A Medium with a Large Reach
Television (TV) is a medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Taking into the cognition of television’s impact on bringing people’s attention that moulds decision-making, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 21 November as World Television Day. Wikipedia traces the origin of the word television from the Ancient Greek tele ‘far’ and Latin visio ‘sight’. Television was invented in 1924 by John Baird. A year later, the first mechanical tv station, created by Charles Jenkins, aired its first broadcast. The first TV demonstration in India happened in January 1950 in Chennai (then Madras). The first TV transmitter in India was installed in Jabalpur in 1951. The first Television broadcast started in Delhi in 1959 and extended to Bombay (Now Mumbai) and Amritsar in 1972. For many years (until 1975), only seven Indian cities had television services. Beginning with 41 sets in 1962 and one channel, by 1995, TV in India had covered more than 70 million homes giving a viewing population of more than 400 million individuals. When the COVID struct and India went into lockdown, TV provided online classes, and Doordarshan and Swayam Prabha came to the rescue. DD Kisan is doing yeoman service to a large farming community.
Studies have revealed that exposure to cable television reduces cognitive ability. High lead content in CRTs and mercury in LCDs raises concern about disposing of electronic waste generated from discarded televisions. The last 60 years have dramatically changed how TV and media evolved. Many of us grew up not having a TV at home nor a telecast in the city you are born. There are abundant resources in the visual media available, both for learning and entertainment. People are moving to internet-based content. Despite all these developments, it would be many more years before we see it being phased out.
World TV Day is an occasion to recognise its impact and celebrate the information and entertainment it provides.
Television (TV) is a medium for transmitting moving images and sound. UN uses this media effectively to reach out to people. Taking into the cognition of television’s impact on bringing people’s attention that moulds decision-making, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 21 November as World Television Day. The first World Television Forum was organised in 1996, on 21 and 22 November. World Television Day is being observed on 21 November to recognise the event’s organisation.
Wikipedia traces the origin of the word television from the Ancient Greek tele ‘far’ and Latin visio ‘sight’. It is referred to also as “the tube” (a shorter form of the cathode-ray tube), “idiot box”, and “small screen”. In 1927, 21-year-old Philo Taylor Farnsworth invented the world’s first electronic television. Television was invented in 1924 by John Baird. A year later, the first mechanical tv station, created by Charles Jenkins, aired its first broadcast.
The way the TV domain has changed is astonishing. Coming to numbers, there are more than 3000 television broadcasters in Russia and China, 1700 in the US, and almost 900 in India. There are more than 210 million TV households in India. As part of the reforms in 1991, the Indian government allowed private and foreign broadcasters, and they have satellite broadcasts started. Beginning with 41 sets in 1962 and one channel, by 1995, TV in India had covered more than 70 million homes giving a viewing population of more than 400 million individuals.
The first TV demonstration in India happened in January 1950 in Chennai (then Madras). The first TV transmitter in India was installed in Jabalpur in 1951. The first Television broadcast started in Delhi in 1959 and extended to Bombay (Now Mumbai) and Amritsar in 1972. For many years (until 1975), only seven Indian cities had television services. The national telecast was introduced in 1982. Indian small-screen programming began in the early 1980s. The programs based on Indian epics, the Ramayana and Mahabharata, had a world record in viewership numbers. DD, with shows like Hum Log, Wagle Ki Duniya, Buniyaad and comedy shows like Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, had a lot of popularity. One must watch what happens in the world of film songs, Chitrahaar.
.Gyan Darshan, a 24-hour educational channel, launched in 2000, catering to the needs of school, college and university students. They also help homemakers and working professionals to enhance their knowledge or pursue better employment opportunities. When the COVID struct and India went into lockdown, TV provided online classes, and Doordarshan and Swayam Prabha came to the rescue. DD Kisan is doing yeoman service to a large farming community.
Studies have revealed that exposure to cable television reduces cognitive ability. High lead content in CRTs and mercury in LCDs raises concern about disposing of electronic waste generated from discarded televisions.
Television continues to be a significant source of video consumption. Screen sizes are changing. Platforms providing an opportunity to create, post, stream and access content are changing. Despite all these developments, the number of households with television continues to rise. The invention of TV changed our media landscape forever. But modes of access to information are changing so rapidly that TV would not remain what it used to be at its introduction.
Many of us grew up not having a TV at home nor a telecast in the city you are born. The last 50 years have dramatically changed how TV and media evolved. There are abundant resources in the visual media available, both for learning and entertainment. People are moving to internet-based content. Despite all these developments, it would be many more years before we see it being phased out.
World TV Day is an occasion to recognise its impact and celebrate the information and entertainment it provides.
Toons: Reema
Logs: M Sai Baba
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