On September 15, 1959, UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) gave India 20,000 USD and 180 Philips sets To start India”S Largest Broadcasting organizations, DOORDARSHAN.
It is said that the broadcasting equipment was donated by germans who had come for an industrial exhibition.
All India Radio (AIR) supplied floor space and initial news content to Doordarshan.
In the starting year of the channel, the channel had only 180 television sets. In 10 years, the number had grown to 1,250 sets. in 1970, it grew to 22,00 and by 1977 the number had grown to a quarter million.
It was in the year 1965, Doordarshan started broadcasting news
In the year 1975, Vikram Sarabhai, the father of the Indian space program, suggested an Indian national satellite (INSAT) plan to send TV signals all over India.
In 1976, Indira Gandhi went on television to announce the separation on Doordarshan from AIR
In 1965, Doordarshan began a five – minute news bulletin.
Pratima Puri was the first newsreader.
DD has its own free of charge D.T.H service called DD Direct plus.
DD India is available in 146 countries
Doordarshan Has over 60 channels which include DD1, DD2, DD Daman and Diu, DD Arunachal Pradesh, DD English, DD Goa, etc.
In 2014, Doordarshan relaunched with a new theme of pink and purple. the channel was also accompanied by a new punchline “Desh ka Apna Channel”.
Some Early National Programming on the channel was He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Chitrahaar, Rangoli, Ek Se Badkar EK, Karamchand, Aparadhi Kaun,
Police File Se, Byomkesh Bakshi, Ek Do Teen Chaar, Dada Dadi Ki Kahaniyan, Tehkikaat and Janki Jasoos, Mowgli, Vikram Aur Betaal Etc..
