Doordarshan, India&#;s public service broadcaster, holds a special place in the hearts of millions. Launched on September 15, , it was the country&#;s first television channel and played a pivotal role in shaping India&#;s cultural and entertainment landscape. Over the decades, Doordarshan has evolved from black-and-white broadcasts to multi-channel satellite networks, all while maintaining its ethos of educating, entertaining, and informing the masses. Here, we uncover some fascinating and lesser-known facts about this iconic institution.
1. A Humble Beginning
Doordarshan began its journey with an experimental telecast from a makeshift studio in New Delhi. The first broadcast featured a short program presented by a young girl and lasted only 20 minutes. This modest start laid the foundation for a media giant that would dominate Indian airwaves for decades. Initially, the equipment was borrowed, and the resources were limited, but the enthusiasm and dedication of the small team overcame these challenges. Over time, this modest setup grew into a full-fledged network, proving that determination can transform dreams into reality.
2. The First Newsreader
India&#;s first te
Doordarshan turns The advent of Golden age in Indian television
Doordarshan and its iconic logo
Its logo, said to symbolise the human eye, has preserved the nostalgia associated with the Doordarshan brand. Early this year, the state-owned broadcaster began the process of replacing the logo which it has been using since Doordarshan, which runs 23 channels across the country, floated a logo design contest, the winner of which will get a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh.
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The move is seen as a part of the broadcaster’s bid to modernise and revamp its network.
Humble beginnings
In , inside the studios of the All India Radio, Doordarshan began as an experimental broadcast, with a small transmitter and a makeshift studio. Six years later, in , Pratima Puri read out the first five-minute-long news bulletin. She also went on to interview Yuri Gagarin, the first man to travel into outer space.
Pratima Puri reading the news bulletinUntil then, all the regular daily transmissions were operated by the All India Radio.
On 15 August , Doordarshan introduced a national telecast service from its own TV studio in New Delhi, named DD1. The same year, audiences
Doordarshan turns Here is a nostalgic look at the broadcaster's milestones
The “DD eye” logo was designed by NID alumnus Devashis Bhattacharyya in the early s; Prime Minister Indira Gandhi picked his design from NID submissions. In May , Prasar Bharti — the TV wing of India’s public service broadcasting — shortlisted five submissions for DD’s new logo.
Agencies
President Rajendra Prasad launches DD as a pilot project at AIR studio in Delhi. It telecasts 1-hour programmes on social education twice a week
Daily transmissions begin with shows in morning and evening; five-minute news bulletins start; telecast duration goes up to 4 hours over the coming years
DD broadcasting extends to seven more cities, including Mumbai and Amritsar
DD becomes as a standalone department, apart from AIR
Nationwide telecast begins; colour TVs reach Indian homes
DD network adds more channels, starting with DD 2 (now DD Metro)
Cable TV & private channels enter the market leading to a decline in DD viewership
DD launches DD Free Dish, India’s only free DTH service
DD Free Dish goes from Insat-4B to Gsat satellite to all
The Iconic Journey of Doordarshan: From Humble Beginnings to India's Leading Broadcaster
Photo: IANS
Who can forget the Doordarshan TV serials like Ramanand Sagar’s 'Ramayan' () and BR Chopra's 'Mahabharat' () get high viewership and ad revenues, 'Malgudi Days' (based on author RK Narayan's eponymous book of short stories) which aired on the channel in In the year , fantasy series 'Chandrakanta' aired on DD National every Sunday morning. In the year the Hindi-language superhero series 'Shaktimaan' started on DD National, starring Mukesh Khanna, the show gets mired in controversies owing to impressionable kids imitating dangerous stunts in the series.
On September 15, , the government initiated Doordarshan, commonly known as DD, the nation's public service broadcaster, in Delhi.
In , the first President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad launched DD as a pilot project at AIR studio in Delhi.
It telecasted one-hour programmes on social education twice a week. In daily transmissions began with shows in morning and evening, five-minute news bulletins started, telecas
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