6. Analysis I. 6.1 Introduction to Doordarshan

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1 6. Analysis I Through this analysis the researcher aims to know the detail history and structure, presentation of style of Indian news channels. The present generation is well aware of all 24 7 news channels. So in this objective, researchers focus will be on the period till the 1 st launch of private Indian news channels. On the basis of the following themes researcher will do the analysis. 6.1 Introduction to Doordarshan In India broadcasting was introduced by amateur radio clubs. Before the television broadcasts in India, radio is the one which took place. Television was introduced to the world in the era of 1920 s. By 1923 s national broadcasting corporation NBC had setup a TV station in New York, and BBC a TV station in London, offering regular telecast programme. The age of satellite literally transformed world into global village as McLuhan said. In India for many year s ministry was holding the demand from education institutions, industrialists, political parties and common middle class people of introducing Television in India Philips Indian Company offered Government of transmitter with very low cost. With the help of UNESCO and United States on September 15, 1959 the Delhi television center went on air. The range of the transmitter covers 40 kms round and about Delhi. Then programmes were started to be beamed twice a week each of 20 minutes. Entertainment, Social and Information programmes were introduced from august By 1970 s the duration of the service was increased to three hours and also included two news programmes besides from earlier named Teleclubs, Krishi Darshan each of 20 minutes. Krishi Darshan was for farmers. By early 70 s the demand from the Indian cities, television, manufactures and the advertising industry as well as the Indira Gandhi s Government s popularity contributed to the decision to expand the television as medium. With this increase of demand from January 1, 1976 commercials came to the telecasted at all the centres. In the same year a significant development took place, that of separation of TV from All India Radio. Television became independent media unit under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting with the name DOORDARSHAN. Doordarshan had a modest beginning with the experimental telecast starting in Delhi on 15 September 1959 with a small transmitter and a makeshift studio. The television service was extended to Mumbai and Amritsar in Up until 1975, only seven Indian cities had a television service and Doordarshan remained the sole 55

2 provider of television in India. Each office of All India Radio and Doordarshan were placed under the management of two separate Director Generals in New Delhi. Finally, in 1982, Doordarshan as a National Broadcaster came into existence. Krishi Darshan was the first program telecast on Doordarshan. It commenced on January 26, 1967 and is one of the longest running programs on Indian television. National telecasts were introduced in In the same year, colour TV was introduced in the Indian market with the live telecast of the Independence Day speech by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 15 August 1982, followed by the 1982 Asian Games which were held in Delhi. Now more than 90 percent of the Indian population can receive Doordarshan (DD National) programmes through a network of nearly 1,400 terrestrial transmitters. There are about 46 Doordarshan studios producing TV programmes today. Doordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15, 2009, Doordarshan celebrated its 50th anniversary. The DD provides television, radio, online and mobile services throughout metropolitan and regional India, as well as overseas through the Indian Network and Radio India. For special event of London Olympics arrangements for live telecast of opening and closing ceremony of the games have been made on its national channel. DD sports channel has provided round the clock coverage of sport events DD News Doordarshan news used its abbreviation DD News. The Prasar Bharati board approved the proposal to start a 24-hours news channel in place of DD Metro on October 3, DD-News channel was launched on November 3, 2003 by converting DD-Metro into a 24-hours news channel. Its terrestrial reach is 21.6% by area and 44.9% by population of India. DD News is the first and the only terrestrial news channel in the country reaching approximately half of the population. The channel was launched in November, 2003 and within a year of its launch; it has emerged as a force to reckon with in the fiercely competitive business of TV news channels. It is the undisputed leader in terms of absolute viewer-ship with about 50 per cent share among TV news channels. The bi-lingual (English and Hindi) DD News follows a half an hour dynamic wheel of programming. Besides round the clock telecast of news bulletins, several 56

3 programmes covering business, sports, health, art & culture are broadcast regularly. Panel discussions are held on topics of current affairs. The DD News Channel is run by the Doordarshan News Centre at the Asian Games Village in New Delhi supported by a network of 23 Regional News Units spread across India. Doordarshan News gives extensive coverage to all important news events that taking place in India and abroad. DD News mounts several informative programmes on the General Budget, demystifying the economic terminology for the common people. The Budget speech of the Finance Minister is also telecast live. The visits of foreign dignitaries to India and the visits of Indian leaders abroad are also extensively covered. A dedicated Digital Satellite News Gathering System, including hi-tech gadgets like Satellite Phones and Video Phones are available for DD News, which has greatly increased its capacity in giving live inputs from the news spots Changing structure of News; here: there In early days news used to broadcast on radio. With the innovation of television, it started telecasting on TV. Indira Gandhi was pioneer to get television in India. Doordarshan, the state operated television system and the only one allowed to broadcast news, started its modest operations in Without any competition, Doordarshan programming remained dull, noncommercial in nature, and directed only towards educational and socio-economic issues. The evening news on Doordarshan, approved and censored by the ruling government, drew little interest and lacked credibility. As an effect, broadcast journalism was not considered a viable profession. No educational training and no role models to follow existed for those entering the profession for the first time. Since the early 1990s, when the economy was liberalized, India has emerged as the world leader in information technology. Economic growth, rising income levels, and consumerism, coupled with technological advancements and policy initiatives taken by the Indian government, which encouraged the inflow of external investment, became the key drivers in the rise of the media industry (Chakravarty, 2003). The stereotypical image of India in the West as an impoverished nation with Socialist leanings has gradually changed. While globalization has commercialized and banalized television news, it has also increased access to and coverage of stories evaded by Doordarshan news, about serious social and political issues. (Rao, 2008, pg2.) 57

4 As DD news was government owned channel. It was found that it used present news in bias thoughts. With lack of technology and poor development, which was in the process, few things were still missing. Live telecasting of event was present at those times as well. The distribution in the news reports was not equal. All news used to be national or international. There was no scope for regional news on DD news. As it is a government owned channel news was presented very simply. All and any bulletin used to have the parliament house as its background and still it is continued. It hardly ever changes with a few exceptions. The main difference is that the percentage of news reports about other than government or politics related is very low. Recently they have started with debate programs like other private news channels. Earlier there used to be different weather report on DD news. But that has now changed due to private news channels. Now there is graphical representation of weather with the use of map and in text graphics at the starting of commercial breaks. It is present in each bulletin for at least one break. The number of reporters is comparatively less in the DD news channels with comparison to private news channels. Their scope is not beyond Delhi and other metropolitan cities from India to cover news. The commercial breaks are same as the private news channels but the number of advertisement in them is more than private news channels. Advertisers prefer to opt for DD news channel as it is government owned channel. In the presentation style, earlier basic difference was in the news reports. The coverage is good, technology used is also good. However, still they are behind in the news genres and audience participation. People who are keenly interested in politics preferred watching DD news. It presents news in the very serious manner. News presented on DD news is without any exaggeration, loudness, with simple and sound way. There is no use of graphics, no music. That s why still some people prefer DD news. It has gained trust more than popularity as it is a government own channel. There are some criticisms about DD news as it favors the government news. Doordarshan does not have an independent editorial control unlike the BBC. Prasar Bharati, its parent body has all board members appointed by the Government of India acting through the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. This control is evident in a budget that allows expenditure on "propaganda and public relations" At the end, yes; there is difference between current presentation styles of news and DD news presentation styles. The change is because globalization, technology, and developments in many factors associated with news channels. In the period of development of Doordarshan committees like The Chanda, The Verghese, The Joshi committees played very important role. The Chanda committee has emphasized that the scope of Government s authority should be clearly defined and to be free of ambiguity. The Verghese committee recommended the setting up of National Broadcast Trust under which a 58

They run different programs on news channels related to education, youth and carrier.

5 highly decentralized structure would operate. The Joshi group worked on the software for Doordarshan. Now with the development DD news is also developing. They run different programs on news channels related to education, youth and carrier. With each of their programs their presentation styles have changed. So the evolution of news presentation styles started with DD news and still new experiments are being carried out. Figure 6.1. News Bulletin on DD News I Figure 6.2. News Bulletin on DD News II 59

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