DOORDARSHAN  NETWORK-CHENNAI

Doordarshan, a Public Service Broadcaster of India, functioning under the aegis of Prasar Bharati, is one of the largest Broadcasting Organizations in the world in-terms of coverage and infrastructure like studios and transmitters. 

Television Centre, Chennai was inaugurated on 15th August 1975 and it served a radius of 20 km. Subsequently, a permanent High PowerTransmitter was commissioned on July 1976 in order to serve 80 km radius covering 12,000 square km.

Satellite link was established in the year 1982 to facilitate to down link National Programmes transmitted from Delhi Kendra along with color transmission.  Thereafter,Doordarshan had seen a lot of expansion in the form of transmitters and consequently its reach drastically.

         A High power Transmitter with 10 KW capacity was commissioned on 14th Jan 1987 at Kodaikanal Hill top to relay the Programmes to reach the far-flung areas.

On the 15th September 1997, the prestigious Prasar Bharathi declared autonomous status for ‘All India Radio’ and ‘Doordarshan’ to produce and broadcast their choice of programmes. 

Regional Language ‘Tamil Satellite Channel viz., Podhigai started its functioning on the Pongal day i.e., 15.1.2001 with round the clock transmission.  Considering the genre of programmes telecast it is coined as ‘infotainment Channel’.

New format of accessing satellite to receive preferred channels viz., ‘Direct to Home’ was commissioned by the Honourable Prime Minister, on 16th December 2004 with DD Direct Plus on Doordarshan’s DTH platform.

At present, the Regional service – Terrestrial Transmission of Podhigai channel is being relayed by 7 High Power Transmitters, 12 Low Power Transmitters to serve entire Tamilnadu state. 

Transmission Timings

The Doordarshan National Network comprised of 66 Doordarshan Kendra/ Production Centres,  164 High Power Transmitters, 400 Low Power Transmitters, 25 Very Low Power Transmitters .

 At present, 30 Channels of Doordarshan are available on DD Free Dish   DTH (Direct to Home) services. 

Apart from India, the footprints of Doordarshan Channels are available in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Srilanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Kuwait, Part of China, Middle East countries and Part of Europe.

PODHIGAI

Satellite                            : INSAT 3A (93.5 East)

Uplink Frequency            : 6056 MHz (H)

Downlink Frequency        : 3831 MHz (V)

FEC                                  : 3/4 

Symbol rate                      : 8-6 MS/sec

Mode of operation            : 4:2:0 for Podhigai

 : 4:2:2 for Feed channels