Television in India

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

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