Introduction to Television in India
- In India Doordarshan was started as an experimental service on 15 September, 1959 in Delhi as part of All India Radio\’s services.
- The government had been reluctant to invest in television initially, because it was felt unaffordable medium for a poor country like India
- Television had to prove its role in the development process
- Initially programs were broadcast twice a week for an hour a day on topics as community health, citizens duties and rights etc.
- In 1961 a school educational television project was broadcasted
- Doordarshan began a five-minute news bulletin in 1965. Pratima Puri was the first newsreader.
- In 1975, the government carried out the first test of the possibilities of satellite based television through the SITE (Satellite Instructional Television Experiment) program, to play a role in socio-economic development
- Television services were separated from radio on 1 April 1976
- In 1982, Doordarshan as a National Broadcaster came into existence
- In 1976, the advent of advertising on Doordarshan established TV as a future of mass media
- Commercialization of Doordarshan saw the development of soap operas, situation comedies, dramas, musical programs, quiz shows
- In 1991, first time International satellite television was introduced in India by CNN through its coverage of the Gulf War
- In the same year, Hong Kong based Star TV started broadcasting five channels into India using the ASIASAT-1 satellite
- A number of Indian satellite based television services were launched between 1991 and 1994 including Zee TV, Sony TV etc.
Landmarks of Indian Television Development
- 15 September 1959 – Experimental service at Delhi
- 24 October 1961 – School television started
- 26 January 1967 – Krishi Darshan launched (Agriculture based show)
- 2 October 1972 – Bombay Kendra established
- 26 January 1973 – Srinagar Kendra began
- 29 September 1973 – Amritsar Kendra began and Program production started at Delhi
- 1 August 1975 – SITE launched in 6 states for 1 year. It aims to promote socio-economic development through intensive communication
- 9 August 1975 – Calcutta Kendra started
- 15 August 1975 – Madras Kendra started
- 27 November 1975 – Lucknow Kendra started
- 1 January 1976 – Commercial services began
- 1 April 1976 – DD delinked from AIR
- 10 April 1982 – INSAT-1A launched
- 15 August 1982 – National Programs & Color transmission began, Also DD Nagpur started its operation
- 19 November 1982 – TV Coverage of Asian Games
- 15 July 1984 – India’s first sponsored serial HumLog began
- 15 August 1984 – UGC started showing country classroom program
- 23 February 1987 – Morning transmission of DD started
- 15 October 1987 – Weekly News Bulletin for hearing impaired
- 6 February 1989 – CPC (Central Production Centre) at New Delhi started functioning
- 20 May 1991 – IGNOU started educational program
- 5 December 1991 – Recorded version of question hour in Parliament
- 7 December 1994 – Live telecast of question hour in Parliament
- 14 March 1995 – DD India International channel
- 7 April 1995 – DD Movie club
- 30 June 1995 – DD-CNN 1, current affairs channel