News Broadcasting
Prasar Bharati ends old pitch system, shifts all content to Waves Bazaar
Public broadcaster shuts NIPP and NIFFP routes, makes digital portal the only submission path
NEW DELHI: India’s public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has scrapped its traditional content proposal routes and will now accept all pitches through a single digital marketplace, Waves Bazaar.
In a circular issued this week, the broadcaster said it will no longer accept submissions under the Notice Inviting Programme Proposals (NIPP) and Notice Inviting Feature Film Proposals (NIFFP) with immediate effect. The change applies to all content types, including television programmes, web series, short films and feature films, that were earlier pitched for Doordarshan channels and the Waves OTT platform.
The NIPP and NIFFP notices were issued in September 2024 and later expanded in November to include already produced content. That submission window is now closed.
According to the circular, all future programme and film proposals for both DD channels and Waves OTT must be submitted through the Waves Bazaar portal.
Waves Bazaar is being positioned as a digital marketplace where content owners and buyers can pitch and evaluate projects through online viewing rooms. The platform spans film, television, animation, gaming and live events, and is open to both studios and independent creators.
The move is part of Prasar Bharati’s broader digital push around Waves OTT, which has crossed eight million downloads in its first year. The broadcaster has also introduced monetisation tools such as pay per view and a content syndication policy to generate revenue from new commissions and its archive.
With Waves Bazaar feeding into both Waves OTT and Doordarshan, the broadcaster aims to create a streamlined system for content discovery, acquisition and distribution. For producers and rights holders, the message is straightforward. All future submissions must now go through the Waves Bazaar portal.
The circular does not clarify the status of proposals already submitted under the earlier notices, and producers are awaiting further guidance on timelines or migration to the new system.
Either way, the direction is clear. Even the country’s public broadcaster is leaning into a digital first workflow, as Prasar Bharati tries to make Waves the tide that carries both its OTT ambitions and its traditional television networks.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 rolls out Battle for the States ahead of key polls
Multi-format election coverage tracks voter mood across five battleground states
NEW DELHI: CNN-News18 has launched a special election programming initiative titled Battle for the States, as India gears up for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
Built around the theme ‘Road to Power’, the multi-format coverage aims to follow the entire electoral journey, from campaigning and polling to results and government formation. The network is leaning into on-ground reportage and data-backed storytelling to decode voter sentiment across regions where local issues often shape the narrative.
The programming line-up includes ‘Vote Tracker’, a three-part series developed in collaboration with survey agency Vote Vibe. The show blends survey insights with expert commentary and field reporting, using augmented reality graphics to present complex electoral data such as vote share, seat projections and leadership preferences in a more accessible format. It will air every Monday evening until April 6.
Adding a cultural lens to political reporting is ‘So Saree!’, a ground-driven segment where women anchors travel across constituencies dressed in traditional handwoven sarees from each state. The format uses attire as a storytelling device, highlighting regional identity while capturing grassroots voices.
Meanwhile, ‘Unfiltered Kaapi’ and ‘Chai-Niti’ bring a more conversational tone, drawing inspiration from everyday political discussions in tea stalls and coffee corners. These segments aim to break down key issues through candid, fast-paced exchanges between anchors and reporters, tailored to regional sensibilities.
For viewers seeking deeper insights, the weekend docuseries ‘Reporters Project’ takes a longer view, with correspondents travelling across constituencies to map voter concerns and political shifts on the ground.
“Elections are about people, their aspirations, identities and the issues that matter to them, and every state tells a different story,” said CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar. He added that the initiative focuses on understanding “the sentiment on the ground and what’s driving voter choices”.
Echoing the emphasis on credibility, Network18 CEO – English and business news Smriti Mehra said the network aims to combine on-ground reporting with data-led insights to deliver clear and timely coverage as the elections unfold.
With a mix of data, culture and grassroots reporting, CNN-News18 is positioning Battle for the States as a comprehensive window into one of India’s most closely watched electoral cycles, where every vote carries a story waiting to be told.
