{"id":12850,"date":"2025-12-03T16:27:21","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T10:57:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/?p=12850"},"modified":"2025-12-03T16:27:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T10:57:21","slug":"world-television-day-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/?p=12850","title":{"rendered":"World Television Day 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"text-center event-heading-background\">\n<h2 id=\"Titleh2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>World Television Day 2025<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"Subtitleh3\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong><span id=\"ltrSubtitle\"><br \/>\nConnecting 230 million Households Across India<br \/>\n<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"PrDateTime\" class=\"ReleaseDateSubHeaddateTime text-center pt20\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Posted On: 21 NOV 2025 11:21AM by PIB Delhi<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"pt20\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>India\u2019s television network connects 900 million viewers across 230 million households nationwide.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>918 private satellite channels operational as of March 2025, reflecting a vibrant broadcast ecosystem.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>6.5 crore DD Free Dish homes, driving digital inclusion and free public access nationwide.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>World Television Day is observed globally on 21 November each year, following the proclamation of the United Nations General Assembly through a Resolution adopted in 1996. The Day recognizes television as a vital medium in informing, educating, and influencing public opinion, and in fostering communication and global understanding.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>In India, where over 230 million television households reach around 900 million viewers, the Day is observed under the aegis of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and its public broadcasting network, Prasar Bharati. Activities and outreach programmes by Doordarshan and All India Radio highlight television\u2019s enduring role in public service communication, dissemination of development messages, and promotion of national integration.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.pib.gov.in\/WriteReadData\/userfiles\/image\/image001DRP0.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Television continues to serve as one of the most powerful platforms for information and entertainment outreach in India, connecting millions of households and contributing significantly to the objectives of public awareness and participatory governance.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"table-responsive\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Did you know?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>India\u2019s Media &amp; Entertainment (M&amp;E) sector contributed \u20b92.5\u202ftrillion to the economy in 2024 and is projected to exceed \u20b93\u202ftrillion by 2027. The television and broadcasting segment alone generated nearly \u20b9680\u202fbillion in 2024. The sector\u2019s growth is driven by digital expansion, 4K broadcasting, Smart TVs, 5G, and OTT platforms serving over 600\u202fmillion users.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Growth of television in India<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Television in India has evolved from a limited experimental service to one of the world\u2019s largest broadcasting networks, reflecting the country\u2019s progress in communication technology, public outreach, and digital innovation. Guided by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India\u2019s television journey mirrors the nation\u2019s socio-economic development\u2014from community education broadcasts in the 1950s to a fully digitised, multi-channel environment today. The following phases trace this transformation, highlighting key policy milestones and technological advancements documented in official records.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong><u>Experimental and Foundational Phase (1959\u20131965)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Television broadcasting in India began on an experimental basis on\u00a015 September 1959, initiated by\u00a0All India Radio (AIR)\u00a0under the\u00a0Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB). The service was launched in collaboration with\u00a0UNESCO\u00a0to explore television\u2019s role in education and community development. Initially, broadcasts were limited to a small radius around Delhi, with programmes focusing on school education and rural upliftment.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong><u>Expansion and Institutionalisation (1965-1982)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Regular daily transmission began in\u00a01965, marking the establishment of\u00a0Doordarshan\u00a0as a dedicated television service within All India Radio (AIR). During this period, television rapidly transitioned from a limited experiment into a growing public service medium. New television centres were set up across major cities, including Mumbai (1972), Srinagar, Amritsar, and Calcutta (1973\u201375), and Chennai (1975), expanding coverage and strengthening the national broadcast infrastructure. Doordarshan emerged as one of the key aspects in the broadcasting landscape in India, reflecting the rapid expansion of television as a national medium during this period.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.pib.gov.in\/WriteReadData\/userfiles\/image\/image003QVUL.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>A landmark development of this era was the\u00a0Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE)\u00a0conducted in 1975\u201376 by ISRO and NASA, one of the world\u2019s largest satellite-based education experiments. Under SITE, NASA\u2019s ATS-6 satellite enabled direct broadcast of educational content to around\u00a02,400 villages across 20 districts in six states, while ISRO provided ground systems and AIR managed programme production. Programmes focused on agriculture, health, family planning, primary education, and teacher training \u2014 laying the foundation for satellite-based development communication in India.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Doordarshan expanded its mandate beyond entertainment\u00a0into news, public service broadcasting, community learning, and educational outreach. The network began structured broadcasts in school education, rural development, and awareness generation, setting the stage for future national initiatives such as UGC\u2019s higher-education telecasts and CEC\u2019s curriculum-based programming.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>This period also marked Doordarshan\u2019s growing role in delivering authentic, balanced news and public information across the country, as public broadcasting evolved beyond entertainment into a tool for social development. Regional Doordarshan Kendras strengthened local-language content creation, enabling broader representation of India\u2019s cultural and linguistic diversity. With the expansion of television centres and regional production units, Doordarshan strengthened local-language content creation and broadened cultural representation.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>By the early 1980s, the institutional foundations of Indian television were firmly established \u2014 a nationwide network, a development-oriented programming ethos, and growing technological capability that would drive the next phase of expansion, including colour broadcasting and national coverage.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.pib.gov.in\/WriteReadData\/userfiles\/image\/image004AC5T.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong><u>Colour Television and National Coverage (1982\u20131990)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>The introduction of\u00a0colour television\u00a0in\u00a01982, coinciding with the\u00a0Asian Games in New Delhi, was a landmark in India\u2019s broadcasting history. This period saw rapid expansion of terrestrial transmitters under Doordarshan, extending reach to rural and remote areas. By\u00a01990, Doordarshan\u2019s network covered nearly\u00a070% of India\u2019s population and 80% of the geographical area. During the 1980s, Doordarshan also expanded the role of its regional broadcasting centres\u2014known as\u00a0Doordarshan Kendras\u2014which produce and transmit programmes in regional languages,\u00a0thereby strengthening linguistic and cultural diversity in national broadcasting.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong><u>Liberalisation and Satellite Era (1991\u20132011)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>With the economic liberalisation of the early 1990s, India\u2019s television landscape opened to private satellite broadcasters. Early private channels included\u00a0Star TV (1991),\u00a0Zee TV (1992)\u00a0and\u00a0Sony Entertainment Television (1995), which introduced new formats in entertainment, film, music, and news programming and marked the beginning of a multi-channel satellite television ecosystem.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>During this period, Doordarshan expanded and diversified its national and regional network. Channels such as\u00a0DD National,\u00a0DD Metro,\u00a0DD News,\u00a0DD India, and several\u00a0DD Kendras\u00a0(state broadcasting centres operated by Doordarshan) continued to deliver public-service broadcasting and regional-language content, ensuring nationwide access as private networks grew.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>India also transitioned to\u00a0digital satellite broadcasting\u00a0during this era. A major milestone was the launch of\u00a0DD Direct Plus\u00a0in\u00a0December 2004, India\u2019s first free-to-air Direct-to-Home (DTH) service, which significantly expanded access to television in rural and remote regions.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"table-responsive\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"5\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Did you know?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>The\u00a0Prasar Bharati Act, 1990\u00a0was enacted to establish an autonomous public service broadcaster for India. The Act came into full effect on\u00a023 November 1997, leading to the formation of the Prasar Bharati Corporation.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>With its operationalisation,\u00a0Doordarshan\u00a0and\u00a0All India Radio\u00a0were brought under the corporation as its two primary constituent broadcasters. The Act mandates Prasar Bharati to function independently and impartially, ensuring diverse broadcasting that serves the public interest.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong><u>Digitisation and Modern Broadcasting Phase (2012\u2013Present)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>The Government of India implemented Cable TV Digitisation in four phases between 2012 and 2017, under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, ensuring improved signal quality and viewer choice. Prasar Bharati\u2019s DD Free Dish, India\u2019s only free-to-air DTH service, emerged as a major vehicle for digital inclusion, reaching nearly 50 million households as of 2024. Today, India\u2019s vast television network serves hundreds of millions of viewers nationwide, making television the country\u2019s most accessible mass communication platform and connecting urban and rural audiences alike.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.pib.gov.in\/WriteReadData\/userfiles\/image\/image006GIF5.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Educational initiatives<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Television has long been a vital medium for education in India, leveraging its extensive reach to promote inclusive learning and bridge gaps in access to knowledge. Public broadcasting, particularly through Doordarshan and DD Free Dish, has played a central role in extending curriculum-aligned lessons, skill development programmes, and teacher training resources to learners across the country, including those in rural, remote, and underserved regions. Over the decades, government-led initiatives have increasingly integrated traditional broadcast with digital platforms, creating a hybrid learning ecosystem that combines accessibility, quality content, and pedagogical effectiveness.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong><u>Educational Broadcasting During COVID-19<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>During the\u00a0COVID-19 pandemic,\u00a0<em>Doordarshan<\/em>\u00a0emerged as a vital platform for when schools and universities were closed, Doordarshan played an important role in supporting continuity of learning. The\u00a0Ministry of Education (MoE), in coordination with the\u00a0Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB)\u00a0and\u00a0Prasar Bharati, rapidly scaled up televised learning solutions so that students without internet access were not left behind. Doordarshan\u2019s national and regional channels broadcast curriculum-aligned lessons, teacher-led sessions, and subject-specific content, reaching millions of learners in rural and remote areas.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong><u>PM e-Vidya Initiative<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Under the Government\u2019s digital education response, the\u00a0PM e-Vidya\u00a0programme, a comprehensive initiative to consolidate digital, online, and broadcast-based education resources, was launched to unify and streamline all digital and broadcast-based modes of learning across the country. A key component of this initiative is the\u00a0\u201cOne Class \u2013 One Channel\u201d\u00a0scheme, which introduced\u00a012 dedicated DTH television channels\u00a0(Classes I\u2013XII) through the\u00a0SWAYAM Prabha\u00a0platform, delivering curriculum-based content prepared by\u00a0NCERT\u00a0and partner institutions. These channels are accessible through\u00a0Doordarshan\u2019s DTH services (including DD Free Dish), other\u00a0free-to-air satellite platforms, and\u00a0regional Doordarshan channels\u00a0that supplement national content with state-specific educational programming.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>The initiative integrates televised learning with digital repositories such as\u00a0SWAYAM,\u00a0DIKSHA, and\u00a0NCERT\u00a0resources. It ensures broad, equitable access\u2014particularly for students without reliable internet\u2014aligning strongly with the principles of the\u00a0National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"table-responsive\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"5\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Did you know?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Study Webs of Active\u2011Learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM): India\u2019s national platform for online courses (MOOCs) across school, higher education, and skill development. Offers curriculum-based courses from IITs, UGC, NCERT, and other national institutions.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA): A government learning platform supporting school curricula, teacher training, assessments, and multi-lingual digital content. Enables offline and online access for students and educators.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>NCERT Digital Content Repositories\u00a0\u2013 Provides textbooks, e-resources, and interactive learning material aligned with the national curriculum.<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong><em>PM e-Vidya\u00a0<\/em>programme provided:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>12 dedicated DTH television channels\u00a0for school education (one for each class from 1 to 12),<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Integration with\u00a0SWAYAM,\u00a0DIKSHA, and\u00a0NCERT\u00a0digital content repositories, and<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Broadcast access through\u00a0<em>Doordarshan National<\/em>\u00a0and regional channels to reach learners without internet connectivity.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Together, these efforts underscore the Government\u2019s commitment to using public service broadcasting as a tool for inclusive learning and digital empowerment.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong><u>SWAYAM Prabha Educational Channels<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Complementing PM e-Vidya, the SWAYAM Prabha initiative operates a set of high-quality educational TV channels that broadcast curriculum-based content 24\u00d77 through GSAT satellites.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Key features include:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Channels dedicated to higher education, school education, teacher training, and skill development<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Content developed by IITs, UGC, CEC, IGNOU, NCERT, NIOS, and other national institutions<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Continuous telecasts with repeat slots to maximise flexibility<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Availability across DTH platforms, including DD Free Dish<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>This system ensures that both school and higher-education learners have uninterrupted access to academic content, further strengthening India\u2019s blended learning ecosystem.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Viewership and Socio-Economic Impact<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Television remains the most widely accessed medium in India, with a strong penetration of satellite and broadcast channels. As of 31\u202fMarch\u202f2025, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) had permitted\u00a0918 private satellite TV channels\u00a0(for uplinking, downlinking or both) in India. Out of these,\u00a0908 channels\u00a0were available for down\u2011linking in India, of which\u00a0333 were pay TV channels\u00a0(232\u202fSD +\u202f101\u202fHD).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>SD channels provide video at lower resolution and bandwidth, while HD channels offer significantly higher picture clarity and detail due to increased resolution, which enhances the viewing experience, especially on larger screens. The growth in channel numbers from 821 in 2014 to 918 in 2025 underscores how television continues to be an important cultural and informational medium across linguistic regions.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.pib.gov.in\/WriteReadData\/userfiles\/image\/image008SJTO.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Television also has significant socio-economic impacts: it provides employment across content creation, broadcasting operations, and regulatory compliance; supports livelihoods in production and distribution; and enables access to education, health, and government schemes for rural and semi-urban populations. Television\u2019s extensive reach, linguistic diversity, and regulatory oversight underline its continuing importance as both a\u00a0cultural and economic driver\u00a0in India\u2019s media landscape.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Technology and Innovation in Indian Television<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>The television broadcasting ecosystem is undergoing a major transformation through digital infrastructure upgrades, technological innovations, and regulatory reforms\u2014driven by government policy and initiatives from the public broadcaster, Prasar Bharati.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong><u>Terrestrial Transition and Infrastructure Modernisation<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>India\u2019s transition from analogue to digital terrestrial transmission (DTT) has gathered momentum in recent years. Analogue terrestrial transmitters historically covered about 88% of the population, but the system had inherent limitations, including restricted channel capacity and lower picture and sound quality.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"table-responsive\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>What is\u00a0Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT)?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>DTT transmits television signals\u00a0digitally through terrestrial broadcast towers, replacing traditional analogue transmission. It enables\u00a0multiple channels,\u00a0sharper picture quality, and\u00a0mobile reception\u00a0without cable or satellite links.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Digital terrestrial transmission offers more efficient use of spectrum and better signal clarity. India\u2019s DTT network uses the\u00a0DVB-T2 (Digital Video Broadcasting \u2013 Second Generation Terrestrial)\u00a0standard, which allows multiple TV channels to be broadcast on a single frequency with improved reception, including in mobile or indoor environments. The first DVB-T2 digital transmitters were commissioned in\u00a016 cities in February 2016, with long-term plans to expand the digital network to\u00a0630 locations across the country.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Nearly all analogue terrestrial transmitters of Doordarshan have been phased out, except at around 50 strategic locations. These remaining sites\u2014primarily in border, remote, or sensitive regions\u2014ensure reliable television coverage where DTH or cable connectivity may still be limited. Keeping a limited analogue footprint also supports service continuity during the transition to full digital operations, while the wider phase-out frees valuable spectrum that can be repurposed for modern communication technologies such as 5G broadcast services.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong><u>Expanding Access via Public Free-to-Air DTH<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>To reach households without cable or terrestrial connections, particularly in remote, border, and tribal areas, Prasar Bharati\u2019s DD Free Dish has been significantly expanded. Official estimates indicate that over 6.5\u202fcrore households currently access this free-to-air DTH service. The platform accommodates both MPEG\u20112 and MPEG\u20114 slots and invites private TV channels through e\u2011auction allocation, reflecting an inclusive approach to technological adoption and content diversity.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"table-responsive\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>What is MPEG?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) refers to global standards for digital video compression.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>MPEG-2 is used for standard-definition (SD) broadcasts on older set-top boxes.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>MPEG-4 offers higher efficiency and quality, supporting high-definition (HD) services.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>DD Free Dish uses both formats to ensure compatibility across devices and expand channel capacity.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Since its inception,\u00a0DD Free Dish has seen remarkable growth in channel capacity\u2014rising from\u00a059 channels in 2014\u00a0to\u00a0482 channels in 2025, expanding access to a wide range of national, regional, and educational content across the country.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>DD Free Dish continues to play a key role in expanding television access across India, particularly in remote, border, and underserved regions. As a free-to-air Direct-to-Home (DTH) platform, it complements Doordarshan\u2019s digital terrestrial network by providing reliable access to national, regional, and educational content. Its inclusive model ensures that even households without cable or internet connectivity can benefit from the country\u2019s evolving broadcast infrastructure.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.pib.gov.in\/WriteReadData\/userfiles\/image\/image011B0VM.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong><u>Evolving Regulatory Frameworks and Authorisation Reforms<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>India\u2019s regulatory landscape is adapting to the convergence of broadcasting platforms. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued recommendations on the \u201cFramework for Service Authorisations for Broadcasting Services under the Telecommunications Act, 2023,\u201d updating operational and licensing requirements to align with the new legislative regime.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>These reforms reflect the government\u2019s intent to support multi-platform distribution, integrate OTT services, and ensure quality of service, accessibility, and market oversight across India\u2019s broadcasting ecosystem.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>India\u2019s television ecosystem has entered a new era of digital transformation\u2014driven by technological innovation, multilingual content, and inclusive access. Modern broadcasting advancements such as high-definition and satellite expansion, alongside emerging AI-enabled tools, are already enabling regional language content creation, real-time subtitling, and interactive programming. These developments ensure television continues to be a truly inclusive medium\u2014bridging linguistic, cultural, and digital divides across the nation.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Supported by government-led initiatives in digital infrastructure, public service broadcasting, and content innovation, television is evolving from a one-way communication channel into a participatory platform that reflects India\u2019s diverse voices. From its modest beginnings in 1959 to connecting over 900 million viewers today, the medium stands as both a mirror and a messenger of India\u2019s progress. It continues to promote awareness, foster inclusion, and shape a connected, informed, and empowered India, reinforcing its enduring role as a cornerstone of national communication.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>World Television Day 2025 Connecting 230 million Households Across India Posted On: 21 NOV 2025 11:21AM by PIB Delhi Key Takeaways India\u2019s television network connects 900 million viewers across 230 million households nationwide. 918 private satellite channels operational as of March 2025, reflecting a vibrant broadcast ecosystem. 6.5 crore DD Free Dish homes, driving digital &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12851,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12850","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12850","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12850"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12850\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12852,"href":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12850\/revisions\/12852"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12851"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12850"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12850"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12850"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}