Yesterday, Rayat TV went live for the first time in the UK when its two 'Doordarshan' channels started broadcasting highlights from the launch event held on Sunday 15 April. At 1200 both channels started their broadcasts which will continue 24 hours a day. Doordarshan, which has over 1.4 billion viewers worldwide, will be using the UK launch as a starting point for further expansion into Europe.

Actress and writer Nina Wadia hosted the entertainment at the launch party which included a number of acts to showcase the essence of India, with the highlight as a performance by India’s top percussionist Sivamani, the all-in-one-drummer. Film and television actor Saeed Jaffrey OBE was also at the launch to wish Doordarshan and Rayat TV luck. Saeed pioneered some of the first programmes for Doordarshan when India’s state broadcaster was launched in 1959.

“India’s national broadcaster Doordarshan has chosen the Rayat Group as its UK partner and as proud as we are, we are humbled in the task of setting new standards in ethnic broadcasting which is second to none,“ said Nirmal Singh Rayat, Chairman of the Rayat Group.

“Doordarshan’s launch in the UK will connect with British-Asians as well as connecting them to their roots,” said Khalid Mahmood, CEO of The Rayat Group.

DD India is Doordarshan’s bold and exciting global channel, which offers the very best gems from the vast Indian network. The programme mix includes a range of content not accessible in the UK before, including music, children’s programmes, sports, travel through to documentaries, current affairs, politics and commerce, making it a truly diverse channel.

DD News, India’s award-winning news channel balances breaking news with robust reporting built upon quality and accuracy. The bi-lingual channel (English and Hindi) will broadcast live and breaking news 24 hours a day. The schedule will include bulletins, live coverage of breaking news events, current affairs, business, health, culture, interviews and sports updates. Both channels are ’free-to-air’ on the Digital Satellite Platform with DD News on channel 832 and DD India on 833.