| Afghan TV | |
|---|---|
| Launched | 21 May 2004 |
| Owned by | Mr. Afghanzai |
| Picture format | SDTV |
| Audience share | 2% (as of July 2010[update], ) |
| Country | Afghanistan |
| Sister channel(s) | Afghan News |
| Website | www.afghantv.af |
Afghan TV is a commercial television station, based in Kabul, Afghanistan since late 21 May 2004. The station is owned by Mr. Afghanzai, an Afghan entrepreneur. It originally broadcasted for 18-hours daily, but has been 24-hours since July 2004.
Contents |
Afghan TV has lots of entertainment programs, including sport, social and educational. It also has Indian, American, Korean and Arabic drama. It also broadcasts news, though this is being broadcasted 24-hours a day on its sister channel, Afghan News.
In early 2006, the station was fined 50,000 AFN (Afghani) (approximately US$1,000) by the Afghan Supreme Court, after it had broadcast what the court called inappropriate images, including adult content.
The case was televised by Afghan TV and was covered extensively by other media outlets, however, the powerful clergy in the country succeeded in not only instating the fine on Afghan TV, but also severely restricting the ability of other television networks to broadcast entertainment.
On 15 June 2011, Afghan TV was launched in on the Hotbird 13°E satellite, meaning that the whole of Europe now can receive Afghan TV. Viewers in the Middle East can now receive Afghan TV on two satellites: Hotbird 13°E and Turksat 3A 42°E.
On 27 June 2011, the name 'Afghan TV' (on Hotbird) was suddenly renamed to 'Afghannews.tv'. It is unknown why this happened, even though the channel itself is Afghan TV and not Afghan News. Websites like KingOfSat state the channel as Afghan News TV and moved Afghan TV in the so-called channel cemetery.
On 1 July 2011, the channel started broadcasting in higher quality video on Hotbird, just like in Afghanistan.