Prasar Bharati

Prasar Bharati is the largest public service broadcaster in India and one of the largest in the world. Established by a law passed in the Indian[Page 1388] parliament in 1990, it includes Doordarshan television network and All India Radio, which were earlier regulated by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting initiated the process of drafting the broadcasting legislation to institute a broadcast authority and open up the airwaves to private companies, individuals, and public bodies inclined to enter the field of radio and television broadcasting. Due to shifts in political power in India, Prasar Bharati was not established until 1997. This entry discusses the origins and operations of the public service broadcaster.

The debate over autonomy of broadcasting in India ...