ARY Digital

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ARY Digital

Type	cable television network
Branding	ARY Digital
Country	Pakistan
Availability	Pakistan, Worldwide
Founder	Abdul Razzak Yaqoob (ARY)
Owner	ARY Group
Launch date	2004
Website	www.arydigital.tv

ARY Digital is a popular Pakistani television network that is available in Pakistan, the Middle East and Europe. Most programmes cater to the needs of South Asians, especially the Pakistani community. The channel also brings Urdu programmes and songs by Pakistani singers from the South Asian subcontinent. It is considered a pioneer in Pakistani media and broadcasting. It has a network of channels, each with an independent focus, they are the following:

ARY One World - 24hr News Channel
ARY Digital - 24hr Infotainment with exclusive Sports segments.
The Musik - 24hr Music Channel
Qtv - Religious Programming
The City Channel (Currently Off-air)

Affiliated Channels

Fashion TV Pakistan - Pakistani Telecast of Fashion TV
Nick Pakistan - Pakistani Telecast of Nickelodeon
HBO Pakistan - Pakistani Telecast of HBO^{[citation needed]} (HBO Asia website indicates Ary to be the distributor for the Pakistan Territory)
AlJazeera URDU [Currently in planning]
National Geographic Channel [Currently in planning]

Its broadcast facilities are based at Dubai Media City in the United Arab Emirates and its uplink teleport station is Samacom the monopoly uplink provider in the United Arab Emirates.

[edit] History

The network was formerly known as The Pakistani Channel, which was owned by a business man, who started it as a medium of social responsibility while bridging the gap between Asians abroad and in Pakistan. Its name was changed when it was purchased by the ARY Group. ARY Digital specialises in popular live English and Urdu programming, such as VIDEO MIX shown on Sundays and presented by Yassir and Zaina.

The network had the rights to show Live 8 on its music channel, The Musik. It holds the rights to "Who wants to be a Millionaire?" franchise for Pakistan. The show was on-aired in 2002 but failed to catch the eye of viewers.