Why in news?
Prasar Bharati has announced that its PB‑SHABD platform will continue to offer free access to logo‑free news content until March 2027. The service, which distributes daily news in multiple formats to media organisations, was launched in March 2024 and has grown rapidly in scale and reach.
Background
PB‑SHABD, short for Prasar Bharati – Shared Audio‑Visuals for Broadcast and Dissemination, is a digital news feed managed by India’s public service broadcaster. Its aim is to provide verified news stories to media outlets across the country without channel‑specific logos or watermarks. The platform aggregates content produced by Doordarshan and All India Radio’s Regional News Units and headquarters desks and makes it available for free download.
According to a recent government update, PB‑SHABD draws upon a network of more than 1,500 reporters and 60 editing desks nationwide. Each day it uploads about 1,000 items covering agriculture, science and technology, culture, foreign affairs, sports and politics. Content is offered in major Indian languages as well as in English. Subscribers register through an online portal and can access live feeds from parliamentary sessions and major events, as well as an archival library of past footage.
Prasar Bharati itself is a statutory autonomous body established in 1997 by the Prasar Bharati Act. It operates the Doordarshan television network and All India Radio, and its mandate is to inform, educate and entertain the public while preserving India’s cultural heritage. Headquartered in New Delhi, it functions independently of government control despite being funded by public resources.
Key features of PB‑SHABD
- Format diversity: The service supplies video clips, audio bites, text news and high‑resolution photographs suitable for broadcast, print and digital media.
- Wide coverage: Around 1,000 news items are uploaded every day, drawing from events across India’s states and union territories.
- Multi‑lingual support: Content is available in Hindi, English and major regional languages, enabling local media houses to access news in their own tongues.
- Free access: Media organisations can subscribe to the portal at no cost until March 2027, lowering barriers for smaller outlets.
- Archival library: PB‑SHABD maintains a repository of past news footage and audio that can be searched and downloaded as needed.
Significance
- Strengthening public information: By sharing verified news freely, the platform helps smaller media organisations source reliable content and reduce reliance on unverified social media updates.
- Promoting linguistic diversity: Multi‑language content ensures inclusivity and serves audiences across India’s diverse regions.
- Enhancing transparency: Access to unbranded footage promotes factual reporting and allows television channels and web portals to add their own voice and analysis.
Conclusion
PB‑SHABD illustrates how a public broadcaster can leverage digital platforms to disseminate news widely and fairly. By offering thousands of stories daily in different languages and formats without logos, Prasar Bharati supports media pluralism and ensures that accurate information reaches every corner of the country.
Sources: PIB
