India, Aug. 15 -- The story of Independence Day broadcasting is not simply radio to television to internet. It is the story of physical machines slowly becoming a software-connected media system, changing not only what viewers can see, but where, when, and even how they can see it.

Watching the Independence Day ceremony today can feel almost effortless. Open a television feed, tap a livestream on a phone, enter a 360-degree view, or return to recorded material later.

Behind that simple experience sits nearly eight decades of technology change.

In 1947, broadcasting was dominated by physical machines: microphones, amplifiers, radio transmitters and receivers, film cameras, film stock, printing presses, and projectors. There was effectiv...