Doordarshan has a three tier programme service - National, Regional and Local. The emphasis in the National programmes is on events and issues of interest to the entire nation. These programmes include news and current affairs, magazine programmes and documentaries on science, art and culture, environment, social issues, serials, music, dance, drama and feature films. The regional programmes are beamed on DD National at specific times and also on the Regional Language Satellite Channels, catering to the interests of a particular state, in the language and idiom of that region. The local programmes are area specific and cover local issues featuring local people.

DD National channel broadcasts National programmes that are mainly aimed at promoting national integration and inculcating a sense of unity and fraternity. DD National is the Number One channel in the country in terms of absolute viewer-ship. DD National blends a healthy and strong mix of entertainment, information and education. The service is available in terrestrial mode from 5.30 am till midnight. In the satellite mode, DD National is available round the clock. The telecast time of this composite public service channel is so devised that it caters to the needs of different viewers, i.e., the different target audience, at different timings.

All major National events like the Republic Day Parade, Independence Day Celebrations, National Award Presentation ceremonies, President and Prime Minister`s addresses to the Nation, President`s address to the joint session of the Parliament, important Parliamentary debates, Railway and General Budget presentations, Question Hour in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Election results and analysis, swearing-in ceremonies, President and Prime Minister`s visits abroad and visits of important foreign dignitaries to India are covered live on DD National. Important sports events like Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket Test Matches and One Day Internationals involving India and other important sporting encounters are also telecast live on this particular channel.

The education component of this channel is drawn from the contributions from varied sources like Universities such as Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), University Grants Commission (UGC), Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET) and State Institutes of Education Technology (SIET). In addition to this, there are sponsored programmes like Turning Point, Adult Education programmes, Terra Quiz and Bhoomi, which is a programme on environment, programmes on issues related to women, tribal women and other public service programmes which are broadcast on regular basis. Issues and matters, which will not be covered by any other private channel, are discussed in a serious way in DD National`s various programmes.

The information component on DD National consists of news and current affairs programmes, which are largely produced in-house. The 8.00 to 8.30 p.m. Samachar / News are the most watched news bulletins in the country, both in single channel homes and multiple channel cable & satellite homes. The Question Hour in Parliament is telecast live on the DD National and DD News Channel. A specific window is earmarked for programmes in regional languages between 3.00 p.m. and 8.00 p.m. on all weekdays for public utility and entertainment programmes in the regional languages and dialects.

The entertainment programmes mainly consist of mid-day daily soaps telecast between 12 noon and 3.00 p.m. and serial Programmes from 8.30 pm to midnight. This includes telecast of feature films on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and award winning regional films on the last Sunday of the month, also countdown of Bollywood songs with programmes like Chitrahaar, Rangoli and Superhit Muqabla. Soaps like Humlog, Buniyad and Nukkad were very popular. After which there came Crime thrillers like Karamchand, Byomkesh Bakshi and Tahqekaat. Kashish and Farmaan were two romantic soaps. Shanti, the first daily soap started on Doordarshan on one 15th August and after that there was no end to daily soaps. Then came Swabhimaan, Itihaas.

The telecast rights of the films are acquired on payment of royalty to the rights-holder on the basis of a rate structure linked to the vintage value of the film. The films are selected on the basis of their box office performance, marketability and appeal to the viewers of Doordarshan. The films are being marketed in-house. This system has proved beneficial to Doordarshan as compared to the revenue earned through films shown on sponsorship basis as per earlier practice.

A new format film slot -`Bioscope` was introduced on DD National during 2004. In this slot a Hindi feature film is telecast in serialised form on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 11 pm. Many classics of yesteryears have shown on Bioscope till now. Keeping in view its commitment for promoting quality cinema, Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) and Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) National award winning regional feature films are telecast on the last Sunday of the month at 11.30 p.m.

Prasar Bharati has entered into a partnership with the Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT) to source quality documentaries on various issues of concern to the public. These documentaries, produced by eminent as well as budding film makers are telecast on DD National every Sunday at 9.30 p.m. Like the famous documentary `War and Peace` by the famous filmmaker Anand Patwardhan. It was a long battle for Anand and only after sheer perseverance was this eye-opening film shown on DD National. The agreement with PSBT has been renewed for three more years. Prasar Bharati also participates actively in the annual documentary film festival known as the Open Frame.

Now Doordarshan is often criticized for poor telecast and presentation quality, the media have regularly criticized the channel for telecasting too many ads in cricket matches often showing 5 of the 6 balls of an over. However, Doordarshan is still the only television provider for a number of people who don`t have cable television.