A Comparative Study of Indian Television: Doordarshan Era vs Digital Streaming Era

The landscape of Indian television has undergone a dramatic transformation from the India’s public broadcaster, Doordarshan period of the 1980s–1990s to the present period of digital streaming platforms. The purpose of this research is to analyze the evolution of programming content, viewers’ behavior, and depiction of culture between the two periods. Using a mixed-method approach, the research draws upon a structured questionnaire and secondary data to compare viewership patterns, storytelling quality, and socio-cultural influence. The findings indicate that while India’s public broadcaster, Doordarshan played a vital role in nation-building and promoting Indian values, online streaming services have redefined entertainment through diversity, personalization, and global access. However, the digital period also raises concerns regarding cultural dilution and excessive individualism. The study concludes that both periods hold distinctive relevance—India’s public broadcaster, Doordarshan for its collective identity and the digital period for its creative freedom and accessibility.