Emergence of Religious and Regional Language Programming in Indian TV Some Perspectives

Cable and satellite television has brought a seachange in TV broadcasts in India since its inception in 1991. Doordarshan was then the only television channel available to viewers. In the ensuing competition, there have been a number of changes in programme content and expansion. When the scenario was bipolar, private channels in Hindi and other regional languages emerged. On the whole, the programme content of these channels was more or less a continumum of that of DD as religious programmes and serials were given more prominence. This paper focusses on the factors responsible for this development. It also examines whether globalization has caused this preference for religious broadcasts by satellite TV. The paper also analyzes the success of the regional language channels in full filling the entertainment needs of the respective linguistic groups and acting as agents neutralising the influence of foreign telecasts in particular and cultural imperialism in general.