World Television Day 2025

World Television Day is observed annually on 21 November, following a UN General Assembly Resolution in 1996.

• On 21 and 22 November 1996 the United Nations held the first World Television Forum. That is why the General Assembly decided to proclaim 21 November as World Television Day.
• The Day highlights television as a key medium for informing, educating, and influencing public opinion.

Television in India:

• Over 230 million television households in India reach approximately 900 million viewers.
• Observed under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and Prasar Bharati, India’s public broadcasting network.

History of Indian Television:

• Experimental broadcasts began on 15 September 1959 by All India Radio (AIR) in collaboration with UNESCO.
• Regular daily transmission started in 1965, leading to the creation of Doordarshan as a dedicated TV service.
• Colour television was introduced in 1982, coinciding with the Asian Games in New Delhi.

Private Satellite Era:

• Economic liberalisation in the early 1990s opened the market to private channels:
  • Star TV (1991)
  • Zee TV (1992)
  • Sony Entertainment Television (1995)
• These channels introduced new formats in entertainment, film, music, and news, creating a multi-channel satellite TV ecosystem.

Direct-to-Home (DTH) Expansion:

• DD Direct Plus launched in December 2004 as India’s first free-to-air DTH service, expanding TV access to rural and remote areas.

Digital Education Initiatives:

• Under the PM e-Vidya programme, television plays a role in digital and broadcast-based education, unifying online, digital, and broadcast learning resources across the country.