India’s Prasar Bharati plans apps for mobiles & tablets

India’s public broadcaster Prasar Bharati (PB) is planning to introduce mobile applications for its TV service Doordarshan (DD) and All India Radio (AIR).

Times of India reports that the app will provide news and entertainment including access to rare archival material to viewers on mobiles, laptops and tablets. PB also plans to sell excess land as part of its efforts towards financial restructuring.

Both DD and AIR are already on Youtube and Twitter with a growing following. The next step according to a senior official is to create and develop mobile apps.

“The apps for news service will be a priority. Prasar Bharati has an unenviable credible network through the length and breadth of the country that will be put to use. It has the potential of creating its own niche amid the private news broadcasters,” a PB source said.

The archival material that is being digitized and uploaded could be subscription based. PB hopes to earn advertising revenue from this move, with plans for digital media eventually earning 25-30% of its revenue. The apps are likely to be in operation in the next six months.