Television sets to Smart TVs: A look at how TVs in India have evolved

A stroll through a nearby electronics store this weekend landed me in the television section. In 2023, that translates to walls of vivid colours and sound coming at you from every direction. However, I couldn’t help but think back to a time when TVs were neither so large nor this flat. Instead, they were boxes so big that we could probably fit an entire office desk inside it. Such bulky TVs would have also made the retailer’s store itself look smaller, unlike modern slim LEDs that practically stick to the wall.  

Just how did people, back in the day, save up large sums to buy these monstrous televisions? What did a TV mean for those families? With the country celebrating 77 years of independence later this month, now is the perfect opportunity to take a glimpse into the history of the television in India. It is a beautiful journey from the bulky TVs of the old to the modern slim smart TVs. 

1950s-1980s: India’s introduction to television

India conducted its very first experimental TV demo in January 1950, when B. Sivakumaran, an electrical engineering student displayed the image of a scanned letter on a cathode-ray tube, or CRT screen. However, it wouldn’t be until October 1951, when the first-ever TV transmitter would be installed in the Jabalpur Engineering college, kicking off the development of television networks in India.  

In 1959, Doordarshan, then a part of the AIR (All India Radio) network, would conduct its first experimental telecast in Delhi. Regular transmission of news and information around topics like health and rights would only begin in 1965. 

In 1972, the television service would extend to Mumbai and the network would cover only seven Indian cities till 1976, when the Doordarshan, still the only TV channel in India, would finally separate from the AIR.  

At the time, televisions were largely limited to large institutes and communities. However, the 1980s would change that, and a major push in TVs becoming family devices would begin in 1982 with the introduction of colour TV during the 9th Asian Games held in Delhi.  

With colour TVs gradually becoming affordable, and the Indian economy booming, more families would invest in a TV for their home. Doordarshan took the opportunity to begin airing programs like Ramayana and Mahabharata in the late 1980s, which would grow exponentially in popularity.  

1990s: Rise of TV channels and TV adoption

The television industry would see a host of reforms in the 1990s, beginning with new policies that let private and foreign broadcasters run limited operations in India. Satellite broadcasts were started by domestic channels like Zee TV, ETV, Sun TV and Asianet, while foreign channels like CNN and STAR TV also began broadcasting in India.

In 1997, an autonomous body named Prasar Bharati was established, and it would serve as the public service broadcaster of the country, using Doordarshan and the AIR network for its objectives. The television viewing experience would continue to grow on the shoulders of other channels. 

2000s: Introduction of LCDs and Plasma TVs in India

During this time, TVs were still large boxes, still referred to as ‘television sets’. Due to limitations of the cathode ray tube technology, these sets would require large spaces and dedicated tables in the living room.  

That would change with the introduction of LCD and Plasma TVs in the country. And for the first time, Indians would get to see flat TV, something we are used to now. These flatscreen TVs – no longer limited by weight – could now be mounted on the walls.  

LCDs were also available in much larger sizes than the common 14-inch CRT TVs, and prices for 20-inch LCD panels quickly halved in the first couple of years. Meanwhile, Plasma TVs offered a premium large-screen experience, like 40-inch panels, for people who could afford to spend more on televisions.  

While the world was introduced to flatscreen LCD TVs in the late 1990s, India would only get the technology in the mid-2000s, with brands like Samsung pioneering the flatscreen revolution in the country.  

Late 2000s: LED TVs and the onset of the smart TV revolution

In 2009, Samsung would announce the first LED TV in India. These newer TVs would use a backlight layer of LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) instead of the Liquid Crystal technology that powered LCDs at the time. These TVs would also be much slimmer than LCD TVs, making them an even more aesthetically pleasing option for households.  

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By 2011, the first Smart TV was launched in India, as connecting to the internet quickly started gaining momentum. Unlike conventional TVs, which were connected to either cable networks or set-top-boxes, smart TVs could directly connect to the internet. They could stream content directly from applications, which freed them from the shackles of cables. 

Present day: LEDs ruling the roost

Over a decade on, LEDs continue to be the most popular TV technology, especially in budget segments. However, improvements in the LED TV segment since 2009 also meant larger TVs like 43-inch, 50-inch and 55-inch panels would become even more affordable. Features like HDMI connectivity also made more usable with all kinds of media players, gaming consoles, and PCs. LED TVs also became the base for more new technologies like QLED, mini-LED and OLED TVs, all of which feature their own strengths, and make up a large chunk of the market today. 

Looking back at the television sets from decades ago is nostalgia for some, and sheer amazement for others. Despite the nuclear nature of personal entertainment today, largely fuelled by smartphones, TVs continue to be popular agents of social watching, encouraging entire families to enjoy a new episode of their favourite soap opera together, or simply giving a group of friends the push to come together and catch an iconic movie on Blu-Ray.  

To be honest, we’ve lived in just the right era to watch TVs go from rare, rich-family luxury to one of the most common pieces of technology in our homes. India statistically had about 226 million TV households in 2022 after all, a number that’s expected to rise to 248 million by 2026.