TV Channels of Pakistan

TV Channels of Pakistan
Hira Fatima (B.A H)Part-III Role MC 32
Before 2000, these were limited to the State-run PTV, PTV World and Channel 3, but a newly-introduced open media policy caused many new private channels to spring up over the years. These initially stole away nearly all of the PTV-Network market while the initial hype lasted, but soon audiences were shunning even these channels for lack of quality, finally settling on either Indian channels, or Western channels. However, over the time some Pakistani channels have been able to produce a sizable amount of decent programs.
Nowadays that PTV's market has been reduced to nearly nil, except for people in the rural areas of Pakistan were they cannot afford cable TV. However, quality of these channels need to developed to meet standards of western channels.
It is this very acknowledegement that led a cartel of Pakistani private channels to lobby to Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to ban Indian channels and some Western channels, the Pakistani channels were losing advertising revenue too.

In Pakistan, a country of 145 million people, the only entertainment is TV. With about 3 million TV sets in 1997, it is probably correct to assume a total of 5 to 7 million TV sets in 2003
Television was introduced in Pakistan in 1964. At that time, Pakistan Television (PTV) was the only channel available to the viewers for a few hours every day, from evening till midnight. It was introduced as a state-controlled medium and remains to this day a corporation of the state. By the 1990s, PTV was hit by financial mismanagement, an overwhelming debt and a rapidly plunging popularity among viewers. It also began to lose advertising revenue to Hindi channels.
The solution tried by the then Nawaz Sharif government (1997-1999) was to launch PTV World in 1998.
Increasing globalization and market forces ultimately prevailed and in January 2002, Musharraf government (1999) approved an ordinance allowing independent electronic media. Today, Pakistanis can access several private channels icluding international, national and regional TV networks.

Pakistan TV channels and their slogans
1 Aaj TV: (owned by Business Recorder group of newspapers)
2 Apna TV: Apna TV ! The Only No. 1 Punjabi infotainment and Entertainment ...
3 ARY Digital Network:
4 ATV:. Atv is providing an opportunity to all the young
5 PTV:Pakistan’s official TV (having network PTV World and Channel 3 etc)
6 AVT Khyber :First Pashto (Pushto) language satellite Television
7. Business Plus
8 Cartoon Network Pakistan - channel broadcasts both English and Urdu translated cartoons
9. CNBC Pakistan
10. DM Digital
11. Fashion TV Pakistan- offering live 24-hour fashion
12 Filmazia Pakistan’s first 24 hours loolywood channel
13 Geo : slogan: Har pal Geo , owned by Jang group of Publications
14 HBO Pakistan
15 Healthline TV
16 Hum TV: HUM SAB KAY LIAY
17 Indus TV Network: the best in Urdu entertainment!
18 KTN – First Sindhi satlite channel
19 Mashriq TV - The Voice of Pakistani's World Wide Mashriq
20 Roshni TV
21 Rung TV
22 Sindh TV Sindhi- Language
23 Ten Sports Pakistan - TEN SPORTS World's No 1 Sports Channel for South Asians
24 TV One Online – Lifestyle & Entertainment Television (MD Taher A. Khan)
25 TV2-Day
26 Uni Plus
27 Virtual TV : Educational TV
28 nVIBE
29 Vectone TV – A south Asian saga
30. STAR ASIA (MD Muhammad Iqbal Sindhu)
31. RAAVI TV (MD Ejaz Nazir Warraich)
32. LABBAIK TV (MD Siddique Ismail)
33. DHOOM (MD Illyas Shakir)

Future Channels
Al Jazeera Urdu
AXN - Part of ARY Digital Network
Azad TV
Aag TV - Part of Geo TV Network
Health Line TV
Indus TV - For USA & UK only
PTV Mehran
PTV Abaseen
PTV Panjnad
Virtual Television 3 (VTV 3)
Virtual Television 4 (VTV 4)
Waqt TV
Fortune TV
Indus Filmi
KTV
Humvision
AVT Prime
More may be coming.

Glossary:
Web Sites:
http://www.lyngsat-logo.com/tvcountry/pk.html
www.avtkhyber.tv
www.geo.tv www.arydigital.tv www.indus.tv www.hum.tv www.aaj.tv www.apna.tv
www.answers.com/topic/ list-of-pakistani-television-stations
http://www.lyngsat.com/freetv/Pakistan.html?PHPSESSID=ed020ac5176ae63699d42b8eeba148f2
http://www.cable-quest.com/pay_c_rates.htm
and other concerned channels sites


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2. TV channels in Pakistan

About Pakistan Television Corporation Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) is a public limited company. All its shares are held by Government of Pakistan. The decision to establish a general purpose television service with the participation of private capital and under the general supervision of the Government of Pakistan was taken in October 1963. Subsequently the GOP signed an greement with Nippon Electronic Company of Japan, allowing it to operate two pilot stations in Pakistan. The first of these stations went on air in Lahore on 26 November 1964. On the completion of the experimental phase, a private limited company, called Televsion Promoters Limited was set up in 1965 which was converted into a public limited company in 1967. Television centres were established in Karachi and Rawalpindi/Islamabad in 1967 and in Peshawar and Quetta in 1974. Ptv satellite transmition is round the clock. The transmission include ETV and PTV world transmission. Karachi Centre: The professional quality of its varied programme fare, be it music or drama has been of a top standard. The PTV-Karachi Centre along with four Re-broadcast Stations at Thana Bola Khan, Shikarpur, Noorpur and Thando Allahyar, connected to other RBSs in the country through Microwave link cover about 90% of the population. With the opening of PTV World, Pakistani programmes are now being viewed in other parts of the world via satellite. PTV Lahore:a week (Monday off-day) in black & white with a very limited staff. PTV Lahore, pilot centre started in collaboration with N.H.K. Company in a very small studio known as Studio 'C' (with three Cameras, one Tape recorder, one 35mm Telecine, one 16mm Telecine and one Opaque Projector.) Studio 'C' was situated inside the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation, Lahore area, was started on 26-"-1964 six days in a week (Monday off-day) in black & white with a very limited staff. At that time, all Studio programmes were telecast "LIVE" as no VTR Recording machines were available, which were made available in the year 1968. Pilot TV Centre: A Pilot TV Centre was formally inaugurated on December 5, 1974 at 2-Fort Road, Peshawar. It was Black & White Production/Transmitting Centre consisting of Recording Studio and a Booth for News/Announcement. On February 18, 1982 Main Color TV Centre was inaugurated at 58Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azain with Two Production Studios,, One Announcement / News Studio, an Outdoor Broadcast Van & 07 Nos. of portable outdoor recording units for News/Current Affairs and Programmes. PTV Quetta: PTV Quetta was established during 1974 in the abandoned Masonic Lodge, Quetta Cantt and was formally inaugurated on 26th November, 1974 (26th November, on the 10th opening anniversary of PTV in Pakistan, as the first PTV Centre was established in Lahore on 26th November, 1964 and later on too, most of the Centres were established on 26th November).
PTV World News: PTV World, a new satellite channel was launched in the face of tough international competition. The objective of providing update news for 24 hours. Channel-3: The objective of the channel-3 is providing a homely atmosphere to all family viewers. PTV National: The objective of the PTV National is providing different local News and as well as entertainment in all language different part of the country. AJK TV: AJK TV is Kashmiri Channel, providing different programs for local viewers, Kashmiri news and Gojri news. Prime TV (For European Viewers): Prime TV in U.K, Telecasts PTV Dramas and Documentaries For European People Especially Pakistanis Living In Europe.
Pakistan Television Corporation Ltd. Pakistan entered into Television Broadcasting age with a small pilot TV Station established at Lahore from where transmission was first beamed in Black & White with effect from 26 November 1964. Television centres were established in Karachi and Rawalpindi/Islamabad in 1967 and in Peshawar and Quetta in 1974.
When PTV came into existence in 1964, there was a staff of 30 employees, which has now risen to more than 6000 persons at all units of the corporation.
When the current management took over the reins, the organization was at the verge of bankruptcy. Losses had been incurred, income from all spheres was restricted, viewership had reduced and the overall morale of the institution was in shambles.
The energy, innovation and vitality exhibited by the new leaders has, within a short span of one year, transformed PTV into a profitable organization with a leap of Rs 287 million from Rs 1431 million to Rs 1718 in advertising income; from Rs 148 million net operating loss to Rs 38 million net operating profit.
The diligence of PTV and sustained efforts has resulted in better and creative programming with significant changes in presentation style. The promotion of programmes has been totally been revamped in lieu of improved re-packaging and tailor made programming along with energized marketing strategy.
PTVs endeavor for initiative has surfaced with a number of milestones of particular significance. Deserving special mention here are the daily programs of Tilawat & Tarjuma of the Holy Quran; programmes highlighting the cause of Kashmir;
PTV World, a new satellite channel was launched in the face of tough international competition. The objective of providing a homely atmosphere to family viewers has been well achieved. The audience driven programmes have given PTV a new look and dramatically changed the views about Ptv. PTV has surged ahead of its competitors and as such PTV-2 has been turned into a viable project. Generation of more than Rs 56 million within a span of five months of the implementation of the new idea speaks of this unparalleled achievement.
Mideast Time, an extension of PTV World, targets Pakistani expatriates in the Middle East at a time when people need to relax with family entertainment.
Launching of PTVs Web site on Internet * Special live interviews from Dubai, Saudi Arabia & New York * Taji Mori at 12,500ft, one of the world's highest transmitters

Satellite channels beamed into Pakistan through various satellites are being received by subscribers in Pakistan. The most widespread reception method is through an intermediary in the form of a cable operator. The cable operator establishes his own system comprising of Dish Antennas, Modulators, Decoders, Coaxial cable and line amplifiers etc. for relaying these channels to the subscribers. However, cable's potential of complete coverage of Pakistan is limited.
One method of direct reception of these channels which can render greater and better-quality coverage is the Direct-to-Home satellite television service. Through this service, subscribers or end users, receive signals directly from geostationary satellites. Signals are broadcast in digital format at microwave frequencies. A DTH subscriber's installation consists of a dish antenna two to three feet (60 to 90 centimeters) in diameter, a conventional TV set, a signal converter placed next to the TV set, and a length of coaxial cable between the dish and the converter. The dish intercepts microwave signals directly from the satellite. The converter produces output that can be viewed on the TV receiver.
There are also widespread complaints of piracy of foreign channels by some of the local cable TV operators as well as individuals. Establishment of DTH service with proper authorization is expected to eliminate such grey market activity to a large extent.

Role of Multinationals: Proliferation of television channels in Pakistan has opened up new vistas for the corporate world and has forced advertising agencies to come up with new strategies. Viewers are now able to switch to a different channel during commercial breaks.

Conclusion: What does the future hold?: In conclusion, the proliferation of private television channels has had a positive impact in three important dimensions. It has led to the creation of a niche for alternative dramas and has broken the rigidity of religious shows; it has played a major role in opening up of the political debate in Pakistan’s electronic media; and it has benefited both the electronic media and advertising industry through revenue generation.
There are disparate views on the future impact of television proliferation in the country. At the moment, PTV authorities are not too concerned about competition from the cable television. This optimism is not misplaced. While cable is available in limited regions, PTV is terrestrial with its own transmitters covering a wide area. PTV still has its stronghold and covers a wide-ranging area. For instant, PTV-1, which is also claimed to be the family channel, covers 38% of the area catering to 86% of the population. PTV World, that transmits news and current affairs programs, covers 29% of the area and catering to 75% of the population. Its news channel service covers some 8% of the area with 40% of the population. From June 2003, PTV has introduced another channel, PTV National that transmits regional programs. Prime TV telecasts PTV dramas and documentaries for the people, especially Pakistanis living in Europe. Channel-3 aims to provide ‘homely atmosphere to all family viewers’. PTV World beams its programs to viewers in South Asia and the Middle East.
Private channels, on the other hand, have some cause for worry. Intense competition for viewers’ attention and advertising revenue might eventually squeeze out a couple of channels.

Meanwhile, the viewers are enjoying the newfound freedom of choice in the electronic media. There are today many more channel-surfers and couch potatoes than there were a couple of years go. There is also a lot more debate among the television viewers on the content and quality of the productions.
1 Aaj TV – A Punjabi Language
2 Apna TV
3 ARY Digital Network
4 ATV
5 PTV –Pakistan’s official Television
6 AVT Khyber Pushto
7 Business Plus
8 Cartoon Network Pakistan
9 CNBC Pakistan
10 DM Digital
11 Fashion TV Pakistan
12 Filmazia
13 Geo , Jang roup of Publications
14 HBO Pakistan
15 Healthline TV
16 Hum TV
17 Indus TV Network
18 KTN -Sindhi Language
19 Mashriq TV
20 Roshni TV
21 Rung TV
22 Sindh TV Sindhi- Language
23 Ten Sports Pakistan
24 TV One
25 TV2-Day
26 Uni Plus
27 Virtual TV
28 nVIBE
29 Vectone TV

Taher A. Khan of ONE TV. Chief Patron, PBA; Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman of GEO, Chairman, PBA; Salman Iqbal of ARY Digital, Senior Vice Chairman, PBA; Ghazanfar Ali of INDUS, Vice Chairman, PBA; Arshad Aziz Zuberi of AAJ TV andSecretary General, PBA; Muhammad Aslam Kazi of KTN and Finance Secretary, PBA; Javed Faruqi of CNBC; Dr. A.Karm Rajpar of SINDHTV; Muhammad Iqbal Sindhu of STAR ASIA; Jawad H. Raja of AVT KHYBER; Ejaz Nazir Warraich of RAAVI TV; Sajjad Hussain Shah of APNA TV; S. Haider Naqvi of TV 2 DAY; Tariq Qureshi of RUNG TV; Atif Asad Khan of RUNG TV; Ali Raza Goa of ROSHNI TV; Khalid Malik of FILMAZIA; Siddique Ismail of LABBAIK TV; Illyas Shakir of DHOOM TV; and Imran Mehboob of HUM TV.