India’s official broadcaster, Doordarshan, has turned 65. The broadcast which started on September 15, 1959, marking beginning of India’s broadcasting era, today after over six decades has made is reach all over the globe including USA, UK, Europe, Middle East, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, through OTT platform of Yupp TV.
As an autonomous public service broadcaster under the Government of India, it is one of the two divisions of Prasar Bharati. Presently, Doordarshan, India’s largest broadcasting entity, with a vast network of studios and transmitters provides television, online, and mobile services, reaching both metropolitan and regional areas, as well as international audiences.
How Doordarshan was born?
In 1959, a leading European company exhibited its closed-circuit TV equipment at an international exposition. At the end of the expo, the equipment was gifted to the people of India. Having started as a modest experiment in public service telecasting, first President of India Dr Rajendra Prasad inaugurated Doordarshan’s first broadcast on September 15, 1959.
Journey through time
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 services were extended to Mumbai and Amritsar and by 1975, to seven more cities. Till 1975 it was a part of All India Radio. On April 1, 1976, it transformed to become a separate Department in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and later came under Prasar Bharati.
Rember the familiar DD tune and logo
The 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 program started.
Doordarshan goes international
On March 07, 2022, India’s public broadcaster Prasar Bharati signed a Memorandum of Understanding 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 USA, UK, Europe, Middle East, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.
DD grows into 35 satellite channels
Over the years Doordarshan has grown into a network operating 35 satellite channels, of which 6 are All India channels and are 22 Regional Channels (24X7). Also, DD operates 6 Regional (Non 24X7) and 1 International Channel. There are a total of 59 transmitters. In addition to above stations, Doordarshan operates DD DTH service “DD Free Dish” from Earth Station, Todapur, Delhi.
Doordarshan’s ahead of times programmes
Doordarshan’s timeless stories and impeccable storytelling are unmatched. Despite limited resources and technology, serials 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.
Doordarshan during COVID Pandemic
India’s public broadcaster amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown collaborated with various State Government institutions, along with All India Radio to broadcast virtual classes and other educational content through their regional channels across the country on TV, Radio, and YouTube. In the absence of school classes, these virtual classes helped lakhs of students, especially the 10th and 12th standard students in preparation for their board and competitive examinations.
During covid lockdown, Doordarshan touched new records in terms of viewership. The old iconic serials were re-broadcast on DD National and DD Bharati.
Also, to keep learning an interesting activity, apart from the curriculum content, virtual classes in a few states included storytelling by eminent personalities and quiz shows.
Doordarshan launches two AI anchors
Doordarshan Kisan has launched two AI anchors — AI Krish and AI Bhoomi. These AI anchors make Doordarshan Kisan the first government TV channel in India to employ artificial intelligence in this way. The AI anchors are designed to look and functional just like human presenters, capable of delivering news 24×7 without breaks. AI anchors can speak 50 languages.
Rs 2539.61 crore to expand DD reach in remote tribal and border areas
The Government has approved continuation of the Central Sector Scheme “Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development” with an outlay of Rs. 2539.61 crore for the period 2021-26 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.
DD SPORTS become DD SPORTS HD
In yet another step to make the entire DD Network relevant to the changing times, DD SPORTS has become DD SPORTS HD. This has enabled the viewers to watch the telecast of major international sporting events in High-Definition transmission.
Prasar Bharati plays a very important role in nation building and lays continuous focus on providing meaningful and accurate content to one and all, both within the country and abroad. (As of December 2023) Prasar Bharati has signed 46 number of MoUs with different countries.
For the state of Arunachal Pradesh, DD Arunprabha channel was launched by Prime Minister on February 09, 2019.
DD reinvents Chitrahaar & Rangoli, showman Subhash Ghai to air TV series Jaanki
With the 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. For the first time Bollywood’s showman Subhash Ghai has come with a TV series called Jaanki.
DD National has taken several new initiatives like starting daily Hindi feature film, a morning magazine show – DD Morning Show, and reinventing Chitrahaar and Rangoli which are regarded as iconic programmes of Doordarshan.
Mumbai-based Kids YouTube channel PunToon Kids has formed a partnership with Doordarshan to broadcast its content on DD.
