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Television in India has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the late 1950s. What started as a small experimental service in Delhi has today become one of the world’s largest broadcasting ecosystems, serving over a billion people in dozens of languages. The journey of Indian television reflects not only technological advancement but also the country’s social, political, and cultural transformation.

The Birth of Television in India (1959)

The story of television in India began on 15th September 1959, when the first experimental broadcast was conducted by All India Radio (AIR) with support from UNESCO. The service was launched in Delhi and was aimed mainly at educational and development programming. At the time, television was still a novel technology in much of the world, and in India, it was seen as a tool for social upliftment rather than entertainment.

The initial broadcasts were extremely limited — just twice a week for one hour each, and programs were aimed at students and rural development workers. A single black-and-white transmitter covered a radius of about 25 kilometers, serving a small number of TV sets donated by foreign organizations.

Expansion and Educational Use (1960s–70s)

By 1965, regular daily transmission began in Delhi. The content remained largely educational, including school lessons, agricultural programming for farmers, and instructional material for health workers. Television sets were rare, expensive, and mostly seen in government offices or public viewing areas.

In 1972, Doordarshan — as the television service came to be known — expanded to Mumbai, and later to Srinagar, Amritsar, Kolkata, Chennai, and Lucknow. Despite the expansion, access was still limited, and content was heavily censored and monitored by the government.

A major leap occurred in 1975 with the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE). Jointly launched by NASA and ISRO, SITE was a groundbreaking initiative to use satellite technology to beam educational television to over 2400 villages across six Indian states. It focused on agriculture, health, and literacy. Though experimental, it proved the potential of satellite TV in reaching India’s vast rural population.

Institutional Change: Doordarshan Becomes Independent (1976)

Until 1976, Indian television was under the administrative control of All India Radio. Recognizing the growing importance and reach of TV, the Indian government made Doordarshan a separate entity that year. It became the country’s national television broadcaster, and for the next two decades, it held a monopoly on television content in India.

With this move, Doordarshan was now better positioned to develop new programming, invest in infrastructure, and expand its reach. It also marked the beginning of television’s transformation from an educational tool to a more diversified medium including news, entertainment, and culture.

A Landmark Moment: Color Television & National Broadcast (1982)

The real explosion of television in India came in 1982, a landmark year for multiple reasons.

• On 15th August 1982, India’s first color television broadcast aired — the Independence Day address by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
• Just a few months later, in November 1982, India hosted the Asian Games in New Delhi, which were telecast in color across the country.
• This led to a surge in the sale of color TV sets, making televisions a more common presence in Indian homes, particularly in urban areas.

Doordarshan also began national telecasts, linking regional centers and allowing the same program to be aired across the country. Signature shows like Krishi Darshan, Chitrahaar, and Sunday Hindi Feature Films became weekly rituals for millions of Indians.

Golden Age of Doordarshan (1980s–Early 1990s)

The 1980s are often referred to as the golden era of Indian television, especially for Doordarshan. A string of iconic serials — many of which are still fondly remembered — were launched during this period:

• Ramayan (1987–88) by Ramanand Sagar
• Mahabharat (1988–90) by B.R. Chopra
• Hum Log, India’s first soap opera
• Buniyaad, about the Partition of India
• Byomkesh Bakshi, a detective series
• Malgudi Days, based on R.K. Narayan’s stories

These shows, watched by entire families and even communities, created shared national experiences. Streets would empty during Ramayan’s broadcast, and temples would place TVs for collective viewing, highlighting the deep cultural impact of television.

The Advent of Satellite TV and Liberalization (1990s)

The Indian television landscape changed dramatically in the early 1990s, following the economic liberalization of 1991. With the entry of private and foreign players, Doordarshan’s monopoly was finally broken.

• 1991: CNN’s live coverage of the Gulf War showed Indians what satellite TV could offer.
• 1992: Zee TV became India’s first private Hindi satellite channel.
• Soon after, channels like Sony Entertainment Television, Star Plus, and Sun TV entered the scene.

By the mid-90s, cable TV had spread across Indian cities and even into small towns. Viewers now had access to 24-hour news (e.g., NDTV), international channels (e.g., BBC, Discovery, Cartoon Network), and diverse entertainment.

Digital Age and Modern Television (2000s–2020s)

With growing internet access, Direct-to-Home (DTH) services, and smartphones, television in India entered a new phase in the 2000s and beyond. Key developments include:

• 2003: Introduction of Tata Sky, one of the first DTH services in India.
• 2005–2010: Rise of regional language channels catering to diverse states and dialects.
• 2016 onward: Massive surge in OTT platforms like Hotstar (Disney+), Netflix, Amazon Prime, and JioCinema.

Today, television coexists with digital streaming. While urban youth increasingly consume content on mobile devices, television remains hugely popular in semi-urban and rural India.

India now has over 900 satellite TV channels, hundreds of regional channels, and a TV penetration rate of more than 70% of households. It’s the second-largest TV market in the world, after China, in terms of viewership.

Conclusion: More Than Just a Screen

Television in India is not just a medium of entertainment; it’s a mirror to the nation’s evolution — politically, socially, and culturally. From a few black-and-white broadcasts in a handful of cities to today’s colorful and multilingual TV universe, the journey of Indian television is one of technological growth, cultural richness, and mass communication power.

As India moves deeper into the digital age, television continues to adapt — merging with streaming, becoming interactive, and reaching even the remotest villages through mobile and satellite. Its role in shaping opinions, reflecting diversity, and uniting people remains unmatched.

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