DD National

Starting: 1959 To 1982

On September 15, 1959, at Studio of All India Radio, Delhi, the very first TV Channel in India started an experimental telecast with a small transmitter and a makeshift studio.Till 1965, DD Was part of All India Radio, so all the regular daily transmission were operated by All India Radio. On 15 August 1982, Doordarshan introduced National telecast Service from its own TV Studio in Mandi House, New Delhi. This National Telecast was named as DD1 Channel.and started regular transmission. Krishi Darshan, Chaupaal, Samachar, Kalyani were very first programs on the channel.

Golden Days as National Channel: 1982 To 1992

Since 1984, DD1 Channel started telecast of sponsored TV serials, which was produced by veteran film makers. Hum Log, was the very first TV serial of Indian Television which started airing from 7 July 1984. After success of Hum Log, Many other TV Producers and film makes joined the party and created many popular shows.

The Sword Of Tipu Sultan, Mirza Ghalib, Akbar Birbal, Bahadur Shah Zafar, Bharat Ek Khoj, Mahabharat, Ramayan, Vishwamitra, Luv Kush Uttar Ramayan, Buddha, Malgudi Days, Surabhi, Hum Paanch, Tiltliyan, Taaraa, Yeh Jo Hai Jindagi, Star Trek, Khaandaan, 13 Panne, Air Hostess, Waah Janaab, Tamas, Vikram Aur Betal, Tenali Rama, Kirdaar, Singhasan Battisi, Guldasta, Mrignayani, Shrikant, Sadgati, Nukkad, Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, Lot Pot, Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne, Bhim Bhawani, Kakkaji Kahin, Paying Guest, Ados Pados, Upannyas, Fauji, Karamchand, Vyomkesh Bakshi, Samandar, Param Veer Chakra, Wagle Ki Duniya, Buniyaad, Hum Log, Kachchi Dhoop, Chunauti, Mahanagar, Talash, Umeed, Subah, Mr. Yogi, Circus, Ek Bhool, Chote Babu, Yugantar, Kehkashan, Yatra, Rajni, Street Hawk, Udaan,Gaata Jaaye Banjara, Phool Khile Hain Gulsan Gulsan, Pingu, Circus, Taaj Mahel, Khubsuraat, Dada Dadi Ki Kahaniya were most popular serials of that days.

Competition with Satellite TV : 1992 To 1997

After the entry of Satellite Channels in India, Doordarshan started facing a strong competition from Zee TV in 1992. Although, that days Cable and Satellite Channels were not easily available on TV Sets, DD-1 was still ruling the chart, as it was available terrestrially. In 1993, Doordarshan launched its second channel for metro/urban audience "DD Metro", and renamed DD1 to "DD National" which is targeted to reach rural audience.

With the telecast of Popular TV Shows like Chandrakanta, Alif Laila, Tehkikaat, Chitrahaar, Reporter, Udaan, Byomkesh Bakshi, Farmaan, Katha Sagar, Neem Ka Ped and Chanakya, DD National was enough good for catering eyeballs, but Doordarshan Braord was focusing more on its DD Metro Channel, which was aimed to compete with Zee TV. At the meantime, DD Metro has become one of the popular destination of TV Viewers with its shows like Junoon, Superhit Muquabala, and Azanabi. Some of popular shows were also aired on DD National.

In Year 1995, when most of the channels like DD Metro, Zee TV, Home TV, STAR Plus and Sony TV were started focusing on their prime time slots, DD National was still stacked with its role and responsibilities, as at the time DD was only source of News on TV. To provide more entertainment DD National opened Afternoon Slot for housewives with telecast of Shanti. To encash the success of shanti, many other shows like Swabhimaan, Farz, and Yug were introduced and all of them were praised.

Losing The Battle : 1997 To 2002

This period was very bad for Doordarshan and its channels. DD National channel also started losing its battle with private channels, and on the other hand DD Metro channel also lost its viewership. In 1997, Prasar bharati, the parent body of Doordarshan was formed, but it was not much able to take proper decisions for its channels. Private TV Channels like Zee TV, STAR Plus and Sony TV were started airing high budget TV serial from top production houses, where Doordarshan's both channels were failed to get any production with themselves. However DD National was still doing the best in afternoon slots with Kasam, Itihaas, Agni, Aprajita, Aurat, Ardhangini, Sanjog, Deewar, Aane Wala Pal, Waqt Ki Raftaar and many more, but at the prime time it was losing its ground. There were few notable programs like India's Most Wanted, Gul Sanobar, Surabhi, Noorjahan, Om namah Shivay, Jai Ganga Maiya, Suraag, but those were not enough good to give competition to private channels.

In 1999, DD National started airing Mukesh Khanna's Shaktimaan, which was the blockbuster TV serial in Indian History. In 2000, after tasting the success of India's Most Wanted, Jasoos Vijay and Suraag in prime time, Prasar Bharati decided to revamp its both Channels, and many new serials were introduced on DD National, but very few of them were successful because of limited prime-time slots. DD National had just 9-10:30 for showing prime-time content, while other channels were having 8-11 slot for prime time. New Channels like Sahara TV, and SAB TV were also performing better than DD channels in prime time.

Reclaiming The Viewership : 2002 To 2010

In 2002, DD offered its time slots to popular filmmakers and get popular shows of the time. Ramanand Sagar's Aankhen, BR Chopra's Aap Beeti, Adhikaari Brothers CID Officer, Kiran Bedi's Galti Kiski, Time's Dishayen were telecasted on the channels and prised by viewers. In 2003, when DD Metro Channel was converted into DD News, Prasar Bharati focuses on its DD National Channels, and shows like Meher, Miss India, Kayamat, Kaanch, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani were introduced. In 2005, Ravi Kishan-Malini Kapoor starred Hawayein became one of the most popular show and also won title of Best TV Serial Of The Year at ITA Awards.

In this period, DD introduced many popular serials like Air Hostess, Wo Huye Na hamare, Kyunki Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai, Tum Dena Sath Mera, Hari Mirchi lal Mirchi, Soni Mahiwaal, Wheel Smart Shrimati, Krazzy Kiya Re, Chandramukhi, Jo Kahunga Sach Kahunga, Tahreer Munshi Premchand Ki, Kashmkash Zindagi Ki,which was praised and with the help of these serials DD National managed itself in the race of TRP.

Lost Identification and Relaunch : 2010 To Present

In this period DD National suffered with low quality serials. at prime-time it was still not able to competitor with private channels, it also started losing its peak position at Afternoon slots to reruns of other channels. In 2012, after losing much as never before, DD started airing Ekta Kapoor's Pavitra Bandhan, Sanjay leela Bhansali's Saraswatichandra and few other serials, but it was not much enough for its revival. In year 2013, it reduced its window for regional telecast from 4PM-7PM, and stopped airing news in night, which added one and half hour window more to its prime time. To encash new 4 Hour long prime time DD brought TV serials like Gora, Bharat Ki Shaan, Baba Aazmi's Yeh Kaha Aa Gaye Hum, Dil Jo Kah Na Saka, Sanjeev kapoor's Chef Ki Rasoi. It also launched campaign for its afternoon slots "DD Dophar Aapke Ghar", by airing serials like Amrita, Anudamini, Aisa Prem Kahan, Chupau Kaise Laaga Chunari Me Daag.

On November'2014, Prasar Bharati relaunched DD National as Desh Ka Apna Channel with new theme and serials like Happy Homes, Khwabon Ke Darmiyaan, Khamosh Sa Afsaana, Dard Ka Rishta, Paltan, Stree shakti, Zindagi Ek Bhanwar, Janmon Ka Bandhan. Initially these shows have done better, but after monitoring their performance, in 2016 Prasar Bharati decided to go for slot sale policy and invited bids from film makers for its 7PM to 11 PM Slot. 2016 afternoon slots on air serials like Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule, U-turn, Munidhar etc.

Prasar Bharati Board

Part-time members

Sports broadcasting

Usually, all One Day and Twenty20 international cricket matches involving and hosted by India are shown live in DD National Recently not telecasting *(IND VS NEWzealand ODI series). It also broadcast the 2014 Men's Hockey World Cup matches involving India & also the semifinal and final matches.

Editorial independence

The idea of autonomy for the government-controlled Doordarshan was first mooted when the Janata Party came to power in 1977 in the aftermath of Emergency when the Doordarshan ended up as the government's mouthpiece. The idea was revived when the Janata Dal took office in 1989. The following Congress and non-Congress governments showed no interest in the autonomy despite making politically correct noises about autonomy.