Southern Networks
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| Type | MMDS |
|---|---|
| Country | Pakistan |
| Availability | Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi |
| Launch date | January 2004 |
| Former names | Shaheen Pay TV (SPTV) (1995-2004) |
| Website www.suntv.org |
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Southern Networks Ltd, "Sun TV" (formerly Shaheen Pay TV) is a television broadcaster in Pakistan.
Southern Networks was incorporated in 1995 as a joint venture between the Shaheen Foundation and private shareholders with a view to provide subscribers with multiple channels of broadcast television programmes in addition to premium pay-per-view channels. Under new management, the company installed a state-of-the-art digital broadcast system under the name of Sun TV. Sun TV airs 50 channels providing a wide range of diversified content aimed at a broad range of viewers.
A license to establish and operate an MMDS (Multi-channel, Multi-point Distribution System) network was obtained from the Government of Pakistan and the company set up three stations broadcasting 10 to 12 analogue channels from Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. It was estimated that over half a million households installed antennas to receive free-to-air analog signals during this time. Southern Networks Ltd launched its digital system in the metropolitan areas of Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi in January 2004 and are also planning to launch in several key cities in the Central Punjab. Together these territories are inhabited by over 40 million people (approximately 5 million households) giving Sun TV the largest terrestrial reach in the nation to date. Sun TV employed the latest technologies including a conditional access system, digital encryption security, real-time subscriber management system and automated menuing.
