Doordarshan offers three tier programme services: National, Regional and Local.
National programmes:
These programmes originate from Delhi and are relayed by all Kendras and transmitters. These programmes are in Hindi and English. This is considered a weak point by many media and development experts.
It includes news bulletins, serials, TV documentaries, classical dance and music programmes, quiz shows, panel discussions, telecast of major events and so on. These programmes have national character.
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National programme can technically reach over 87 percent of the population through 868 transmitters. The programmes are for about 15 hours each day.
Regional Programmes:
These programmes are produced in regional language in each state capital, which is linked with all the relay transmitters in that particular state. This offers opportunity to project the state’s culture, issues, problems etc. on television, which may not be possible through national programmes.
There are 12 regional Kendras in addition to the regional programmes produced by the metro channels and one composite zone centre for North East. Thus, regional programmes are telecast from 16 states for about four hours a day. Regional programmes help people to identify themselves with them.
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Local Programmes:
Local programmes are very important from local people’s participation point of view. Local talent gets chance for exposure through television. These programmes are produced in regional language and local dialect.
This contributes to making television popular and effective as a mass medium. Local programmes are telecast for about one hour, within the time allotted for the regional programmes.