From a makeshift studio in 1959, DD comes a long way

New Delhi, Sept 15 (PTI) After a humble beginning in
1959 from a makeshift studio in Akashwani Bhavan here,
Doordarshan, India's official broadcaster, has come a long way
in the last 50 years with it now catering to viewers across
the country through 26 channels.

But people closely associated with it feel that DD,
which had its golden period in the 80s, has failed to keep
pace with private channels that have emerged since the early
90s.

The public broadcaster, which has just completed 50
years of existence, switched over to colour transmission
during Asiad '82 and is currently preparing to telecast 2010
Commonwealth Games on hi-definition format.

Recalling the association with DD, its first director
general Shiv Sharma said Doordarshan began with 35 employees,
who now number 25,000. In 1975, satellite transmission was
started to reach the remotest corners.

He, however, lamented that DD has not been able to
keep pace with private channels since late 1990s.

Shammi Narang, a well known news reader, too said DD
should make its content more contemporary.

He said, "DD never compromised on its content. The
best thing about it is that it is an infotainment medium which
gives equal focus to news and entertainment as well as to
classical art forms". MORE PTI