ARY Digital HD
ARY ڈیجیٹل HD
ARY Digital logo since May 2009
CountryPakistan
Broadcast area
NetworkARY Digital Network
HeadquartersKarachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Programming
Language(s)English
Urdu
Picture format16:9
(4:3 576i SDTV) 720p (2000–2021)
(720p HDTV 16:9) (2021–present)
Ownership
Sister channelsARY Digital HD
ARY Digital UK
ARY News
A Sports
ARY Musik
ARY Qtv
ARY Zindagi
ARY Nick
ARY Zauq
ATN Urdu
ARY Arabia
History
Launched16 September 2000 (2000-09-16)
Former namesThe Pakistani Channel
Links
Websitearydigital
Availability
Terrestrial
Zuku TV (Kenya)Channel 939
Streaming media
ARY Digital LiveWatch Live

ARY Digital HD (Urdu: ARY ڈیجیٹل) is a Pakistani television network available in Pakistan. ARY Digital was founded by a Dubai-based holding company Pakistani businessman, Abdul Razzak Yaqoob (ARY). The network is focused towards on Pakistani entertainment dramas, talk shows, web series and culture.

The channel broadcasts on cable and satellite networks, linear television as well as streaming platforms including YouTube Channel and ARY ZAP.

History

ARY Digital, formerly known as The Pakistani Channel, was launched in the United Kingdom on 16th September 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 (2000–2009)

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.

SD Feed Closure

Since July 2021, ARY Digital has been only available in high-definition. The standard definition (SD) broadcast was shutdown 15 August 2021.

Specialized programming

By 2003, 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

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 local programmes and international shows. Many of which may include foreign programmes including Hollywood, Bollywood and Lollywood movies, American & British TV shows, for example Criminal Minds, 24, Criminal Minds: Beyond Boundaries, NCIS, Prison Break & 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 programmes

Criticism

In 2003, ARY Digital was criticised 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

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. 1 2 "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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