India's state broadcaster Prasar Bharati is ready to revolutionize content dissemination using its Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) technology. Its CEO Gaurav Dwivedi laid out plans to float bids for big-scale trials from technology companies in a year for this new model. Trials that will take 3-5 years will begin in the initial phase across 19 cities.
D2M technology allows multimedia content to be delivered directly to mobile phones without internet connectivity, similar to FM radio. This project has been aimed at addressing the digital divide, particularly in regions that have limited internet coverage, and concentrating on education and emergency broadcasts. Partnerships with IIT Kanpur and Saankhya Labs have already demonstrated its viability.
With the increasing trend of cord-cutting and digital consumption, this shift places Prasar Bharati at the center of broadcasting innovation, guaranteeing a harmonious fusion of traditional and contemporary media platforms.
Sources: Exchange4Media, Storyboard18, Economic Times