The Evolution of TV News in India: From Doordarshan to Digital Disruption An Insider’s Account

In this engaging blend of memoir and media history, Harsaran Bir Kaur Pandey traces the evolution of Indian television news from Doordarshan’s formative years to the fragmented media landscape of today. The book reveals how television news developed through improvisation, innovation, and crisis. Charting key milestones such as the SITE experiment, the arrival of colour television during the Asian Games, and the expansion of national broadcasting, it offers a rare behind-the-scenes view of a profession built on resourcefulness and constant adaptation. Pandey also examines the complex relationship between journalism and political power during defining moments such as the Emergency, Operation Blue Star, and the assassination of Indira Gandhi. Moving beyond Doordarshan’s heyday into the era of liberalisation, private news channels, and digital disruption, the book reflects on changing media cultures and growing concerns about credibility. A first-hand account of Indian television’s evolution, it is also a timely exploration of the future of news in an age of rapid technological change.