Blitz Bureau
ESTABLISHED on September 15, 1959, Doordarshan (DD) marked the beginning of the broadcasting era in India. As an autonomous public service broadcaster under the Government of India, it is one of the two divisions of Prasar Bharati. Today, Doordarshan remains India’s largest broadcasting entity, with a vast network of studios and transmitters. It provides television, online, and mobile services, reaching audiences both in India and abroad. .
Doordarshan began as a modest experiment in public service telecasting. The then-President Rajendra Prasad inaugurated the first broadcast on September 15, 1959. A leading European company exhibited its closed-circuit TV equipment at an international exposition that year and at the end of the expo, the equipment was gifted to the people of India.
A regular service
The experiment became a regular service in 1965 when Doordarshan began beaming signals to homes in and around the country’s Capital, New Delhi. By 1972, its services were extended to Mumbai and Amritsar and by 1975, to seven more cities. Till 1975, DD was a part of All India Radio. On April 1, 1976, it became a separate department in Information & Broadcasting Ministry, and later came under Prasar Bharati.
A new signature image was designed by the National Institute of Design and a signature tune was created by Pandit Ravi Shankar. The first telecast in colour took place on August 15, 1982, when the national programme started.
Over the years Doordarshan has grown into a network operating 35 satellite channels out of which six are allIndia and 22 regional channels (24X7). DD also operates six regional (non24X7) and one international channel. There are a total of 59 transmitters. In addition, Doordarshan is operating a DTH service, DD Free Dish, from its earth station at Todapur.
During the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, DD collaborated with various state Government institutions, along with All India Radio to broadcast virtual classes and other educational content
Timeless stories
Doordarshan’s timeless stories and impeccable storytelling remain unmatched till date. Shows like Ramayana, Mahabharat, Hum Log, Buniyaad, Malgudi Days, and Udaan set a benchmark for quality content. Doordarshan has delivered content to generations and continues to play a vital role in creating awareness.
During the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, DD collaborated with various state Government institutions, along with All India Radio to broadcast virtual classes and other educational content through its regional channels across the country on TV, Radio, and YouTube. In the absence of school classes, these virtual classes helped lakhs of students.
Doordarshan Kisan has launched two AI anchors – AI Krish and AI Bhoomi. These AI anchors make DD Kisan the first government TV channel in the country to employ Artificial Intelligence in this way.
DD FreeDish DTH service, owned and operated by Prasar Bharati, is the only Free-to-Air (FTA) Direct-To-Home (DTH) service where there is no monthly subscription fee for the viewers. All it requires is a one-time investment for purchasing a set-top-box and a smallsized dish antenna with accessories.
Reinventing Itself
With changing times, Doordarshan is reinventing itself and has come out with a new look and feel. DD National, the flagship channel of Doordarshan Network has started a number of new programmes. .w DD is now offering a diverse range of programmes to both entertain and educate its audience.
For younger viewers, DD has introduced daily soaps such as Models and and Hum Toh Middle Class Hain Ji. Additionally, the channel is showcasing new and offbeat programmes
The Government has approved continuation of the scheme with various components, including expansion of reach of public service broadcasting in remote, tribal, Left-wing extremism, border areas, aspirational districts and other such areas of strategic/national importance.
Based on the theme of Naye Bharat Ka Naya Doordarshan, Doordarshan aired a mega historical show titled Swaraj- Bharat Ke Swatantrata Sangram Ki Samagra Gatha, a 75 episodes mega show illustrating the glorious history of India’s freedom struggle.
In a bid to make the entire DD Network relevant to the changing times, DD Sports has become DD Sports HD.
For Arunachal Pradesh, a DD Arunprabha channel was launched by the Prime Minister on February 9, 2019.
On March 7, 2022, Prasar Bharati signed a MoU with ‘Yupp TV’, an over-the-top (OTT) platform, which is a gateway for television viewers across the globe. With this, DD India is now available on the OTT platform of Yupp TV in the USA, UK, Europe, Middle East, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.
Mumbai-based Kids YouTube channel PunToon Kids has formed a partnership with Doordarshan to broadcast its content on DD.
To embark the 65 glorious years of Doordarshan, a social media campaign #DilseDD@65 has been started, under which he mission and vision of DD is being shared with the audience in the form of video
