Exclusive: Doordarshan begins 4K modernisation with Rs 14.5 crore project

New Delhi: Doordarshan is taking a significant step towards modernising its broadcast infrastructure by initiating the rollout of a 4K production ecosystem across its network. The public broadcaster has launched a project, estimated at Rs 14.5 crore, to upgrade its broadcast infrastructure, signalling its intent to transition to a fully digital, Ultra High Definition (UHD) production ecosystem. The project aims to build an integrated 4K production workflow within a single file-based UHD environment for the DD Network, rather than simply procuring standalone equipment. Unlike conventional broadcast operations, where different stages often function independently, a file-based workflow enables content to move digitally across departments, improving production efficiency and supporting UHD content creation. The modernisation effort became evident after Prasar Bharati's Directorate General, Doordarshan floated a tender for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning (SITC) of an "End-to-End UHD File-Based Workflow Facility for DD Network." The project, valued at an estimated Rs 14.5 crore, has a delivery timeline of six months, indicating that the broadcaster is preparing to establish an integrated 4K production backbone across the DD Network. Rather than focusing on standalone equipment procurement, the tender seeks to create a comprehensive production ecosystem that integrates multiple stages of television production into a unified digital workflow. Such systems typically enable broadcasters to ingest footage directly into central storage, allow editors to work simultaneously on shared media, automate quality control, manage archives efficiently and deliver content seamlessly for transmission. The tender was originally scheduled to open on July 17. However, Doordarshan has extended the bid submission deadline due to administrative reasons. Bids will now be opened on July 21, 2026, while all other terms and conditions remain unchanged. In a separate tender issued on the same day, the broadcaster invited bids for robotically controlled cameras, robotic heads, track dollies with elevation columns and mirrorless full-frame cameras, indicating parallel investments in production equipment alongside backend broadcast infrastructure. Taken together, the two projects point to a broader modernisation of Doordarshan's production capabilities, with investments spanning both studio equipment and the underlying digital workflow required to support UHD television production.