World Television Day is globally observed today

World Television Day is globally observed today to highlight the importance of visual medium and to recognize its increasing impact on decision-making and potential role in shaping global conversations. The theme for this year's edition is 'Accessibility'.

On this day in 1996, the United Nations held the First World Television Forum and decided to observe 21st November every year as World Television Day. TV was invented by a Scottish engineer, John Logie Baird in 1924. It was introduced in India on 15th September, 1959 in New Delhi with the assistance of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Daily transmission began in 1965 as a part of Akashvani. 

National telecast was introduced in 1982 and in the same year, color television was introduced in the Indian market. During this



time, there was only one national channel, the government-owned Doordarshan. 'Krishi Darshan' was telecast  in 1967 as the first and Indian television's longest running programme whereas 'Ramayana' and 'Mahabharata' were the first major television series produced. Other shows like 'Hum Log', 'Wagle Ki Duniya' and 'Buniyaad' were also popular. The invention of television revolutionized the way we communicate and consume information.

On this day, meet-ups at local and global levels take place to raise awareness among people about the role television plays in communication and globalisation. This day also marks the commitment of governments, news organisations and individuals to deliver unbiased information in times when the authenticity of content on social media platforms is questionable.