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DD Bangla

Doordarshan Bangla
CountryIndia
Broadcast area
  • West Bengal (terrestrial)
  • Nationwide (satellite and cable)
NetworkDoordarshan
HeadquartersKolkata, West Bengal, India
Programming
Language(s)
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 576i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerPrasar Bharati
Key peopleSudip Chaudhury
History
Launched
  • 9 August 1975; 49 years ago (1975-08-09) (Doordarshan Kendra Kolkata)
  • 20 August 1992; 32 years ago (1992-08-20) (DD Bangla)
Former namesDD-7
Links
Websiteprasarbharati.gov.in/dd-bangla-homepage

DD Bangla is an Indian Bengali-language free-to-air state-owned television network owned by state-owned broadcaster Doordarshan, established on 20 August 1992. It is the successor of Doordarshan Kendra Kolkata, established on 9 August 1975. It broadcasts from Kolkata, Shantiniketan and Jalpaiguri, and is headquartered in the Golf Green neighbourhood of Kolkata.

History

Doordarshan established its first television station in East India in Calcutta on 9 August 1975, on channel 4 in the VHF band.[1] The first known broadcast was of a female presenter greeting viewers with the statement, "Nomoshkar. Today, begins the journey of television in Kolkata." This was said in Bengali.[2] By this year, besides Calcutta, television services were available in Delhi, Bombay, Amritsar, Lucknow, Madras, and Srinagar.[3] It was originally supposed to go operational in 1973-74.[4]

Doordarshan Kendra Calcutta was the third Bengali-language television station to be established in the world, after the Bangladesh Television stations established in Dhaka and Natore in 1964 and 1974 respectively,[5] as well as the first in India. The station initially broadcast from the Akashvani Bhavan in Calcutta. Its headquarters were later moved to the Radha Film Studio in Tollygunge. It was later moved again to a new headquarter building in the Golf Green neighbourhood on 1 July 1986.[2][6]

Colour broadcasts commenced on 6 June 1983.[7] On 30 October 1987, Doordarshan Calcutta broadcast a documentary on Bengali poet Sukumar Ray, produced by his son Satyajit Ray, as well as the state government of West Bengal.[8] The station also began broadcasting during morning hours on 4 September 1988. Doordarshan Calcutta was rebranded as DD Bangla on 20 August 1992.[7] The Regional Language Satellite Service was also introduced on that day, enabling DD Bangla to be broadcast on cable and satellite television.[9]

Television stations were established in Shantiniketan on 8 September 1996, and Jalpaiguri on 24 September 1998.[10] After digitalizing its studios in 2001, Doordarshan Kendra Kolkata began broadcasting on digital terrestrial television in January 2003. Digital satellite uplinking was commenced in April 2004.[9] Broadcasts in high-definition began on 15 April 2013.[7]

Programming

The programming of DD Bangla consists of soap operas, infotainment series, news and current affairs, social programs and films. It mainly broadcasts programming in Bengali, as well as in Hindi, Nepali, Santali, and Urdu.[11] Programs broadcast by the channel include Bibaho Obhijan, Camera Cholche, Rongo Tamaasha, Eto Sur Ar Eto Gaan, Madhyamik classes[12][13] among others.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Television Factbook" (PDF). 1977. p. 1109-b. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b Mira K. Desai (2021). Regional Language Television in India: Profiles and Perspectives. Taylor & Francis. p. 243. ISBN 9781000470086.
  3. ^ Thorpe, Edgar; Thorpe, Showick (2008). Pearson General Knowledge Manual 2009. Pearson Education. p. 3.272. ISBN 9788131723005.
  4. ^ "Television Factbook" (PDF). 1972. p. 1076. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  5. ^ Al Faruk, Abdullah (2 June 2019). বাংলাদেশে টেলিভিশনের অগ্রযাত্রার কথা. Techtunes (in Bengali). Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  6. ^ Know Your State West Bengal. Arihant Publications India Limited. 2019. p. 122. ISBN 9789313198017.
  7. ^ a b c Dr. Paramveer Singh (2021). Indian Silver Screen. K.K. Publications. p. 41.
  8. ^ Ray, Bibekananda. Conscience of The Race. Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. p. 54. ISBN 9788123026619.
  9. ^ a b Mira K. Desai (2021). Regional Language Television in India: Profiles and Perspectives. Taylor & Francis. p. 251. ISBN 9781000470086.
  10. ^ Datta, Amal (2007). Effects Of Television And The Viewers. Mittal Publications. p. 39. ISBN 9788183241823.
  11. ^ Dr. Paramveer Singh (2021). Indian Silver Screen. K.K. Publications. p. 61.
  12. ^ "Madhyamik classes on DD Bangla". www.telegraphindia.com. The Telegraph. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  13. ^ "West Bengal govt announces virtual classes for students of class 9 to 12". Hindustan Times. 4 April 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2021.