NewsOnAir

NewsOnAir: Prasar Bharati's Official Digital News and Radio Hub

NewsOnAir is the official digital application from Prasar Bharati, India's public service broadcaster. This comprehensive platform provides users with a single destination for accessing a vast collection of credible news, live radio, and television content from All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD). The app delivers unbiased reporting and cultural programming across India's many languages, making it an essential tool for anyone seeking authoritative information and entertainment directly from the national broadcaster. Users download NewsOnAir for its unparalleled access to over 230 live radio streams, live TV channels, and extensive on-demand news archives.

Navigating the Extensive Live Radio Catalog

Within NewsOnAir, users begin by selecting the ‘Live Radio’ section. The interface presents a scrollable list of over 205 domestic and 25 international AIR channels. Users tap on any channel name to instantly begin streaming the live broadcast. The app simplifies discovery through geo-mapping; it can automatically suggest local and regional stations based on a user's location. Progression involves exploring content categorized by language and region, from national Hindi news streams to specialized music and cultural programming in languages like Tamil or Bengali, all accessible within the NewsOnAir ecosystem.

Accessing Multiformat News Content

The ‘News’ hub in NewsOnAir aggregates content in text, audio, and video formats. Users typically start by browsing the ‘Latest News’ visual feed, tapping on headlines of interest to read full articles. For audio, they navigate to dedicated podcast sections for hourly bulletins or browse news categories like National or Business. The workflow involves selecting a story, consuming it, and then using inline buttons to share the article or save it for later. This structured approach ensures users of NewsOnAir can efficiently stay informed through diverse, credible sources.

Streaming Live Television Broadcasts

NewsOnAir integrates live TV streaming for key Doordarshan channels. To watch a broadcast, a user opens the ‘Live TV’ section and selects from available channels like DD News, DD India, or Rajya Sabha TV (RSTV). Tapping a channel loads the live video player with standard controls for play, pause, and full-screen viewing. This feature provides a seamless transition from reading text-based news to watching live reporting and analysis, all within the NewsOnAir app, ensuring a multi-sensory news consumption experience without switching applications.

Exploring On-Demand Podcast Archives

Beyond live streams, NewsOnAir offers a deep library of on-demand podcasts. Users explore this by selecting ‘Podcasts’ to find curated lists of AIR programs and audio magazines in over 25 languages. The usage flow involves scrolling through categories, selecting a series like a weekly news summary, and then choosing a specific episode to play. The audio player allows for playback control and background listening. This feature turns NewsOnAir into a personal audio archive, granting access to insightful discussions and bulletins at any time.

Utilizing the Multimedia Video Library

The app provides a dedicated section for video content from Doordarshan's archives. Users access this by selecting ‘Videos’ to browse popular news programs, current affairs debates, and classic DD entertainment series. The action involves scrolling through thumbnails, selecting a video, and watching it in an integrated player. This function complements the text and audio news by offering visual context and deep-dive reports, making NewsOnAir a complete multimedia news platform. Users often utilize this for in-depth understanding of complex topics through visual storytelling.

Personalizing Content and Alerts

NewsOnAir includes several features for a customized experience. Users initiate this by visiting ‘Settings’ to manage notification preferences for breaking news alerts in their chosen categories. They can also tailor their news feed by favoring specific languages or topics. The result is a curated homepage that prioritizes relevant content, ensuring every interaction with NewsOnAir is efficient and personally relevant. This systematic customization enhances the overall utility of the NewsOnAir application for daily use.

Engaging with and Sharing Stories

A key part of the NewsOnAir experience is the ability to interact with content. While reading any article or watching a video, users see options to instantly share the story via other messaging or social media apps on their device. This simple action—tapping ‘Share’ and selecting a destination—allows users to disseminate credible news from a trusted source like NewsOnAir within their personal networks. This functionality amplifies the reach of public service broadcasting and integrates NewsOnAir into the user's daily communication habits.