Doordarshan: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 19:16, 27 July 2005
Doordarshan (दूरदर्शन) is a public broadcast terrestrial television channel run by Prasar Bharati, a board nominated by the Government of India. It is one of the largest broadcasting organsiations in the world in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters.
Doordarshan had a modest beginning with the experimental telecast starting in Delhi in September 1959 with a small transmitter and a makeshift studio and the regular daily transmission started in 1965 as a part of All India Radio. The television service was extended to a second city – Mumbai (then Bombay ) only in 1972. Till 1975, only seven cities were covered by Doordarshan and it remained the only television channel in India. Television services were separated from radio in 1976 and Doordarshan came into existence. National programme was introduced in 1982. In the same year colour TVs were introduced in Indian markets to mark Asian Games being held in Delhi. The eighties were era of Doordarshan with soap like Hum Log (1984) and mythological dramas like Ramayana (1987-88) and Mahabharat (1988-89) glued millions to Doordarshan. Other popular programmes on Doordarshan included Hindi film songs based Chitrahaar and Rangoli and crime thirllers like Karamchand starring Pankaj Kapoor and Byomkesh Bakshi.
Now more than 87 percent of Indian population can receive Doordarshan programmes through a network of nearly 1044 terrestrial transmitters. About 46 Doordarshan Studios are producing TV software. Presently, Doordarshan operates 19 channels – two All India channels, 11 Regional Languages Satellite Channels (RLSC), four State Networks (SN), an International channel and a Sports Channel.
On DD-1 National programmes, Regional programmes and Local Programmes are carried on time-sharing basis. DD-News channel, launched on 3rd November, 2003 replaced existing DD-Metro Entertainment channel, provides 24 Hour news. The Regional Languages Satellite channels have two components – The Regional service for the particular state relayed by all terrestrial transmitters in the state and additional programmes in the Regional Language in prime time and non-prime time available only through cable operators. Sports Channel is exclusively devoted to the important sporting events of national and International importance.
The advent of cable channels and private players has eroded popularity of Doordarshan in recent years. Doordarshan has also been criticised by some, as state media and hence not completly free.