DD Malayalam

Doordarshan Malayalam
ദൂർദർശൻ മലയാളം

Type	Terrestrial, satellite television & cable television network
Availability	India and parts of Asia, China and Gulf Countries.
Headquarters	Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India,
Owner	Prasar Bharati
Launch date	1985
Former names	DD-4 Malayalam
Official website	www.ddktvm.gov.in

DD Malayalam (Malayalam:ഡി.ഡി മലയാളം) is a Malayalam language television channel operated by India's national broadcaster Doordarshan.It's commonly known as DD4 Malayalam although is not officially used now. The name was changed to DD Malayalam after 2000. It is one of the 11 Indian regional language channels operated by Doordarshan. DD Malayalam broadcasts from Kudappanakunnu,Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

The channel broadcasts through satellite in the name DD Malayalam and through terrestrial in the name DD Keralam. The channel has its main studio in Thiruvananthapuram and an auxiliary studio in Thrissur. In terrestrial mode, DD Malayalam is available to 99.2% of the population of Kerala. The satellite broadcast was started in 1994. It is also received in 64 countries spread over the continents of Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia and America.

History

The legacy and the decline

DD Malayalam is the first television station in the Malayalam language. In the early years of monopoly, until the 1990s, the station broadcast several public interest programs funded by the government of India. The station was instrumental in popularizing many public interest campaigns for the government, like educating the people about the need for vaccinations, etc.

Later, by the end of the 1990s, amidst a flood of private owned channels, Doordarshan lost its grounds and started competing with the private channels. This led to a surge of popular programs like television dramas. When the competition moved on to live-phone-in programs and reality shows (predominantly the Indian version, the music competitions), Doordarshan gave up. At this point the DD Malayalam channel tried to sustain its position by claiming a "most-trusted news" broadcast. But this too failed soon as the private owned news channels flooded the competition with 24-hour news and "flash news". Now the channel sustains a nominal presence only due to its capability for terrestrial transmission, which is available without a cable provider.

Programs

DD Malayalam has entertainment serials, infotainment programmes, news and current affairs, social programmes and film programmes as its major content. DD Malayalam news Varthakal from its inception in 1985 was popular among the viewers for the orthodox style of presentation.

Legacy shows

• 'Kairalivilasam Lodge' (Malayalam: കൈരളി വിലാസം ലോഡ്ജ), a satirical comedy series aired in the early 1990s in 13 weekly episodes. The series starred M. S. Thripunithura and Nedumudi Venu.
• Giant Robo (tokusatsu), a Japanese TV series of the 1960s was aired as 'Giant Robot' during 1990-91 in weekly episodes.
• 'Orupooviriyumbool' (Malayalam: ഒരു പൂവിരിയുമ്പോള്‍, meaning: when it blossoms), a public interest TV series for the promotion of child health care and vaccinations. Aired during 1990–91, in 13 weekly episodes.

See also

• List of programs broadcast by DD National
• All India Radio
• Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
• DD Direct Plus
• List of South Asian television channels by country
• Media in Chennai

External links

• Doordarshan Official Internet site
• Doordarshan news site
• An article at PFC
• Media World Asia