Doordarshan
Doordarshan (DD) completed 64 years of its service on September 15, 2023. The experimental broadcaster began on September 15 in 1959, which turned into a regular service in 1965 when DD began beaming signals to homes in and around the national capital. Then President Rajendra Prasad inaugurated the first broadcast.
By 1972, the services were extended to mumbai and Amritsar. Within the next three years, its expansion went to seven more cities. Since then, DD has been expanding its presence among the masses.
Doordarshan is an autonomous public service broadcaster and functions under the Prasar Bharati. it is one of the largest broadcasting organisations in the country in terms of studio and transmitter infrastructure.
From 1959 to 1976, DD service was part of the All india radio (Air), national public radio broadcaster. On April 1, 1976, it transformed to become a separate department in the ministry of information and Broadcasting and later it was brought under the control of 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. With modern technological changes, Doordarshan has gone digital and reached the palms of individuals.
On March 7, 2022 India's public broadcaster Prasar Bharati signed an agreement with 'Yupp TV' and an OTT platform.
Over the years, Doordarshan has continued to enthral audiences --- from the days of Ramayana, Mahabharat, Humlog, Buniyad, Malgudi days and Udaan to today's high-tech coverage of national and international programmes.
During covid lockdown, DD hit record viewership.
At present, Doordarshan has 35 satellite channels and 66 studio centres across the country, a DD DTH earth station at Todapur in Delhi and 55 transmitters of varying power.
DD free dish is the Direct-To-Home (DTH) service owned and operated by national public radio broadcaster Prasar Bharati. It was launched in December 2004. DD free dish reaches about 45 million households as per the FICCI and E and Y Report 2023. DD free dish is the only Free-T0-Air Direct-To-Home (DTH) service in the country.
