ARY Digital

ARY Digital (Urdu: ARY ڈیجیٹل‎) is a Pakistani pay television network available in Pakistan, the Middle East, North America and Europe. The ARY Group of companies is a Dubai-based holding company founded by a Pakistani businessman, Abdul Razzak Yaqoob (ARY). The network is focused towards the Pakistani diaspora. The channel has an expanding network of channels, each with an independent focus.

ARY Digital
Launched16 September 2000 (2000-09-16)
NetworkARY Digital Network
Picture format16:9 576i SDTV
SloganLife connected
CountryPakistan
Broadcast areaPakistan
Bangladesh
Canada
Nepal
Sri Lanka
Afghanistan
Middle East and Worldwide
HeadquartersKarachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Sister channel(s)ARY News
ARY Sports
ARY Musik
ARY Qtv
ARY Zindagi
ARY Family
ATN Urdu
Websitearydigital
Availability
Satellite
OSN (Middle East and North Africa)Channel 283
Sky (UK & Ireland)Channel 758
Astra 2G (28.2°E)11112 H 22000 5/6
Dish Network (USA)Channel 677
Cable
WorldCall CableChannel 35
NayaTelChannel 46
E vision (UAE)Channel 38
ABNXcess (Malaysia)Channel 510
IPTV
PTCL Smart TVChannel 32
My.T (Mauritius)Channel 180
Streaming media
ARY Digital LiveWatch Live

Shane Ramazan
Main article: Shan e Ramazan

History

ARY Digital, formerly known as the Pakistani Channel, was launched in the United Kingdom in December 2000 to cater to the Pakistani community living in the region. It uses Samacom, an uplink provider based in the UAE, as the uplink teleport station.[1]

The channel started off with a format similar to PTV Prime and other South Asian channels where it provided slots for soap operas in general while presenting an hourly slot for news headlines. Although, flaming political talk shows and dramas were the main priority when it came to programming, the network soon was hailed for its news coverage.[2]

The network acquired a license to start broadcasting in Pakistan.[3]

In 2002, the ARY Star Gold Quiz Show became the first live show to offer a prize of one kilogram of gold. For the period of its broadcast, participants won over 260 kilograms of gold.[3] In 2005, the network obtained the rights to show Live 8 on its sister music channel, The Musik. The channel also held rights to the Who Wants to be a Millionaire franchise for Pakistan.

former logo

On 18 October 2007 most of the ARY news team, covering former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's arrival from exile, were killed by one of two explosions. Pictures of the victims were shown live on the news hour and prayers were observed. Bhutto was later escorted safely to an official government house.

Specialized programming

By 2004, ARY Digital had started up three sister ventures apart from the flagship channel ARY Digital, channels targeting generalized programming. They include ARY News, a news channel; ARY Musik, a youth-oriented music channel, and ARY Qtv, an Islamic network..[4]

Availability

Continental programming

In 2004, ARY Digital divided its broadcasts in such a way, that each continent had different programming at different times, to better facilitate the audience. The Channels were split as follows:

  • ARY Digital Asia
  • ARY Digital UAE
  • ARY Family UK/Europe
  • ARY Digital USA

ARY Digital Asia

The Asian feed of the channel is free-to-air, as channels in the South Asia are usually broadcast without encryption. Unlike other feeds, ARY Digital Asia features a wider variety of programmes and shows. Many of which may include foreign programmes including Hollywood and Bollywood movies, Indian & English TV shows, for example Criminal Minds, 24, NCIS (TV series) & Fear Factor - Khatron Ke Khiladi.

ARY Digital UAE

It is a free-to-air channel broadcasting at the Pakistani diaspora in the United Arab Emirates. Its programming is limited to Pakistani-produced shows only.

Current programs
Main article: List of programs broadcast by ARY Digital

Criticism

In 2003, ARY Digital received criticism upon its airing of a prisoner's derogatory comments against the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC-3) and a video showing balded young girls behind bars begging for mercy. The contempt of court proceedings against the officials of the network were withdrawn after the judge accepted unconditional apologies.[5]

See also
  • ARY Films
  • List of Pakistani television serials
  • List of Pakistani television stations

References
  1. "Teleport". Samacom. Archived from the original on 6 May 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2008.
  2. "Case Study: Pakistan and its Media". PakAffairs.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2008.
  3. "ARY Group Profile" (PDF). ARY Digital Europe. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 May 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2008.
  4. "ARY Digital Archives". ARY Digital. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  5. "KARACHI: Contempt proceedings withdrawn against ARY". DAWN Newspaper. Retrieved 12 May 2008.
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