Entertainment
July 23, marked as a historic date in the Indian broadcasting industry, is also observed as National Broadcasting Day in India. From the establishment of the Indian Broadcasting Company on July 23, 1927, to the advent of the Internet and OTT platforms in the 2000s, the broadcasting landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation.
Indian Broadcasting Company: The Advent of Broadcasting In India
The Indian Broadcasting Company was a private company, licensed by the British colonial government to operate radio services in India, intending to introduce organized radio broadcasting for entertainment, education, and public awareness in urban India, modeled on similar developments in the West. It was authorised to operate two radio stations: the Mumbai station, which began on 23 July 1927, and the Kolkata station, which followed suit on 26 August 1927. The organisation went into liquidation on 1 March 1930 due to financial and advertising constraints. Although short-lived, it was India’s first formal broadcasting organization.
All India Radio: The Era of Audio-Based Content
After the dissolution of the Indian Broadcasting Company, the British Government took over the broadcasting facilities and launched the Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS) on 1 April 1930, initially on an experimental basis for two years. It became a permanent service in May 1932 and was later renamed All India Radio on 8 June 1936.
All India Radio was a revolutionary landmark, considering more and more people started engaging with it as a means of education, information, and entertainment. In 1956, Akashvani was adopted as the on-air name of All India Radio. With its literal meaning in Sanskrit as "voice from the sky," the name was considered highly fitting for a broadcaster. The suggestion to use Akashvani came from the poet Pandit Narendra Sharma.
Take a look at this article on All India Radio!
Doordarshan: The Audio-Visual Era
Although AIR was serving its purpose as a source of education and entertainment, it still had its limitations- it was an audio-only broadcaster. After Independence, the Government of India wanted to introduce visual content for the purpose of education and social awareness among Indians. This led to the experimental telecast of Doordarshan in Delhi in 1959.
Doordarshan slowly but steadily crept its way into the hearts of the Indians, from educational and agricultural programs like Krishi Darshan and Soap Operas like Hum Log.
Prasar Bharti: The Beginning of Diversification of Content
Established in 1997, Prasar Bharati became India’s autonomous public broadcaster, aiming to provide editorial independence to Doordarshan and All India Radio, which had long operated under government control. Around the same time, the privatization of broadcasting gained momentum, with private and foreign channels entering the market, breaking Doordarshan’s monopoly and ushering in a competitive and diverse media landscape.
Take a look at this article on Doodarshan!
DTH and OTT: Modern Era of Broadcasting
The advent of DTH (Direct-to-Home) in the early 2000s and OTT (Over-the-Top) platforms in the 2010s has transformed the Indian broadcasting landscape, bringing content directly to viewers without the limitations of traditional media. While DTH expanded access to a wide range of television channels across urban and rural areas, OTT platforms introduced on-demand, internet-based streaming, catering to evolving viewer preferences. Together, they reflect a shift toward more personalized and flexible content consumption in India’s digital age.
The Indian Broadcasting Diaspora has had a long-standing history, with revolutionary programs like S.I.T.E., which transformed the way content is consumed in India. People shifted from using television and radio for educational purposes to constantly consuming entertainment-based content. This trend has only continued to escalate, and with the advent of AI-based content and Social Media, the future of Indian Broadcasting Services seems uncertain.
Take a look at this article on S.I.T.E.!
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