DD Bangla

2026-02-10T14:07:18Z

170.85.7.31:

{{short description|Indian Bengali-language television channel}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Doordarshan Bangla
| logo = Dd Bangla.PNG
| logo_size =
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2019
| logo_alt =
| launch_date = {{plainlist|
* {{Start date and age|1975|8|9|df=y}} (Doordarshan Kendra Kolkata)
* {{Start date and age|1992|8|20|df=y}} (DD Bangla)}}
| picture_format = [[1080i]] [[HDTV]]<br />(downscaled to [[letterboxed]] [[576i]] for the [[SDTV]] feed)
| network = [[Doordarshan]]
| owner = [[Prasar Bharati]]
| language = {{plainlist|
* [[Bengali language|Bengali]] (main)
* [[Hindi]] (secondary)
* [[Nepali language|Nepali]] (secondary)
* [[Santali language|Santali]] (secondary)
* [[Urdu]] (secondary)}}
| country = India
| area = {{plainlist|
* [[West Bengal]] (terrestrial)
* Nationwide (satellite and cable)
}}
| headquarters = Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| replaced =
| former_names = Doordarshan Kendra Calcutta (1975–1992)
| sister_channels =
| website = {{url|https://prasarbharati.gov.in/dd-bangla-homepage}}
| key_people = Sudip Chaudhury
}}

'''DD Bangla''', also known as '''DD7''',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/dd7-breaks-free-of-cable-shackles/cid/893106|title=DD7 BREAKS FREE OF CABLE SHACKLES|date=27 July 2000|access-date=6 August 2025|work=[[The Telegraph (India)|The Telegraph]]}}</ref> is an Indian Bengali-language [[free-to-air]] state-owned television network owned by state-owned broadcaster [[Doordarshan]], established on 20 August 1992. It is the successor of Doordarshan Kendra Kolkata, established on 9 August 1975. It broadcasts from [[Kolkata]], [[Shantiniketan]] and [[Jalpaiguri]], and is headquartered in Television Centre in [[Golf Green]], Kolkata.

== History ==
[[Doordarshan]] established its first television station in East India in Calcutta on 9 August 1975, on channel 4 in the VHF band.<ref name=tvfactbook>{{cite web |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1977-TV-Factbook/1977-TV-Factbook.pdf |title=Television Factbook |date=1977 |accessdate=31 March 2021 |page=1109-b |archive-date=29 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729193430/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1977-TV-Factbook/1977-TV-Factbook.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The first known broadcast was of a female presenter, Sharmistha Dasgupta greeting viewers with the statement, "Nomoshkar. Today, begins the journey of television in Kolkata." This was said in Bengali.<ref name="rltipg243">{{Cite book|title=Regional Language Television in India: Profiles and Perspectives|author=Mira K. Desai|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2021|isbn=9781000470086|page=243|language=English|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fr5FEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT243|archive-date=8 May 2024|access-date=8 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508192433/https://books.google.com/books?id=Fr5FEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT243|url-status=live}}</ref> By this year, besides Calcutta, television services were available in Delhi, Bombay, Amritsar, Lucknow, Madras, and Srinagar.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Pearson General Knowledge Manual 2009|last=Thorpe|first=Edgar|publisher=[[Pearson Education]]|year=2008|isbn=9788131723005|page=3.272|language=English|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OLaKRbzU_bYC&pg=SA3-PA272|last2=Thorpe|first2=Showick|archive-date=8 May 2024|access-date=8 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508192433/https://books.google.com/books?id=OLaKRbzU_bYC&pg=SA3-PA272|url-status=live}}</ref> It was originally supposed to go operational in 1973-74.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1972-73-TV-Factbook/Television-Factbook-1972-73.pdf |title=Television Factbook |date=1972 |access-date=8 May 2024|page=1076|archive-date=25 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025025407/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1972-73-TV-Factbook/Television-Factbook-1972-73.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Doordarshan Kendra Calcutta was the third Bengali-language television station to be established in the world, after the [[Bangladesh Television]] stations established in Dhaka and Natore in 1964 and 1974 respectively,<ref name="agrajatra">{{Cite web|url=https://www.techtunes.io/setelite-tv/tune-id/598436|script-title=bn:বাংলাদেশে টেলিভিশনের অগ্রযাত্রার কথা|access-date=9 November 2021|website=Techtunes|last=Al Faruk|first=Abdullah|date=2 June 2019|language=bn|archive-date=18 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618213915/https://www.techtunes.io/setelite-tv/tune-id/598436|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as the first in India. The station initially broadcast from the Akashvani Bhavan in Calcutta. Its headquarters were later moved to the Radha Film Studio in [[Tollygunge]]. It was later moved again to a new headquarter building called Television Centre, in the Golf Green neighbourhood on 1 July 1986.<ref name="rltipg243"/><ref>{{Cite book|title=Know Your State West Bengal|publisher=Arihant Publications India Limited|year=2019|isbn=9789313198017|pages=122|language=English|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qhrzDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA122|archive-date=9 May 2024|access-date=8 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509160041/https://books.google.com/books?id=qhrzDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA122|url-status=live}}</ref>

Colour broadcasts commenced on 6 June 1983.<ref name="indiansilverscreenpg41">{{Cite book|title=Indian Silver Screen|author=Dr. Paramveer Singh|publisher=K.K. Publications|year=2021|page=41|language=English|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ncg7EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA41|archive-date=8 May 2024|access-date=8 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508192434/https://books.google.com/books?id=Ncg7EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA41|url-status=live}}</ref> On 30 October 1987, Doordarshan Calcutta broadcast a documentary on Bengali poet [[Sukumar Ray]], produced by his son [[Satyajit Ray]], as well as the state government of West Bengal.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Conscience of The Race|last=Ray|first=Bibekananda|publisher=Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting|isbn=9788123026619|pages=54|language=English|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EKo-DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT54|archive-date=8 May 2024|access-date=8 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508192433/https://books.google.com/books?id=EKo-DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT54|url-status=live}}</ref> The station also began broadcasting during morning hours on 4 September 1988. Doordarshan Calcutta was rebranded as DD Bangla on 20 August 1992.<ref name="indiansilverscreenpg41"/> The Regional Language Satellite Service was also introduced on that day, enabling DD Bangla to be broadcast on cable and satellite television.<ref name="rltipg251">{{Cite book|title=Regional Language Television in India: Profiles and Perspectives|author=Mira K. Desai|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2021|isbn=9781000470086|page=251|language=English|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fr5FEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT251}}</ref>

Television stations were established in [[Shantiniketan]] on 8 September 1996, and [[Jalpaiguri]] on 24 September 1998.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Effects Of Television And The Viewers|last=Datta|first=Amal|publisher=Mittal Publications|year=2007|isbn=9788183241823|page=39|language=English|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nNRmcYct7XIC&pg=PA39}}</ref> After digitalizing its studios in 2001, Doordarshan Kendra Kolkata began broadcasting on digital terrestrial television in January 2003. Digital satellite uplinking was commenced in April 2004.<ref name="rltipg251"/> Broadcasts in high-definition began on 15 April 2013.<ref name="indiansilverscreenpg41"/> In December 2025, DD Bangla invited content proposals from independent producers to be broadcast on the network as part of [[Prasar Bharati]]'s Sponsored Programme Scheme.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.adgully.com/post/10221/dd-bangla-taps-independent-producers-for-sponsored-programming-push|title=DD Bangla taps independent producers for sponsored programming push|date=16 December 2025|access-date=9 February 2026|work=Adgully}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.exchange4media.com/media-tv-news/dd-bangla-invites-fresh-content-proposals-across-genres-150297.html|title=DD Bangla taps independent producers for sponsored programming push|date=16 December 2025|access-date=9 February 2026|work=Exchange4Media}}</ref>

== Programming ==
The programming of DD Bangla consists of soap operas, [[infotainment]] series, news and current affairs, social programs and films. It mainly broadcasts programming in Bengali, as well as in Hindi, Nepali, Santali, and Urdu.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Indian Silver Screen|author=Dr. Paramveer Singh|publisher=K.K. Publications|year=2021|page=61|language=English|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ncg7EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA61|archive-date=8 May 2024|access-date=8 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508192815/https://books.google.com/books?id=Ncg7EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA61|url-status=live}}</ref> Programs broadcast by the channel include ''Bibaho Obhijan'', ''Camera Cholche'', ''Rongo Tamaasha'', ''Eto Sur Ar Eto Gaan'', ''Madhyamik classes''<ref>{{cite news |title=Madhyamik classes on DD Bangla |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/calcutta/madhyamik-classes-on-dd-bangla/cid/1761811 |access-date=9 April 2021 |work=www.telegraphindia.com |publisher=[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)|The Telegraph]] |date=3 April 2020 |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108093641/https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/calcutta/madhyamik-classes-on-dd-bangla/cid/1761811 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=West Bengal govt announces virtual classes for students of class 9 to 12 |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/west-bengal-govt-announces-virtual-classes-for-students-of-class-9-to-12/story-Wlff4OZRWfHd2CA11Oo6yM.html |access-date=9 April 2021 |work=Hindustan Times |date=4 April 2020 |language=en}}</ref> among others.

==See also==
*[[DD Direct Plus]]
*[[List of programs broadcast by DD National]]
*[[All India Radio]]
*[[List of South Asian television channels by country]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130726051932/http://www.ddindia.gov.in/ Doordarshan Official Internet site]
* [http://www.ddinews.gov.in/ Doordarshan news site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120414015108/http://passionforcinema.com/doordarshan-down-memory-lane An article at PFC]

{{Bengali language television channels}}
{{CATV}}
{{Terrestrial television channels of India}}

[[Category:Bengali-language television channels in India]]
[[Category:Foreign television channels broadcasting in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Television stations in Kolkata]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1975]]
[[Category:Direct broadcast satellite services]]
[[Category:Indian direct broadcast satellite services]]
[[Category:Doordarshan|Bangla]]
[[Category:1975 establishments in West Bengal]]

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DD Bangla