Pakistan Television Corporation facts for kids

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Pakistan Television Corporation

Type	Broadcast Satellite television
Branding	PTV
Country	Pakistan
Availability	Nationwide and Worldwide
Headquarters	Islamabad
Broadcast area	Pakistan and World
Owner	Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of Pakistan
Key people	Sohail Ali Khan (Managing Director)
Launch date	26 November 1964; 60 years ago (1964-11-26)
Picture format	1080p HDTV (downscaled to 16:9 576i for SDTV sets)
Language	Urdu, English

Pakistan Television Corporation, often called PTV, is a TV network in Pakistan. It's owned by the Government of Pakistan through its Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. PTV started on November 26, 1964, with its first TV station in Lahore.

How PTV Started

Early Ideas for Television

The idea for a TV network in Pakistan began in the late 1950s. President Ayub Khan supported this idea in 1960. In 1961, a businessman named Syed Wajid Ali started a project to build a TV industry. He worked with Ubaidur Rahman, an engineer from Radio Pakistan. Rahman became the project director for the first TV station in Lahore.

Syed Wajid Ali also teamed up with companies from Japan (Nippon Electric Company, or NEC) and the United Kingdom (Thomas Television International).

In 1963, the government decided to set up TV stations across Pakistan. PTV's main office is in Islamabad. From 1961 to 1962, a TV center was built in Lahore. Rahman's team did many test broadcasts. Later, more TV centers were built in other parts of Pakistan, including what is now Bangladesh.

First Broadcast and Early Days

On November 26, 1964, PTV aired its first news broadcast. It was shown in black and white. The first programs included amateur shows and foreign films. Aslam Azhar became the first managing director of PTV. He is often called the "father of Pakistan Television."

At first, private companies could show commercials for free. PTV was initially run by private companies. But the government bought more than half of the shares. This was to make sure the network served the country's interests. President Ayub Khan asked Ubaidur Rahman to continue working with NEC to launch PTV.

The first TV station was built in Lahore. President Ayub Khan officially opened it on November 26, 1964. Soon after, other centers opened in Dacca (now in Bangladesh) on December 25, 1964. Then came Rawalpindi and Islamabad in 1965, and Karachi in 1966.

In 1967, Pakistan Television Corporation became a private company. All shows were broadcast live because there were no recording machines yet. Recording machines became available in 1968.

Becoming a National Network

After the war in 1971, PTV became fully owned by the government. This happened under President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's government. The government invested a lot to expand PTV's network across the country.

PTV started showing programs about Pakistani literature, science fiction, music, and rural life. It helped bring people together and promoted national pride.

In 1973, a microwave network connected PTV centers. New centers opened in Quetta and Peshawar in 1974. In 1975, PTV switched from black and white to color broadcasts. PTV also showed live Cricket matches, like the one between England and Pakistan in 1977–78. PTV's interview shows made many famous people well-known.

Growth and Popularity

By the 1980s, PTV's broadcasts reached over 90% of Pakistan. It was the main TV provider and very popular. During this time, PTV also promoted conservative ideas and educational programs.

From the 1970s to the 1990s, PTV dramas were very famous. Some popular shows included Khuda Ki Basti, Tanhaiyaan, Fifty Fifty, and Alpha Bravo Charlie.

In the 1990s, PTV faced competition from private channels. So, in 1992, PTV launched its second channel, PTV-2. This was Pakistan's first satellite channel. It could be seen in Asia, Africa, and Australia. PTV-2 was later renamed PTV World in 1998. PTV also expanded its reach to Europe and North America.

Funding for PTV

The Government of Pakistan allowed PTV to raise money from other sources. This included a small monthly fee added to electricity bills.

What PTV Aims to Do

PTV's main goal is to inform and educate people. It also provides entertainment. It wants to help viewers learn about their history, culture, and current events.

PTV's programs teach important values for a united society. These include shows about Islam, education, entertainment, and culture. PTV also highlights new social ideas. It focuses on topics like morality, civic duties, and environmental issues. This is done through discussions and special shows.

How PTV Handles Information

PTV is the official state broadcaster. It shows live parliamentary sessions. Sometimes, it has been noted for editing speeches of opposition leaders. This means some parts of their speeches were not shown.

PTV Channels

PTV channels can be watched in many parts of the world. This includes South Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and North America. Since 2006, Pakistan Television Corporation has broadcast directly to viewers overseas.

PTV operates several channels:

PTV Home – This is the main 24-hour entertainment channel. It broadcasts across Pakistan and worldwide.
PTV News – A 24-hour news channel in Urdu. It replaced PTV World in 2007.
PTV Sports – A 24-hour sports channel. It started in 2012 and often shows cricket matches.
PTV World – A 24-hour English news and current affairs channel. It started as PTV-2 in 1992 and was re-launched in 2013.
PTV Global – Made for Pakistanis living in the United States and Europe.
PTV National – Shows programs in different languages from all over Pakistan.
AJK TV [PTV Azad Jammu & Kashmir] – For people living in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
PTV Bolan – For speakers of Balochi, Pashto, and Brahvi languages.
PTV Parliament – Shows live sessions of the Pakistani parliament. It launched in 2018.
PTV Teleschool – Launched in 2020 to help students learn during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In May 2021, PTV News and PTV World also started broadcasting on YouTube.

Pakistan Television News keeps viewers updated on national and international news. News bulletins are aired from early morning until midnight. They are available in Urdu, English, Arabic, and Kashmiri. Regional language bulletins are also broadcast from different centers. PTV also gets news from international agencies and covers important events live.

Current Affairs Programs

PTV has had current affairs programs since it started. A special department for current affairs was set up in 1982. These programs discuss local and national issues. They also cover special events like national parades and speeches by leaders. In the "Open Forum" program, government ministers answer questions from viewers.

Sports Programs

A Sports Division was created in 1983. Its goal is to provide fun sports entertainment. It covers exciting national and international sports events. PTV broadcasts live sports from around the world that interest Pakistani viewers.

PTV Films Division

In June 2022, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting launched the PTV Films Division. They also started PTV Flix, which will show old dramas, films, and other content from PTV's history. The aim is to create and show quality films.

International Relations

PTV's International Relations Division takes part in international TV festivals. PTV programs have won awards at these events. Many PTV programs have been sold to other countries. This helps PTV financially. PTV also provides programs to foreign countries for free to promote Pakistan.

This division also dubs and edits programs. Some programs are subtitled in English and Arabic. Documentaries from National Geographic Magazine are shown with Urdu dubbing. PTV also buys foreign programs like films, cartoons, and dramas to show to its viewers.

PTV Engineering Division

The Engineering Division keeps PTV centers running smoothly. It also handles new projects, planning, and research. Pakistan started TV broadcasts in 1964, even before countries like India (1965) and Iran (1966). This was a big achievement, helped by NEC from Japan.

Information Technology Division

The IT Department was set up in 1988. It has many IT professionals across all PTV centers. The IT team creates software for news systems, accounting, and other operations. This helps PTV run efficiently.

PTV Censor Board

The PTV Censor Board was formed in 1968. Its job is to make sure that recorded programs are suitable for TV. It checks both imported and local programs.

Training Academy

The Pakistan Television Academy was established in 1987. It trains people in TV broadcast technology. Over 3100 people have attended its courses. This includes participants from other countries.

List of PTV Channels

PTV Home HD Urdu Entertainment Channel.
PTV News HD Urdu News Channel.
PTV Sports HD Urdu Sports Channel.
PTV World SD English News & Entertainment Channel.
PTV Global UK,USA HD Urdu News & Entertainment Channel.
PTV National HD Regional Languages News & Entertainment Channel.
PTV Bolan SD Regional Languages News & Entertainment Channel.
AJK TV SD Kashmiri and Gilgiti Language Channel.
PTV Teleschool SD English & Urdu Language Education Channel.
PTV Parliament SD Urdu National Assembly Live Channel.

Future PTV Channels

PTV Cricket HD
PTV Films HD
PTV Entertainment HD
PTV Mehran HD
PTV Kids HD
PTV Music HD

PTV Logo

Ubaidur Rahman, the first general manager of PTV, asked artist Abdur Rahman Chughtai to design PTV's first logo. This logo was later updated by Shahzad Nawaz Khan. In 2016, PTV's channel logos were redesigned by Babur Saghir. He wanted the new logos to show unity, modernity, and PTV's strong connection with its audience. The different colors represent the diversity of Pakistan's people.

How PTV is Managed

The head of PTV, called the chairman or CEO, is chosen by the Prime Minister and approved by the President. This person leads a board that manages PTV's affairs. The managing director (MD) is in charge of PTV's daily operations. The MD is also approved by the government and the chairman.

The First Team at PTV-Lahore (1964)

Here are some key people who helped start PTV in Lahore:

Ubaidur Rahman – Founder and first general manager.
Aslam Azhar – First managing director of PTV Lahore.
Nisar Hussain – First program producer.
Mumtaz Hamid Rao – First news reporter.
Qavi Khan – A famous actor.
Tariq Aziz – First on-air news broadcaster.
Kanwal Hameed – First female news broadcaster.
Syed Mohsin Ali – A legendary drama producer.

Famous PTV Personalities

Many talented people have worked at PTV over the years. They include actors, singers, hosts, and writers. Some well-known names are:

Kanwal Naseer – First female face of Pakistan Television.
Sabri Brothers – Famous Qawwali singers.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan – Renowned Qawwali and Ghazal singer.
Zia Mohyeddin – A famous anchorperson.
Tariq Aziz – Host of a very long-running quiz show.
Bushra Ansari – A popular actress.
Moin Akhter – A well-loved comedian.
Shoaib Mansoor – A famous TV producer and director.
Haseena Moin – A well-known drama writer.
Mustansar Hussain Tarar – A popular PTV anchorperson.