New Delhi, March 13: In a landmark move set to redefine India’s news broadcasting landscape, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Singh Thakur, unveiled the Prasar Bharti – Shared Audio Visuals for Broadcast and Dissemination (PB-SHABD) service today at the National Media Centre in New Delhi.
In his address, Minister Thakur hailed the launch of PB-SHABD as a historic moment for the nation’s information and broadcasting sector. He emphasized the significance of Prasar Bharati’s extensive news network, spanning across diverse regional languages and territories, which will now be shared with the broader media industry across India.
PB-SHABD aims to provide clean feeds of news content, devoid of Doordarshan’s logo, across various languages and fifty categories, catering to the diverse needs of media organizations. Minister Thakur underscored the pivotal role this initiative will play in revolutionizing the news industry, particularly in supporting smaller news organizations lacking extensive content gathering networks.
Moreover, Minister Thakur announced that PB-SHABD will be offered free of cost for the first year, serving as a boon for smaller newspapers, TV channels, and digital portals. He highlighted the service’s potential to enhance media synergy and facilitate the dissemination of accurate and meaningful news content throughout the country.
The launch event also marked the unveiling of revamped websites for DD News and Akashvani News, along with the updated NewsOnAIR app. Minister Thakur commended All India Radio’s continued relevance in the digital age, emphasizing the app’s new features, including personalized news feeds, multimedia integration, and live streaming capabilities.
Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Sanjay Jaju, lauded Prasar Bharati’s efforts in piloting the SHABD initiative and revamping the websites and app. He expressed confidence in the portal’s ability to foster synergy and promote the widespread dissemination of news content.
Gaurav Dwivedi, CEO of Prasar Bharti, outlined the PB-SHABD platform’s features, including daily news feeds in various formats such as video, audio, text, and photos. He emphasized the service’s potential to facilitate customized storytelling across different media platforms.
The launch of PB-SHABD represents a significant stride towards democratizing access to news content and fostering collaboration within India’s media landscape. As the nation embarks on this new era of information dissemination, PB-SHABD emerges as a powerful catalyst for change, promising to reshape the future of Indian news broadcasting.
