Media UK

ARY Digital - news archive

This is an archive of news about ARY Digital. Some links may no longer work, due to the transient nature of the internet.

Antenna Hungaria wins Hungary digital licence
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 25 2008, 12.32pm
Hungary has awarded a 12-year digital broadcasting licence to broadcasting firm Antenna Hungaria after a Parliamentary committee approved the telecom watchdog’s recommendation, state news agency MTI said today. Antenna, a unit of France’s TDF SA, won the tender for both digital television and radio broadcasts. Antenna will have to launch digital television broadcasts by the end [...] (more)

DTH Spize TV rebranded to Roots Global
From Biz Asia. Posted June 29 2008, 1.40pm
The recently launched Pan-European DTH platform Spize TV has been rebranded to Roots Global. The service is available on the Eutelsat Eurobird 9 satellite at 9 degrees East. Channels such as ZEE TV, 9X, ARY Digital, Ten Sports and B4U Movies are a few of the broadcasters available on Roots Global. Spize TV of Singapore, which is owned by Pyramid Saimira of Chenai, India, will have a selection of free-to-air and "a-la-carte" channels. To access Roots Global, the provider will install a dual-LNB on subscriber's satellite dishes to enable reception from EB-9 and also the Hotbird satellites of Europe. Last year, World TV, a subsidiary of content management and delivery company, GlobeCast, launched a similar service in Europe offering ten popular channels at a competitive price. Related links: TV channels join World TV package in Europe DM Digital to beam channels from Pakistan (more)

Balaji soap 'Khwaish' faces chop on Sony TV
From Biz Asia. Posted April 3 2008, 10.07pm
Sony Entertainment Televison Asia is in revamp mode. After announcing the demise of 'Amber Dhara' yesterday, the channel is waving adieu to yet another show - 'Khwaish'. Though the rumours of the show being pulled off were doing the rounds for a couple of months it has only now been confirmed. Sources tell us that it is due to the low TRPs that the production house is forced to pull the show off. Ipshita, Creative head of the show says, "The show is going off-air from May. There will be a logical end to the show. It has nothing to do with the TRPs as we always knew that the show will not exceed beyond a year." Ipshita remained tightlipped about the possible end of the show. She said, "One will have to watch the show to find out what is in store." 'Khwaish' was Balaji Telefilms first step in Pakistan, it was being screened on ARY Digital. Related links: Axe falls on another Sony TV soap - 'Amber Dhara' New Balaji soap comes early on Sony TV (more)

Ofcom awards Sony TV licence for SAB
From Biz Asia. Posted November 7 2007, 9.32pm
Rumours of Sony Entertainment Television Asia launching its sibling entertainment channel SAB can finally be put to rest. Today, media regulator Ofcom confirmed that a licence for SAB had been awarded meaning the channel can now launch in the UK market. Sony Entertainment Television Asia's runs the MAX Mix bouquet of channels currently consisting of movie channels MAX and Sahara Filmy, entertainment channel Sahara One, Pakistani infotainment channel ARY Digital and India's leading news channel Aaj Tak. To consolidate its package and add further variety, the network will no doubt add SAB as an alternative entertainment offering to Sahara One and ARY Digital, instead slanting it towards a comedy/youthful genre channel. With Sky clamping down on the number of channels it launches on its platform, many Asian TV channels are getting in the launch queue quicker than before. A few weeks ago, it was revealed on BizAsia.co.uk that ZEE Network is getting ready to launch up to five new channels to form a bouquet of its own. Other India and Pakistani broadcasters have also been finalising their paperwork to speed-up their Sky Digital launches. Related links: Ofcom approves four new licences for ZEE UK Sky to reject launch of new channels New TV music channel to launch next year SET MAX to launch Sahara channels in UK Sahara One's new marketing strategy: Cricket (more)

ARY cameraman dead in Bhutto rally blast
From Biz Asia. Posted October 18 2007, 11.32pm
Pakistani broadcaster ARY Digital is mourning the death of one of its cameramen who was one of hundreds killed in the Benazir Bhutto rally blasts in Karachi, Pakistan. A suspected suicide bomber is said to have been among a crowd in Karachi watching former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's return from exile. The director of DM Digital Dr Rehman Malik and one its presenters Mazher Bukhari have also been reported to be injured in the bomb blasts. At the time of filing this article, 115 people had been confirmed dead in the explosions by Pakistani police. News broadcasters BBC News, Sky News CNN, NDTV 24x7, Al Jazeera English, Aaj Tak and ARY Digital all switched to rolling coverage for breaking news from the scene of the catastrophe at around 20:30 earlier this evening. Updated: 19/10/07 (more)

Sahara One's new marketing strategy: Cricket
From Biz Asia. Posted September 25 2007, 9.07pm
In an effort to bolster its presence in the competitive UK Asian TV market, Sahara One has teamed up with ARY Digital by announcing the acquisition of Indian cricket. (more)

STAR Plus & ARY get telling off by Ofcom
From Biz Asia. Posted September 11 2007, 12.04am
Media regulator Ofcom today published its latest Broadcasting Bulletin outlining two viewer complaints over a programme shown on STAR Plus and the other on the now deceased ARY One World. Kaun Banega Crorepati STAR Plus, 22 January 2007 (plus other dates) 21:00 A viewer in the UK expressed concerns that 'Kaun Banega Crorepati' appeared to contain product placement by the computer firm, Compaq. The viewer said that the gameshow host repeatedly referred to Compaq. Rule 10.4 of the Ofcom Code provides that no undue prominence may be given in any programme to a product or service. Rule 10.5 prohibits product placement. However, the Code states that product placement does not include: "Television arrangements covering the inclusion of products or services in a programme acquired from outside the UK and films made for cinema provided that no broadcaster regulated by Ofcom and involved in the broadcast of that programme or film directly benefits from the arrangement". STAR Plus response STAR Group responded on behalf of the Ofcom licensee, STAR Television Entertainment Ltd. It advised that the programme was acquired from outside the UK and that STAR Television Entertainment Ltd did not directly benefit from any placement arrangement. It acknowledged that Compaq’s red logo was at times visible on the back of the computers although it said that there were no direct close ups on the logo. It also said that during the show the host addressed the computers on a few occasions with expressions such as "Is that correct, Mr Computer?", "Compaq da", or "Compaq guru", an Indian local dialect expression. STAR Group considered that the computers were a necessary part of the show and served as a technical tool which allowed both the host and the contestants to view the questions being asked, provide possible answers and then display the correct answer. It added that Compaq had no input into editorial decisions regarding the broadcast of the show in the UK. The series in question ended in April 2007; however, STAR Group said that, going forward, it would endeavour to comply with Rule 10.4. Ofcom decision: Breach of Rule 10.4 Bearing in mind the definition of product placement under the Code, Ofcom did not consider that there was a breach of Rule 10.5. However, programmes acquired from outside the UK are nevertheless subject to Rule 10.4, which prohibits unduly prominent references to products and services. Ofcom noted that the game show host used a range of expressions in addressing the computers used in the programme. Some of these expressions included the brand name, Compaq. However, this was part of the host’s light-hearted patter, which was integral to the show. Ofcom considered that it would have been difficult to have edited the host’s verbal references from the UK broadcast and that, on balance, these references in themselves were not unduly prominent. However, if they were to become more frequent or otherwise prominent within the programme, then this could raise problems under Rule 10.4. In addition to the host’s verbal references, the computers themselves featured branding for Compaq in clearly legible red lettering when shown in close up with the presenter and contestant. The branding appeared to have been deliberately positioned on the computers to ensure its visibility on-screen. Ofcom considered that there was insufficient editorial justification for inclusion of the branding and that it could have been edited out from the UK broadcast (for example, using blurring techniques) without compromising the editorial content. Whilst Ofcom welcomed the assurances from STAR Group regarding compliance going forward, it concluded that the visual references to Compaq in the series in question were unduly prominent. Sponsorship of ARY One World News ARY One World, various dates and times Ofcom was contacted by a viewer who said that news on ARY One World appeared to be sponsored. Ofcom rule 9.1 of the Code prohibits the sponsorship of news and current affairs on television. Ofcom obtained a recording of sample output transmitted in February 2007. Ofcom noted that there was a sponsorship credit for the news which announced in English, "This news detail was brought to you by Mobile Zone and Sony Ericsson”. Subsequently, there was another sponsorship credit for the news; the voiceover said, "This news headline is brought to you by Super Asia Microwave Oven". Ofcom requested the broadcaster’s comments. ARY One World response ARY One World said that, at the time that Ofcom reviewed the output, ARY One World was "a live and single beam channel" involving a "turn-around" of its South Asian signal. In other words, what was broadcast in the UK was precisely the same output as that being broadcast at the same time to audiences in South Asia and elsewhere. The broadcaster said that, in other parts of the world where the output was transmitted, there were no regulations prohibiting the sponsorship of news. The broadcaster went on to say that it was "technically extremely complicated to remove branding and sponsorship messages before turn-around without delay", and that to do this required a "sophisticated infrastructure". It initially claimed that it had made arrangements for a "clean beam" in order to fully comply with Ofcom’s regulations, and envisaged that the new infrastructure would shortly be in place. However, the broadcaster subsequently advised Ofcom that these arrangements had turned out to be not "technically feasible" and that the channel had therefore ceased to operate with effect from 23rd July 2007. Ofcom decision: Breach of Rule 9.1 European legislation prohibits television news and current affairs programmes from being sponsored. The Code, which broadcasters licensed in the UK are required to comply with, therefore prohibits sponsorship of news and current affairs on television. News broadcast on ARY One World included clear sponsorship messages and was therefore in breach of Rule 9.1. Related links: ARY One World ceases broadcasting in the UK Biz Exec: ARY Digital's Fayaz Ghafoor (more)

Biz Exec: Haroon Khan - Prime TV
From Biz Asia. Posted August 19 2007, 1.11pm
Biz Exec: Edition 8 This feature on BizAsia.co.uk brings you a special series of interviews with UK media executives and personnel. Our Biz Exec this week is: Name: Haroon Khan Organisation: Prime TV Title: Chief Executive Officer To read the full interview click here. Previous Biz Exec with: •Bob Shennan from BBC Asian Network •Surjit Ghuman from Panjab Radio •Gurjeet Bains from Eastern Media Group •Jasbir Singh Derewal from Channel Punjab •Fayaz Ghafoor from ARY Digital UK •Nick Thind from STAR Network UK •Rajan Singh from Sony Entertainment Television Asia UK Don't miss out on yet another special rendezvous with a top media executive in the UK Asian media field soon on BizAsia.co.uk, the UK's only Asian media news website. Watch out for interviews with executives from ZEE Network, Doordarshan UK, B4U Network, Sunrise Radio, and Geo UK over the coming days! If you have anu questions for our Biz Execs...please contact us by clicking here. (more)

Geo UK snaps up Twenty/20 cricket World Cup
From Biz Asia. Posted August 8 2007, 8.41pm
Sources close to BizAsia.co.uk have revealed that Pakistani broadcaster Geo UK will be telecasting the upcoming ICC Twenty/20 Cricket World Cup starting Tuesday 11th September until Monday 24th September. The Twenty/20 cricket World Cup is a huge coup for the channel who has been competing with the likes of ARY Digital and ZEE Network for Asian cricket rights in the UK. Furthermore, the channel will broadcast the cricket unencrypted. Geo UK will telecast the matches in UK and Europe in the Urdu dialect with Sky Sports holding the rights for commentary in English. (more)

Aaj Tak & ARY Digital join MAX Mix
From Biz Asia. Posted August 8 2007, 3.26pm
The MAX Mix television package available on Sky Digital has expanded today with the addition of two more channels to its bouquet. (more)

Asian TV channels in Sky EPG reshuffle
From Biz Asia. Posted August 6 2007, 9.00am
Selected Asian TV channels on Sky Digital have been given new EPG numbers. As revealed first by BizAsia.co.uk, the changes are taking place to make room for additional new services in the already packed out 'International' genre of Sky Digital's EPG. Some broadcasters have opted to remain in their existing EPG slot and some have moved down the EPG to fill up vacant slots in the category. The new EPG list is as below: 780 B4U Movies 781 B4U Music 782 Sony TV Asia 783 STAR One 784 STAR Plus 785 PCNE Chinese 786 Bangla TV 787 mta-muslim tv 788 ZEE TV 789 ZEE Music 790 ZEE Cinema 791 ARY Digital 792 PTV Prime 793 MATV National 794 DW-TV 795 TVEi 796 Abu Dhabi TV 797 SouthForYou 798 Alpha ETC Punjabi 799 TV5 800 MAX 801 Record TV 802 DM Digital 803 804 ARY QTV 805 DM Gold 806 ARY The Musik 807 Venus TV 808 Aastha TV 809 810 STAR News 811 STAR Gold 812 PTV Global 813 Islam Channel 814 Channel 'S' 815 GEO UK 816 ZEE Gujarati 817 Aapna Channel 818 Mana Telugu 819 Filmy 820 Sahara One 821 Aaj Tak 822 823 824 AAG 825 826 Channel S NTV 827 Channel S ATN 828 Channel Punjab 829 830 831 832 DD-News 833 DD-India 834 835 836 837 838 839 Related links: New EPG numbers for Asian channels on Sky Asian channels set for EPG reshuffle on Sky (more)

Pakistani news channel leaves UK?s Sky network
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 27 2007, 2.35pm
Dubai-based Pakistani TV news channel ARY One World is no longer available to viewers in the UK and Europe via the Eurobird 1 satellite and the Sky satellite TV service. The station had occupied channel 819 on the Sky electronic programme guide (EPG). A caption broadcast via parent station ARY Digital (Sky channel 792) at 1956 [...] (more)

DM Digital cameraman shot dead in Pakistan
From Biz Asia. Posted July 5 2007, 3.01pm
The Manchester based television channel DM Digital is mourning the death of one of its cameramen who was killed while covering clashes between the security forces and students of religious seminaries in Islamabad on Tuesday. Javed Ahmed, a cameraman for DM Digital was killed when hit by bullet at chest, his colleagues said. He was taken to hospital but died of injuries. A second cameraman was also injured. In a statement, DM Digital said; "We regret to inform you that our cameraman Javed Khan was murdered on Tuesday during the clashes between Rangers and the Lal Masjid students, his namaz-e-janaza was held yesterday. Our second cameraman Iftakhar Ali was severely injured and is critically ill in hospital with gunshot wounds, he was covering footage of the burning building of the Ministry of Environment." "This is a sad day for DM Digital and Pakistan, that the murders have still not been brought to justice, anywhere in a civilised country they would have been brought to justice in the interest of health and safety. It is time the commandos are called in to carry out their needful duty." "We strongly protest to the Pakistani government to take strong action before further lives are lost, as these are not only criminal but terrorist attacks." Few other photographers and journalists were also injured including the Bureau Chief of Geo television Absar Alam and an ARY Digital cameraman both of which were struck with a stone hitting their heads. Reporters, cameramen and photographers alleged that the cameramen were killed and injured as the result of firing from the security forces. Updated: 14:25 (more)

Biz Exec: Fayaz Ghafoor - ARY Digital UK
From Biz Asia. Posted June 24 2007, 4.56pm
Biz Exec: Edition 3 This feature on BizAsia.co.uk brings you a special series of interviews with UK media executives and personnel. Our Biz Exec this week is: Name: Fayaz Ghafoor Organisation: ARY Digital Title: Vice President for Europe To read the full interview click here. Previous Biz Exec with: Nick Thind from STAR Network UK Rajan Singh from Sony Entertainment Television Asia UK Don't miss out on yet another special rendezvous with a top media executive in the UK Asian media field next week on BizAsia.co.uk, the UK's only Asian media news website. Watch out for interviews with executives from ZEE Network, Channel Punjab, Prime TV and Geo UK over the coming days! (more)

Biz Exec: Nick Thind - STAR Network UK
From Biz Asia. Posted June 17 2007, 5.04pm
Biz Exec: Edition 2 This new feature on BizAsia.co.uk brings you a special series of interviews with UK media executives and personnel. Our Biz Exec this week is: Name: Nick Thind Organisation:STAR Network Title:Vice President for Europe To read the full interview click here. Previous Biz Exec with: Rajan Singh from Sony Entertainment Television Asia UK Don't miss out on yet another special rendezvous with a top media executive in the UK Asian media field next week on BizAsia.co.uk, the UK's only Asian media news website. Watch out for interviews with executives from ZEE Network, ARY Digital and Channel Punjab over the coming days! (more)

Biz Exec: Rajan Singh - SET Asia UK
From Biz Asia. Posted June 10 2007, 8.14pm
Biz Exec: Edition 1 This new feature on BizAsia.co.uk brings you a special series of interviews with UK media executives and personnel. Our first Biz Exec is: Name: Rajan Singh Organisation:Sony Entertainment Television Asia UK Title:Executive Vice-President for International Business To read the full interview click here. Don't miss out on another special rendezvous with a top media executive in the UK Asian media field next week on BizAsia.co.uk, the UK's only Asian media news website. Watch out for interviews with executives from STAR, ZEE Network and ARY Digital over the coming days! (more)

Media goes ga ga over movie 'Awarapan'
From Biz Asia. Posted June 3 2007, 7.58pm
On the 29th of June, three blockbuster movies (Apne, Aap Ka Suroor and Awarapan) will clash at the box office, however one, which is fast becoming a firm favourite amongst the media in the UK and abroad is Mahesh Bhatt's 'Awarapan' starring Emran Hashmi and Shreya Saran. The music scored by Pritam for the film has already topped many charts around the world after only two weeks on release. Key media have been invited for Sa Re Ga Ma's press conference of 'Awarapan', being held in Central London on Tuesday (5th June) evening. B4U will exclusively capture the performances by Pakistani singers, Annie and Rafaqat Ali Khan, who are likely to render their hit numbers from the film's soundtrack for the media. Emraan Hashmi and Mukesh Bhatt will do a Q&A session with the media. ARY Digital is the TV partner of the film in the U.A.E, AVS TV in the US and B4U in the UK. The making of 'Awarapan' is likely to be telecast exclusively in the UK on ZEE TV and ZEE Cinema in the week preceding the film's release on 29th June. Both ZEE Music and B4U Music in the UK will also screen the making of the film's music in the coming days. Studio 18 is releasing 'Awarapan' internationally. (more)

ARY Digital wins Pakistan v Sri Lanka ODI's
From Biz Asia. Posted May 19 2007, 1.14am
ARY Digital (UK and Europe beam) has bagged the exclusive telecast rights for the three One Day Internationals being played between Pakistan and Sri Lanka this week. The channel will broadcast the matches on the following days: Friday 18th May 2007 at 13:00: 1st ODI Pakistan v Sri Lanka (Live from Abu Dhabi) Sunday 20th May 2007 at 1300: 2nd ODI Pakistan v Sri Lanka (Live from Abu Dhabi) Tuesday 22nd May 2007 at 1300: 3rd ODI Pakistan v Sri Lanka (Live from Abu Dhabi) All three matches will also be shown on ARY Digital in the Middle East and North America. PTV will broadcast the matches in Pakistan and Maharaja TV in Sri Lanka. (more)

ARY Digital to re-bundle channels from April
From Biz Asia. Posted March 20 2007, 8.30pm
ARY Digital is restructuring its channel package to attract new subscribers. Come April, the popular Pakistani broadcaster will encrypt its channels One World and QTV. The two latter channels will then only be available free to viewers who subscribe to the flagship service ARY Digital. Since One World and QTV launched in January 2006, both have been free-to-air on Sky Digital. The latest move is seen to offer existing subscribers better value for money. Also with the two channels being free for a year, the broadcaster hopes the "sampling period" will be enough to generate new subscribers. The network's fourth channel The Muzik will continue broadcasting free-to-air. The change takes place week commencing Monday 16th April. Currently, ARY Digital is the only premium Pakistani service. Last year, rival Prime TV announced it was going free-to-air on Sky Digital. Geo UK remains to broadcast free too. New rivals PTV Global and Indus TV are sure to rustle a few more feathers when they launch later in the year. Related links: PTV Global readies March launch Prime TV revamps and goes free-to-air ARY channels launch on Sky Digital (more)

ARY Digital pays tribute to loss of Sr. Sales Exec.
From Biz Asia. Posted January 24 2007, 9.54am
ARY Digital UK is paying tribute to the loss of its Senior Sales Executive Shanta Saluja, who passed away at the age of 64 on Monday evening (22nd January). The channel released the following statement, "Sad to inform you that our very dear colleague Ms. Shanta Saluja (Snr. Sales Executive) at ARY Digital UK Ltd passed away on Monday night at 11:00pm at Queens Charlotte and Chelsea hospital Hamersmith. She was 64 years old. Her years of dedication and commitment towards work will be remembered not only by her colleagues but even amongst her large clientele. She was a real aspiration to the sales department and her absence will be missed deeply." Prior to joining ARY Digital, Shanta worked at Radio Asia. (more)

Aljazeera and ARY Digital Network to launch Aljazeera Urdu
From Media Network Weblog. Posted January 29 2006, 5.23pm
The Aljazeera TV network has announced the launch a new channel, Aljazeera Urdu, targeting over 110 million Urdu speakers globally. "Initially we are targeting the Urdu-speaking population in Pakistan, then the dubbed service will spread to the Indian subcontinent as well as Urdu speakers in the United States and Europe", said Hamad Yehya Al Nuaimi, Aljazeera's Marketing Director. The Urdu (more)