Doordarshan is India’s public television broadcaster and a foundational media organization in the Indian broadcasting industry. Headquartered in New Delhi, the company operates a nationwide network of terrestrial and satellite channels, offering news...
I spoke with several current and former employees to get a feel for day-to-day life. One longtime editor said they enjoy the stability and the sense of contributing to public broadcasting — “you feel like your work matters.” A junior producer noted that the learning curve is steep but rewarding, and that colleagues are helpful when deadlines get tight. Some employees mentioned bureaucracy and slower decision-making, but many felt those trade-offs were worth it for the steady hours and clear public service mission. If you are exploring working at Doordarshan, you will hear a mix of pride and pragmatic comments about pace and processes.
The company culture at Doordarshan leans toward tradition, professionalism, and public service. People take pride in producing content that reaches wide audiences and in maintaining editorial standards. Teams are often structured and hierarchical, but there are pockets of collaboration—especially in production and creative departments. If you value a mission-driven environment, the company culture at Doordarshan will likely appeal to you. At the same time, those who prefer fast startup-style experimentation may find the environment conservative.
Work-life balance at Doordarshan is generally positive compared with many private media houses. Regular roles, especially in non-field positions, tend to have predictable hours. Field reporting and breaking-news roles will demand irregular schedules, and those teams will work late or travel at short notice. For a typical studio or back-office role, you will find a reasonable balance between work and personal time. People I spoke with appreciated being able to plan family commitments around a generally stable schedule.
Job security is one of the stronger aspects. There is a long legacy and established governmental funding that provide continuity. Employees generally feel secure in their roles unless there are major policy shifts or restructuring. Contracts and benefits are often structured in traditional ways, so there is predictability. While budgetary changes can lead to selective role reviews, overall employment stability is higher than in many private media organizations.
Leadership is experienced and institutionally focused. Senior managers tend to emphasize adherence to regulations, editorial standards, and service goals. Decision timelines can be slower, reflecting layers of oversight. Managers will often prioritize consistency and compliance over rapid innovation. If you are seeking fast, disruptive leadership, this environment may feel deliberate. If you prefer steady direction and structured governance, leadership will feel reassuring.
Managers are seen as competent and stable. Many are long-tenured and understand the operational intricacies of broadcasting. Reviews note that manager support varies by department: production managers may be hands-on and deadline-driven, while administrative managers may be process-oriented. Feedback and performance conversations may be formal and periodic rather than continuous. Employees looking for proactive career coaching may need to request more frequent one-on-ones.
Training and development are available, with emphasis on technical skills, editorial standards, and broadcasting regulations. Formal training programs exist, especially for newcomers and technical staff. Informal mentoring happens frequently in creative teams. There is opportunity to learn on the job, particularly in production and reporting roles. Those motivated to upskill will find chances to attend workshops and government-sponsored training modules.
Promotion pathways are often structured and based on tenure, performance reviews, and available openings. Rapid promotion is less common compared with startups; growth tends to be steady and predictable. There will be opportunities for lateral moves across departments, which can be useful for skill diversification. If career progression is a priority, plan long-term and be proactive in seeking cross-functional projects.
Salaries are moderate and aligned with public-sector scales and industry norms for state-funded broadcasters. Entry-level positions and administrative roles will be at the lower end of market ranges, while experienced editors, producers, and technical specialists will receive more competitive compensation. Salaries are generally consistent and transparent, and increments follow established pay scales and review cycles. Overall compensation will not match top private media salaries but will offer predictability.
Bonuses and incentives are limited compared with private broadcasters. There are periodic performance-related increments and occasional festival or year-end recognitions. Monetary bonuses are modest and often tied to institutional budgets and policies. Non-monetary incentives, such as training, recognition, and job stability, play a larger role in rewards.
Health and insurance benefits are available and conform to public-sector standards. Employees will typically have access to group health coverage, government health schemes, and pension-contribution arrangements. Benefits are reliable and form a meaningful part of total compensation, particularly for long-serving employees.
There are regular engagement activities, cultural events, and public service campaigns. Team gatherings, award ceremonies, and national-day celebrations are common. These events foster camaraderie and align staff around the public mission. Engagement is often organized through departmental initiatives and official calendars.
Remote work support exists but is limited relative to private-sector firms. Many roles require on-site presence, particularly studio and technical positions. Administrative and some creative roles may have partial flexibility, but remote-first policies are not the norm. If remote work is a deal-breaker, this is an important consideration.
Average working hours are predictable for office-based roles, often following standard government or institutional timings. Production, reporting, and field teams will have variable hours depending on events and breaking news. Expect regular shifts for studio staff and shift-based schedules for technical operations.
Attrition rates are moderate to low. Due to institutional stability, layoffs are infrequent and usually tied to specific restructures or policy changes. Staff turnover is often voluntary for those seeking faster private-sector careers rather than due to systemic instability.
Overall, this organization offers a stable, mission-driven workplace with steady pay, reliable benefits, and structured career paths. You will find a strong sense of public service and professional standards, balanced by slower decision-making and limited aggressive pay incentives. For many job seekers prioritizing stability, predictable work-life balance at Doordarshan, and opportunities to learn core broadcasting skills, this is a solid choice. For those seeking high-risk, high-reward careers or fully remote roles, other environments may be a better fit.
Read authentic experiences from current and former employees at Doordarshan
Very respectful workplace with good employee benefits and pension rules. The culture at Doordarshan values tradition and collaboration. Great place for long-term stability and work-life balance.
Change is slow and decisions often take time because of layers of approvals. Limited exposure to the latest HR tech while I was there.
Good work-life balance and flexibility. I get to work on systems that support national broadcasts and there's a lot of technical learning. Leadership is open to modernization ideas.
Salary is lower compared to private sector startups and procurement processes for new tech can be slow. Legacy codebase can be frustrating at times.
Working at Doordarshan has given me the chance to produce content viewed across India. Colleagues are supportive and there are real opportunities to learn production and editorial skills. The stability of a government broadcaster is a big plus.
Bureaucratic approval processes can slow things down and some of the equipment is dated. Promotions are steady but not fast.
