Former Prasar Bharati CEO Conferred Padma Shri
Shashi Shekhar Vempati, the former CEO of Prasar Bharati, has been honored with the Padma Shri award for his significant contributions to public broadcasting, media reforms, and digital policy in India.
Shashi, who served as the head of India's public broadcaster from 2017 to 2022, is widely recognized for guiding Prasar Bharati through a period of institutional reorganization, technological advancement, and increased significance in an evolving digital media environment.
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His leadership tenure aligned with a time of increased emphasis on public service broadcasting, expansion of platforms, and policy-driven digital modernization. As the Chief Executive Officer, Vempati supervised the expansion of Doordarshan and All India Radio's online presence, which involved bringing together various digital services under the New India Samachar and NewsOnAir platforms.
His leadership was instrumental in enhancing the broadcaster's visibility during significant national occurrences such as elections, the Covid-19 crisis, and extensive public information initiatives, highlighting the importance of public broadcasting as a reliable source of information.
Industry experts also highlight his focus on implementing technological advancements within the industry. During his tenure, Prasar Bharati expedited the implementation of cutting-edge broadcasting technologies such as Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) digital terrestrial broadcasting. This initiative, undertaken in partnership with IIT Kanpur and Tejas Networks, is viewed as a potential game-changer in the delivery of free-to-air public content directly to mobile devices, without the need for telecommunications networks.
Shashi has played a significant role in shaping media and digital policy discussions, in addition to his responsibilities in broadcasting operations.
He has actively participated in various governmental committees and advisory bodies, offering valuable insights into topics such as platform regulation, public interest media, and the impact of technology on democracy. His efforts have consistently aimed to strike a harmonious balance between the expansion of market-oriented media and the constitutional obligation of public service broadcasting.
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Before taking on a position at Prasar Bharati, Vempati had previously occupied high-level editorial and leadership positions in various media and digital outlets. Following his time at the public broadcasting company, he has remained actively involved in policy and technology circles as one of the founders of Deep Tech for Bharat, a platform dedicated to promoting the development of local technological capabilities.
The Padma Shri award distinguishes Vempati as a member of a select cohort of media and broadcasting experts who have been honored with one of the nation's most prestigious civilian awards. This underscores the government's dedication to bolstering public institutions, enhancing digital infrastructure, and enacting policy-driven reforms in the media sector.
The award is regarded by members of the broadcasting and policy community as a recognition of the changing role of public media in a time influenced by digital technologies, the spread of misinformation, and the increasing significance of government-sponsored communication channels.