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*Shortie on Indian Television Journey*
Wide spread of the television happened in India during mid-1980’s, till then TV’s were only confined to the major cities. Terrestrial broadcasting is the start. Like all the gadgets, it reached the rich first. 1/15
Wide spread of the television happened in India during mid-1980’s, till then TV’s were only confined to the major cities. Terrestrial broadcasting is the start. Like all the gadgets, it reached the rich first. 1/15
In Tamil Nadu, only Madras had the TV station (tower). In 80’s they started to install transmitters in few places across the state. Notable is Kodaikanal. With its altitude Kodai station covered most part of the state. 2/15
Antenna
Depending on the distance between the TV tower and house, the pole length of the antenna varied. 5 ft was the minimum and there were 70-80 feet tall pole available then. Some in cities near to TV tower had small antenna on the TV itself! 3/15
Depending on the distance between the TV tower and house, the pole length of the antenna varied. 5 ft was the minimum and there were 70-80 feet tall pole available then. Some in cities near to TV tower had small antenna on the TV itself! 3/15
Multiple Antennas
In some area, one pole will have more than one antenna. This is when there are two stations. One for each station. Ex, in places like Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, they used to have two antennas, 1 for Tamil and other for Bangalore station. 4/15
In some area, one pole will have more than one antenna. This is when there are two stations. One for each station. Ex, in places like Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, they used to have two antennas, 1 for Tamil and other for Bangalore station. 4/15
The picture quality ranged from bad to worse in areas which were far from the TV transmitters. To overcome this, there was a booster device which was attached to the TV. This used to strengthen the signal a bit. One has to tune the TV and the boaster to get a good signal. 5/15
Still there was no 24 hrs channel. Few hours in morning feed from Delhi(Hindi/English), which was transmitted via Madras and other TV transmitters. Evening, programs from Madras(Tamil), then again in night till mid night back to Delhi. 6/15
Sometimes, the feed used to switch back and forth, Madras->Delhi->Madras. Ex, Tamil new will be broadcasted from Madras, after Tamil, Madras station will take the feed from Delhi for English news, once the English news is done, Madras will take over again for other programs. 7/15
*Video Cassette*
In same time, during 1980’s video cassette craze took over. As TV sets becoming available in high income households due to Doordarashan penetration. VCP’s/VCR’s flooded the market, most were from grey market. 8/15
In same time, during 1980’s video cassette craze took over. As TV sets becoming available in high income households due to Doordarashan penetration. VCP’s/VCR’s flooded the market, most were from grey market. 8/15
*Cost*
A good color TV would cost around 30K, VCP(Video Cassette Player) around 15-20K. Video rental boomed. Rs. 10 per cassette for a day. Still TV’s, VCP’s were not affordable to middle income households. 9/15
A good color TV would cost around 30K, VCP(Video Cassette Player) around 15-20K. Video rental boomed. Rs. 10 per cassette for a day. Still TV’s, VCP’s were not affordable to middle income households. 9/15
*Binge Watching*
Doing this in OTT now a days started in video caste era. People who couldn’t afford TV or VCP’s used to rent it. VCP per day cost was Rs 100-150. On holidays, or during some festive occasion people used to go dutch in renting VCP’s. 10/15
Doing this in OTT now a days started in video caste era. People who couldn’t afford TV or VCP’s used to rent it. VCP per day cost was Rs 100-150. On holidays, or during some festive occasion people used to go dutch in renting VCP’s. 10/15
*VCP Rental*
When there was oru thiruvizha, whole night they used to play movies. College/School hostels rented VCPs. Multiple households shared it too. This is the precursor to cable television. 11/15
When there was oru thiruvizha, whole night they used to play movies. College/School hostels rented VCPs. Multiple households shared it too. This is the precursor to cable television. 11/15
*Birth of Cable TV*
Still Rs 150 for rent was not affordable and some didn’t like to binge watch. May be a thinking VCP rental guy started transmitting movies via cable to households. Daily two films- Afternoon and night. Pay 60-70 Rs per month. 12/15
Still Rs 150 for rent was not affordable and some didn’t like to binge watch. May be a thinking VCP rental guy started transmitting movies via cable to households. Daily two films- Afternoon and night. Pay 60-70 Rs per month. 12/15
So a household will have two wires- an antenna for DD and another wire for the cable channel. 2 wires were plugged in a device which was connected to TV, the user can select either one to watch. The cable guy was broadcasting only movies then. 13/15
*24 hrs channels*
After so called, liberalization in early 90’s, private players started to creep up. Star, MTV, BBC, Prime Sports got line up. The same guy, who used to give provide movies in cable was also the carrier for these private channels. 14/15
After so called, liberalization in early 90’s, private players started to creep up. Star, MTV, BBC, Prime Sports got line up. The same guy, who used to give provide movies in cable was also the carrier for these private channels. 14/15
Doordarashan was satellite/terrestrial and cable was satellite/cable. Doordarashan was slow in installing the TV transmitters in small towns, by the time their(DD) proper picture reached small towns and villages, the cable guy was already there.
Rest is history. 15/15
Rest is history. 15/15
*Extra*
It would be not wise, if I dont mention M Karunanidhi lead govt gave free TV to ALL ration card holders in early 2000s.
If you feel that was wasting tax payers money. Read various research papers on how TV is related to women empowerment in India
https://www.3ieimpact.org/evidence-hub/publications/replication-papers/tv-female-empowerment-and-demographic-change-rural
It would be not wise, if I dont mention M Karunanidhi lead govt gave free TV to ALL ration card holders in early 2000s.
If you feel that was wasting tax payers money. Read various research papers on how TV is related to women empowerment in India
https://www.3ieimpact.org/evidence-hub/publications/replication-papers/tv-female-empowerment-and-demographic-change-rural
