Historical Background 

The television set up in this part of the region started in a humble way in early seventies with the commissioning of the Kendra at Amritsar.  It was 23rd of September, 1973 when the first signal was transmitted to accomplish the long cherished aspirations and expectations of the people of the region, who hitherto were continuously exposed to the cultural invasion from across the border.  In the beginning, the city office at Amritsar had a Skelton staff for the production of news and rural audience programmes which were telecast live from this small studio complex fabricated by the side of its transmitter at village Basarke Gillan 16 km away from Amritsar. Rest of the programmes was produced and canned at Delhi and air freighted to Amritsar for telecast from there.  Thus in first phase, the transmitter at Basarke Gillan, Amritsar transmitted programmes providing information, education and entertainment to the people residing within a radius of 65 Kms.

During this period, the Kendra succeeded not only in meeting the challenge posed by cultural invasion from across the border, but also established itself as a symbol of the endeavor of Doordarshan in reflecting the cultural and artistic aspirations of the people of Punjab and adjoining areas.

Although a number of artistes from Punjab used to participate in the programmes produced in Delhi, yet the real Punjab flavor could be added to its programmes only in the second phase of the development of this media unit when the whole set up was shifted from Delhi to Jalandhar with the inauguration of Jalandhar set up on 13th April, 1979.  Programme production activities began in the ancient city of Jalandhar which is well known all over the country for Music and Music concerts, Sports Industry and Sports men, Art and the Artistes, Business and the vernacular Press.  

In the beginning a 1 KW transmitter installed at the top of the studio building at the height of 30 meters, helped the people living in a radius of 30 Kms from here, in getting the signal clearly.  Later on, fully fledged functioning began with the commissioning of a 10 KW transmitter with a radiating antenna at a height of 200 meters at Village Khurla Kingra on Jalandhar- Nakodar Road on 01.06.1981 (4 Kms far from studio complex).

Today the Kendra has a three studio set up in operation. The bigger studio known as Studio-A is one of the biggest in the country with an area of 432 Sq. Mts.  Now the Doordarshan Kendra at Jalandhar with its network of relay transmitters at Amritsar, Bathinda, Fazilka, covers the whole of Punjab as well as parts of adjoining states of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir and Union Territory of Chandigarh.  The other two studios known as Studio-B and Studio-C are also in operation and different live programmes as well as News are being telecast on both Regional and DD-Punjabi channels.

With passage of time, Doordarshan Kendra, Jalandhar has acquired a place of pride for itself on the broadcasting map of India, despite the growing difficult situation and turmoil in the State.

This Kendra, an important part of Doordarshan family, has all along been busy in devising specific programmes which could act as a catalyst for socio-economic transformation, and thus, project the composite culture of the region which is studded with examples of brotherhood, love, equality, amity and sacrifice. For this, the Kendra has, from time to time, devised and produced imaginative and purposeful programmes, undaunted by heavy odds.

       Open Air Theater of Doordarshan Kendra, Jalandhar was Inagurated by Sh. Brijeshwar Singh, I.A.S., C.E.O. Prasar Bharti on 18-11-2006.

DD-1 Regional channel was originally commissioned at Amritsar on 29th September, 1973 later shifted and inaugurated at Jalandhar on 13th April, 1979. The Foundation Stone of Doordarshan Jalandhar was earlier laid by Giani Zail Singh, the then Chief Minister of Punjab, in the presence of Shri Inder Kumar Gujral, Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting on 27th April, 1975. Other details in respect of Regional channel are given below:-

Date of Inauguration: –  13th April, 1979

Power of Transmitter: – 10 K. Watt. Analogue

Also covering some parts of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, UT 

It has been switched off w.e.f 11.01.2018 & services are available on digital transmitters.

DD News channel was inaugurated on 25th June, 1994 with 300w UHF transmitter. Later it was upgraded to 10 KW transmitters covering 60 Kms radius in the primary service area. The channel telecast News and Current affairs programmes round the clock. Both analogue transmitters have been switched off w.e.f 11.01.2018 & services are available on digital transmitters.

DD PUNJABI

Earth Station up linking started working for Regional Satellite Service from Jalandhar on 06-08-1998. The inauguration of Earth Station was made by Smt.Sushma   Swaraj, the then Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting in the presence of S. Prakash Singh Badal the Chief Minister of Punjab. The 24-hour transmission of the channel was inaugurated by S. Prakash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab on 05-08-2000 in the presence of Shri Arun Jaitaly, Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting. Shri Sukhbir Singh Dindhsa, Union Minister for Sports was also present on this occasion. It not only caters media requirements of the people of India but also disseminates rich culture of Punjab across the actual line of control.