Pakistan Television Corporation facts for kids
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| Type | |
|---|---|
| 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 | Ambreen Jan (Managing Director) |
| Launch date | 26 November 1964 |
| Picture format | 1080p HDTV (downscaled to 16:9 576i for SDTV sets) |
| Language | Urdu, English |
Pakistan Television Corporation, often called PTV, is a big public TV network in Pakistan. It is based in Islamabad. PTV is run by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Pakistani government. It started broadcasting on November 26, 1964, with its first station in Lahore.
Contents
History of PTV
How PTV Started
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 a Japanese company, NEC, and a British company, Thomas Television International.
In 1963, the government decided to set up TV stations across the country. PTV's main office is in Islamabad. Before that, a TV center was built in Lahore, and tests were done there. Soon, more TV divisions were set up in different parts of Pakistan.
First Broadcast and Early Days
PTV's first news broadcast happened on November 26, 1964. It was a black and white transmission. The first programs included amateur shows and foreign films. The TV division in Punjab got help from UNESCO and Japan. Aslam Azhar was the first managing director of PTV. He is known as the "father of Pakistan Television."
At first, private companies could show commercials for free. PTV was partly owned by private companies. However, the government later bought more than half of the shares.
The first TV station was built in Lahore. On November 26, 1964, President Ayub Khan officially opened it. Soon after, other centers opened in Dhaka (now in Bangladesh) in December 1964, Rawalpindi and Islamabad in 1965, and Karachi in 1966. In 1967, Pakistan Television Corporation became a private company. In the early days, all shows were live because there were no recording machines. These machines became available in 1968.
PTV Becomes Government-Owned
After the 1971 war, the government took full control of PTV. This happened under President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The government helped PTV expand its network across the country.
PTV started showing programs that promoted Pakistani literature, science fiction, music, and dramas about rural life. It became a way to bring the country together.
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 TV. PTV also broadcast live cricket matches, like England vs. Pakistan in 1977-78. Many famous people, like scientists and artists, became well-known through PTV interviews.
PTV's Growth and Programs
By the 1980s, PTV's broadcasts reached over 90% of Pakistan. PTV was the only TV channel then. It showed many educational programs.
In the 1990s, PTV's shows started to focus more on entertainment. In 1992, about 56% of PTV's programs were entertainment, and 25% were news and educational shows. Most programs (54%) were in Urdu, and 16% were in English.
How PTV Gets Money
PTV is allowed to raise money from the public. This includes a monthly TV fee of Rs. 35 (Pakistani Rupees) charged to all electricity users. This money helps fund the TV stations.
Challenges for PTV
PTV is the official state broadcaster. It shows live sessions of the Pakistani parliament. However, PTV has sometimes been criticized for not showing all speeches, especially those from opposition leaders who criticize the ruling party. For example, in March 2024, some politicians' speeches were not fully shown when they talked about the military's role in politics.
PTV Channels
PTV runs several TV channels:
- PTV Home – This is a 24-hour HD entertainment channel. It's the original PTV channel. It broadcasts across Pakistan and worldwide.
- PTV News – This is a 24-hour Urdu HD news channel. It replaced PTV World in 2007.
- PTV Sports – This is a 24-hour HD sports channel. It started in January 2012 and mainly shows cricket.
- PTV World – This is a 24-hour SD English news and current affairs channel. It started as PTV-2 in 1992 and was relaunched in January 2013.
- PTV Global – This channel is for Pakistanis living in the United States and Europe.
- PTV National – This channel shows programs in different languages to represent all parts of Pakistan.
- AJK TV [PTV Azad Jammu & Kashmir] – This channel is for people living in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
- PTV Bolan – This channel is for speakers of Balochi, Pashto, and Brahvi languages.
- PTV Parliament – This channel started on May 30, 2018. It shows live sessions of the Pakistani parliament.
- PTV Teleschool – This channel launched on April 14, 2020. It helps students learn from home, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- PTV Digital Youtube - This is PTV's official YouTube channel.
- PTV Digital Box - This is PTV's official digital terrestrial broadcast service.
- PTV Filx - This is PTV's official online streaming platform.
- PTV Film - This division handles film distribution and production.
- PTV Armed Forces - This channel is for the armed forces.
PTV Films Division
On June 9, 2022, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Marriyum Aurangzeb, launched the PTV Films Division. They also launched PTV Flix, an online platform. It features 75 years of PTV's old dramas, films, and other content. The goal is to bring films to PTV and create new, good quality content.
PTV Training Academy
The Pakistan Television Academy was set up in 1987. It is a top institution in Pakistan that trains people in TV broadcasting. It has a director and experienced TV professionals who teach there.
People Connected with PTV
- Kanwal Naseer – First female face of Pakistan Television.
- Sabri Brothers – Famous Qawwali Singers and PTV Performers
- Laeeq Ahmed – First TV Compere, Commentator, and Anchor Person.
- Aziz Mian – Famous Qawwali Singer and PTV Performer
- Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan – Famous Qawwali and Ghazal Singer & a PTV Performer
- Zulfiqar Ali Bukhari – Known as the father of broadcasting in Pakistan.
- Agha Nasir – PTV Producer/Director.
- Ashfaq Ahmed – Author of PTV drama serials.
- Zia Mohyeddin – Anchorperson on PTV Shows in the 1970s.
- Tariq Aziz - Host of a long-running quiz show.
- Muneeza Hashmi – Producer of PTV Programs in the 1970s.
- Fazila Qazi
- Firdous Jamal – TV actor
- Qavi Khan – TV actor
- Kashif Mehmood – TV actor
- Irfan Khoosat – TV actor
- Ayesha Sana – TV actress
- Nauman Ejaz – TV actor
- Anwar Maqsood - Host
- Bushra Ansari - Actress
- Sohail Rana - Musician.
- Moin Akhter – TV comedian
- Sohail Ahmed – TV comedian
- Tariq Aziz – TV host
- Shoaib Mansoor – TV producer-director
- Ayub Khawar – TV director
- Mahmood Ali - Actor
- Behroze Sabzwari -Actor
- Roohi Bano - Actress
- Khalida Riyasat -Actress
- Amjad Islam Amjad – Author of PTV dramas.
- Ghayyur Akhtar – TV actor
- Haseena Moin - Author of PTV dramas.
- Munnu Bhai – Author of PTV dramas.
- Rashid Mehmood – TV actor
- Obaidullah Baig – TV host
- Siddiq Ismail – Naat Khawan
- Dildar Pervaiz Bhatti – TV host
- Mumtaz Hamid Rao – Director of news.
- Fatima Surayya Bajia – TV drama writer.
- Javed Jabbar – TV film director.
- Mehreen Jabbar – TV film director.
- Mohammed Ehteshamuddin
- Tufail Niazi – Famous folk singer and PTV performer.
- Anwar Sajjad – Author of PTV dramas.
- Kazim Pasha
- Rauf Khalid
- Zafar Mairaj
- Tauseeq Haider
- Mustansar Hussain Tarar – PTV anchorperson.
- Alam Lohar – Famous folk singer and PTV performer.
- Mahpara Safdar - Newscaster.
- Suraiya Shahab, Newscaster.
- Azhar Lodhi, Newscaster.
- Khalid Hameed, Newscaster.
- Abdus Salam, Newscaster.
See also
- List of television stations in Pakistan
- List of television programmes broadcast by the PTV
