertainment activity. Murugan pointed to the inaugural World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025), held in Mumbai in May 2025 under the “Create in India, Create for the World” initiative.

The summit brought together Indian creators, producers and startups with global buyers, investors, OTT platforms and technology companies from more than 100 countries, according to the minister.

The government also highlighted initiatives aimed at strengthening India’s film ecosystem, including the Development, Communication and Dissemination of Filmic Content (DCDFC) Scheme, India Cine Hub and the National Film Heritage Mission.

Under the DCDFC Scheme, financial assistance is provided for film festivals, the promotion of Indian cinema, international participation and film preservation activities. India Cine Hub, meanwhile, offers a single-window mechanism for film-shooting permissions while promoting India as a filming destination.

The National Film Heritage Mission focuses on preserving, restoring, digitising and archiving India’s cinematic heritage, giving the country’s film legacy a parallel push alongside its international media ambitions.

On digital media, Murugan reiterated that digital news publishers and OTT platforms remain governed by the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

The framework includes due-diligence obligations for intermediaries, a Code of Ethics for digital publishers and a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism involving publishers, self-regulating bodies and an oversight mechanism by the Central Government.

The minister also pointed to efforts to tackle misinformation. The Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check Unit verifies claims concerning Central government ministries, departments, public sector undertakings and other government organisations, while Doordarshan and Akashvani disseminate verified information through news bulletins, programmes and digital platforms.

With 48 active international broadcasting MoUs on one side and initiatives such as WAVES, India Cine Hub and the National Film Heritage Mission on the other, the Centre’s approach is aimed at connecting India’s media ecosystem with global markets while strengthening the country’s own content, film and broadcasting infrastructure.