HISTORY OF TELEVISION IN INDIA

Television is a telecommunication medium that is used for transmitting and receiving moving images and sound. Television can transmit images that are monochrome (black & white), in color and in three dimensions.

Television was invented by John Logie Baird in 1925. Mechanical Televisions were commercially sold from 1928-1935 in United Kingdom, United States of America and Soviet Union.

The first commercially made electronic televisions with cathode ray tubes were manufactured by Telefunken in Germany in 1934, followed by other makers in France, Britain and America.

In 1935 the first regular Television series in the world started from Berlin.

In 1954 Color Television started in the United States of America.

1974 – First Video Cassette Recorder invented in Japan.

By 1987 Japan introduced High Definition Television Broadcasting.

The 1990s saw world wide boom in Satellite and Cable Networks.

1995 – Direct to Home (DTH) was seen in developed countries.

By late 2000s CRT display technology was introduced worldwide by flat panel displays such as LCD.

Television in India – Television emerged in India on 15^th September 1959. Television broadcasting had a slow start in India as it was initially regarded as an expensive gadget.

The first experimental transmission began at Delhi. The objective of the first transmission was to analyze what could be achieved with this tool of community development. The initial funding for the equipment came from the United States. Within the range of 40 kms of the transmitter 180 tele-clubs were set up. The television sets were provided by UNESCO. The professional and engineering staff were provided by All India Radio. The Akashvani auditorium served as the studio from where regular programs were put on air.

On 24^th October 1961 school television for students in Delhi was started.

From 15^th August 1965 regular services with daily news bulletin began.

On 26^th January 1961 Krishi Darshan was started and catered to the farmers of the tele-clubs in Delhi and Haryana.

On 2^nd October 1972 television services were extended to the city of Mumbai. By 1975 the services were further extended to cities of Calcutta, Chennai, Srinagar, Amritsar, and Lucknow.

On 1^st August 1975 Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) was launched. The satellite was loaned to ISRO by NASA for one year. this experiment beamed satellite television programs for four hours daily based on education, health, family planning and agriculture to 2400 villages scattered across six states in India.

SITE was also used to telecast entertainment programs consisting chiefly of rural art, music, and dance. SITE’s primary agenda was not only to educate people about solutions to the country’s problems, but also to unify the diverse and multilingual audiences by exposing them to one another’s culture. SITE opened up the possibility of connecting people in far and unreachable corners of the country through the magic of satellite communication. This was an important milestone in the development of television.

Doordarshan – Television was separated from All India Radio on 1^st April 1976 and constituted under a new body named Doordarshan. It is one of the media units of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. Regular satellite link between Delhi and other transmitters were established to facilitate the introduction of national programs. Doordarshan was established with the motive of public service broadcasting. Its aim was to inform, educate and entertain the masses.

Here are some of the major landmarks in the history of Doordarshan:

1^st Jan 1976 – Commercials introduced on television.

1^st April 1976 – Doordarshan was separated from All India Radio.

15^th August 1982 – Color television was introduced.

15^th August 1982 – Countrywide Classroom by UGC was launched.

15^th July 1984 – ‘Humlog’ the first sponsored serial was broadcast.

19^th November 1984 – A second channel was started at Delhi.

9^th August 1986 – First regional satellite network was started in Maharashtra.

23^rd February 1987 – Morning transmission began.

1987 – Ramayana directed by Ramanand Sagar was broadcast.

1988 – Mahabharat produced by B. R. Chopra was broadcast.

26 January 1981 – afternoon transmission began.

1^st April 1993 – Metro entertainment channel began with satellite networking.

15^th August 1993 – Five DD Satellite channels were started.

1^st October 1993 – Regional language satellite channels began.

15^th August 1994 – Major restructuring of DD1 to DD13 took place. Relay station service from state capitals.

14^th March 1995 – DD India – an international channel was introduced.

14^th November 1995 – DD3 an infotainment channel was introduced.

23^rd November 1997 – Prasar Bharati became an autonomous broadcasting corporation in India.

18^th March 1999 – DD Sports channel was started.

7^th August 1999 – News was broadcast by the hour.

15^th August 1999 – DD News and Current Affairs Channel started as a test transmission.

2000 – Gyan Darshan – India’s first educational television channel started.

2003 – Eklavya Technology Channel started. This was a part of Gyan Darshan.

2002 – DD Bharati was introduced.

2004 – DTH services began.

Doordarshan has three tier program service – national, regional and local. The national programs include news, current affairs, services, sports, music, dance, drama, serials and feature films. DD4 – DD13 are regional channels. DD14 – DD17 telecast programs for the four hindi speaking states. DD India comprises of eighteen hours of transmission. DD CNI is the channel of News and Current Affairs.

Doordarshan started to appear in color during Asian Games. The success of the nineth Asian Games and its live coverage by DD through satellite INSAT 1A led to the emergence of a new concept of live coverage in the nation especially regarding the sports events.

History of Television post Liberalization – The economic reforms of 1991 by the government allowed private and foreign broadcasters to engage in limited operations in India. Several foreign channels like CNN, Star TV and domestic channels like Zee TV, Sun TV started satellite broadcasts.

The cable television industry witnessed a sharp ascent (rise) in the early 1990s. During this time, we see the entry of foreign players like Rupert Murdoch’s Star TV Network in 1991, MTV and others.

Sun TV was launched in 1992 as the first private channel in South India. Five new channels like MTV, Star Plus, BBC, Prime Sports and STAR channel firmed its ground int eh Indian market. Zee TV was the first private owned Indian channel to broadcast over cable.

By 2001-2003, international channels like Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, VH1, Disney, and Toon Disney made a quick impact in the Indian market.

Television in India truly attracted and impacted the masses over the years.

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