The Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE), conducted during 1975-76 using the USA’s Application Technology Satellite (ATS-6) is hailed as one of the largest experimenkof its kind. SITE demonstrated the potential of satellite technology as an effective mass communication media for a developing country like India. SITE provided valuable experience in the development, testing and management of a satellite-based instructional television system, particularly in rural areatjl1t started at 6.20 PM on 1 st of August, 1975 when 2400 TV sets came alive in as many small villages receiving programmes directly from a high power geosynchronous satellite located 36000 Kms over Kenya.

Objectives
System Management
Telecast of Programmes
Partners of SITE
Programme Production
Science Education Programme
Teachers' Training
Impact Study

Described as “the greatest communication experiment ever,” the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) was carried out for a year, in 1975-76, in India.

Direct reception systems (DRS), for community viewing of the TV programmes, were installed in six states of the country in “clusters” of about 400 each. The instructional programmes were broadcast for four hours every day – 1 ½ hour in the morning (for school children) and 2 ½ hour in the evening. The programmes were made primarily by Doordarshan in the four languages involved, and were produced in four studios set up especially for SITE. Villagers in each “cluster” received programmes made specially for them in their own language plus a 30 minute “common programme” meant for all viewers and aimed at promoting national integration.

The DRS community TV sets were all installed in public buildings in the villages – in most cases, in the school. An elaborate system was set up to deploy, maintain and operate the community sets. The maintenance system was found to be extremely successful and ensured very high availability figures.

Apart from its hardware and “overall” responsibilities, ISRO took up responsibility for the evaluation of the experiment, in terms of both technical performance and social effects.

Overall, SITE established that the extension of communications infrastructure to remote areas is not only feasible, but that it can contribute concretely to promoting national development.