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Doordarshan

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Doordarshan, often called DD, is the state-owned public television broadcaster for India.

Doordarshan 60th Foundation Day Stamp
Doordarshan 60th Foundation Day Stamp

It is a huge organization that helps share news and shows across the country. The group is owned by India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It is one of two main parts of a larger group called Prasar Bharati. Doordarshan uses many studios and transmitters to send signals to homes. It provides services through television, radio, the internet, and mobile phones. This helps people in big cities and small towns stay connected.

The way Doordarshan works involves a massive network of technology. It uses digital terrestrial transmitters to send signals through the air.

Doordarshan 60th Foundation Day Stamps
Doordarshan 60th Foundation Day Stamps

The group also uses satellite technology to reach many different areas. In 2017, Doordarshan operated nearly 1,400 terrestrial transmitters. It also had 46 different studios to make its programs. These tools allow the network to send different shows to different places. Some channels focus on one city, while others reach the whole nation. This step-by-step process of sending signals makes sure people can watch at home.

Doordarshan has a long history that began with a small experiment. It started in Delhi on 15 September 1959. At first, it only had a small transmitter and a makeshift studio. In 1965, it began daily news broadcasts as part of All India Radio. One of its most famous news anchors was Pratima Puri. The show Krishi Darshan started on 26 January 1967. This program is the longest-running show on Indian television. By 1976, television was officially separated from radio services.

Many important changes happened for the network in 1982. That year, Doordarshan became a national broadcaster for the whole country. It also brought color television to India for the first time. People saw color during Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's Independence Day speech on 15 August 1982. The 1982 Asian Games in Delhi were also shown in color. Later, the network split into different channels like DD-1 and DD-2. In 1993, these were renamed DD National and DD Metro to compete with new private channels.

Doordarshan 60th Foundation Day Stamp
Doordarshan 60th Foundation Day Stamp

Today, Doordarshan offers a wide variety of things to watch. It has 44 different channels, including high-definition feeds. Some channels focus on specific topics, like DD Sports or DD Kisan for farming. There are also many regional channels that use local languages. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the show Ramayan set a world record. It was watched by 285 million people globally. This shows how much people rely on the network for stories and news. Even with new private stations, Doordarshan remains a major part of Indian life.

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