Doordarshan,
the public service broadcaster, is the largest terrestrial network
in the world. The service started on September 15, 1959, to transmit
educational and developmental programmes on an experimental basis.
Doordarshan has made significant contribution to accelerate socio-economic
change, promote national integration and stimulate scientific temper.
Being a public service broadcaster, it strives to carry socially
relevant messages in its programme content. Doordarshan has a three-tier
programme service – National, Regional and Local. The emphasis
in the National programmes is on events and issues of interest to
the entire nation. These programmes include news and current affairs,
magazine programmes and documentaries on science, art and culture,
environment, social issues, serials, music, dance, drama and feature
films. The regional programmes cater to the interests of a particular
state, in the language and idiom of that region. The local programmes
are area specific and cover local issues featuring local people.
DD’s national programmes inculcate a sense of unity and fraternity
with its healthy mix of entertainment, information and education.
All major national events as well as educational programmes and
issues related to women, tribal affairs and other public service
programmes are broadcast on regular basis. Prasar Bharati has entered
into a partnership with the Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT)
to source quality documentaries on various issues of concern to
the public. Prasar Bharati also participates actively in the annual
documentary film festival – Open Frame. Doordarshan opened
its windows to the world by launching its international channel
on 14th March, 1995. The Channel, earlier known as DD World was
renamed DD India in 2002. The programming offers international viewers
an update on the Indian social, cultural, political and economic
scene. DD India was launched with a mission “to build bridges
of communication with Indians living abroad and to showcase the
real India, its culture, its values, its traditions, its modernity,
its diversity, its unity, its agony and its ecstasy to the entire
world through programmes of high quality, that will inform, educate
and entertain people in the highest traditions of public service
broadcasting.” DD India can be watched in 146 countries across
the world through PAS -9 and PAS -10 satellites. It carries news
bulletins, features on topical events, entertainment programmes,
feature films, music and dance, children programmes, events and
tourism. In addition to Hindi and English, programmes in Urdu, Punjabi,
Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Gujarati and Marathi form an
essential ingredient of this international channel’s offering.
Doordarshan is the only television network in the country which
has diverse programming on family welfare, women, children and the
less privileged. It also beams programmes on agricultural information
and knowledge, preservation of environment and ecological issues.
Since VATAVARAN 2002, Doordarshan has been providing consistent
support in promoting the festival across India.
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