Prasar Bharati, India’s public service broadcaster, has launched a groundbreaking initiative called PB-SHABD (Prasar Bharati – Shared Audio-Visuals for Broadcast and Dissemination), offering its vast repository of media assets completely free to YouTube content creators and other digital storytellers. This move is poised to reshape the Indian creator ecosystem, making authentic, copyright-safe news and archival content easily accessible to everyone from podcasters and video editors to independent journalists.

How PB-SHABD Began

The genesis of PB-SHABD can be traced to the recent surge in copyright disputes between major news agencies and digital creators, especially on platforms like YouTube. The controversy reached its peak when prominent YouTuber Mohak Mangal and others publicly accused news agency ANI of aggressively issuing copyright strikes for short news clips, sometimes demanding hefty licensing fees or threatening channel takedowns. This sparked widespread debate about fair use, content ownership, and the power imbalance between large news agencies and individual creators.

Amid mounting pressure and public scrutiny, Prasar Bharati stepped in with a solution that not only addresses the immediate concerns of creators but also aligns with the government’s vision of fostering a transparent and open digital media environment. On May 29, 2025, Prasar Bharati officially announced PB-SHABD through a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), inviting creators to register and gain free access to its extensive library of news clips, visuals, infographics, and more.

“Worried about copyright strikes? Not anymore. @PBSHABD gives you news clips, visuals, and content that's safe, authentic, and totally free to use. A game-changer for creators.”
— Prasar Bharati, May 29, 2025

What PB-SHABD Offers

PB-SHABD provides:

  • Free registration for creators (YouTubers, podcasters, video editors, etc.)
  • Access to news footage, visuals, infographics, photographs, and written content
  • Content in 50 categories and 15 Indian languages
  • 24/7 availability of rare visuals, historic footage, and trustworthy data
  • Assurance of no copyright claims, takedowns, or strikes for registered users

The platform is already being used by over 1,700 journalists and is positioned as the go-to source for copyright-free, authentic, and safe-to-use content. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has endorsed PB-SHABD as “a game-changer for creators,” underlining its importance for India’s digital economy.

How Other News Agencies Are Responding

While Prasar Bharati has taken the boldest step by making its assets completely free, other major news agencies have also responded to the changing landscape:

  • Press Trust of India (PTI): PTI recently announced a plan to offer “affordable” licensed access to its video content for individual YouTube creators and other digital platforms. While not entirely free, this move is a significant shift from traditional high-cost licensing, aiming to support responsible content creation at scale.
  • ANI: In contrast, ANI has maintained a stricter approach, continuing to issue copyright strikes and seeking licensing fees, which was the catalyst for the current debate and the government’s intervention.

Why Did This Content Issue Start?

The root cause of the content issue lies in the increasing reliance of digital creators on news footage and archival material for storytelling, explainers, and commentary. As YouTube and other platforms grew, so did the use of short news clips for context, analysis, and education. However, legacy news agencies like ANI began aggressively policing their content, issuing copyright strikes even for brief, transformative uses. This led to:

  • Creator anxiety over copyright claims and potential channel termination
  • Public backlash against perceived overreach by news agencies
  • Legal scrutiny and court cases, as seen with Mohak Mangal’s legal tussle with ANI
  • Demand for fair, affordable, and reliable access to news assets for independent creators

The Impact and the Road Ahead

PB-SHABD marks a paradigm shift in how Indian creators can access and use news content. By removing copyright barriers and offering a vast, multilingual archive for free, Prasar Bharati is empowering a new generation of storytellers and ensuring that public service media truly serves the public.

As the digital content landscape evolves, PB-SHABD stands as a model for openness and collaboration, setting a new standard for how public broadcasters can support the creative economy—while other agencies like PTI move toward more inclusive, affordable licensing for individual creators.

For creators, this is an invitation to “create fearlessly”—with the confidence that their work is backed by the nation’s most trusted media archives, and without the looming threat of copyright strikes.

For more details and to register, visit the official PB-SHABD platform as highlighted by Prasar Bharati and All India Radio News.