Technology has transformed the broadcast media beyond recognition in the past two decades. We are witness to the global reach and the subsequent change in content and style of broadcasting brought in by satellites during the nineties. Before this; the only television we knew was Doordarshan and DD of yesteryears was a different genre altogether. Satellite and cable TV which ushered in a rich fare of commercial TV channels have also increased the fortunes of the Industry twenty fold in as many years. Today the TV media alone is worth over 190 billion rupees.
There are at least three hundred and fifty channels running today, with nearly 150 channels waiting for approval. Viewers get a rich fare of TV channels on DTH, cable and on the internet. The new platform of Internet Protocol TV ( IPTV) is fast making inroads. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has cleared the air for launch of mobile TV by broadcast and telecom service providers. The computer based television technologies are popular with young people and in India seventy per cent of the populace is below the age of 35. Rapid strides have been taken in satellite TV broadcasting. However the program distribution policy has hit road blocks, paving the way for the growth of alternate technologies.