Doordarshan Sparks Criticism with New Orange Logo; Former Boss Takes a Jibe

DD News recently unveiled its new logo and shared a promotional video to mark the occasion. The English news channel of Doordarshan introduced the new logo, along with a promotional video, on X.

The caption accompanying the reveal emphasized the channel’s commitment to its values while presenting a fresh avatar for viewers to experience an unparalleled news journey. Criticism arose online following the debut of the new logo, with many users expressing concern that the logo’s saffron color choice was timed to coincide with upcoming elections.

Jawhar Sircar, former CEO of Doordarshan’s parent organization and currently a Trinamool MP, voiced his disapproval, stating that the shift towards saffron in the logo was distressing and suggested a form of “saffronisation” just before the elections. Sircar, who had previously served as CEO of Prasar Bharati, the overseeing body for Doordarshan and All India Radio, asserted that the saffron color choice for the logo was inappropriate and even raised concerns about its adherence to the Model Code of Conduct, which imposes restrictions before elections to maintain a fair electoral environment.

In contrast, Gaurav Dwivedi, the current head of Prasar Bharati, defended the logo change, describing it as essential for maintaining visual aesthetics and justifying the color as orange rather than saffron. He pointed out that the bright and visually appealing color was selected in keeping with the channel’s branding and aesthetic, and highlighted other upgrades such as new lighting and equipment to enhance the overall look and feel of the channel.