Television in Sri Lanka

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Television in Sri Lanka dates back to 1979. Television broadcasting, like other forms of media in the country, is generally divided along linguistic lines with state and private media operators providing services in Sinhala, Tamil, and English languages.

Contents

History

Preliminary work was underway in the first half of the 1970s. [1]

Businessmen Anil Wijewardena and Shan Wickremasinghe established the country's first TV station Independent Television Network which started broadcasting on 15 April 1979. [2] The new station remained independent for less than two months as the government took control of it on 5 June 1979 following a dispute with President J. R. Jayewardene. [2] Sri Lanka's second state-owned TV station - Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) - was established by the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation Act No. 6 of 1982. [3] SLRC started broadcasting on 15 February 1982. [2] The Act required the SLRC to maintain taste and decency and not to incite crime and disorder or cause religious or public offence.

The government maintained a monopoly on television broadcasting until 1992 when private TV stations were allowed to broadcast but they were to be regulated by the SLRC. [2] Maharaja Television (MTV), a joint venture between Capital Maharaja and Singapore Telecommunications Limited, was one of the first private TV stations. Since then many new TV stations have started in Sri Lanka. There are also a number of satellite networks and pay per view television networks in Sri Lanka. The national telecommunications provider Sri Lanka Telecom also launched an IPTV service in 2008.

Since then, during the last two decades, multiple broadcasting networks have entered the public frequencies. A privately owned company, Swarnawahini came into action in 1997 and still functions under the same brand name. In 2005 another major television channel came into action under the name Derana which now has multiple broadcasting platforms including radio, printed media, and a fully dedicated news channel called adaderana24X7.

Since 2020, when the Pandemic started taking over the country's Education system, Television has been more and more in use for distance education.

A table has been created for the children to find channels where they can study freely in Sri Lanka if they cannot go to schools

Television providers

Current

The following is a list of current television providers based in Sri Lanka.

ProviderOwnershipOwnerTransmissionEstablished
Ask Cable Vision [a] PrivateAsk Media & Cable Vision2010
City Cable [b] PrivateCity Cable Links
Dialog TV [c] Private Dialog Axiata July 2005
Star TV Lanka Satnet Private Star TV Lanka Digital satellite 1945
Lanka Broadband Networks [d] PrivateLanka Broadband Networks Analog cable, digital cable 2000
PEO TV State-owned [e] SLTMobitel IPTV September 2008
Satcom [f] PrivateFuture Sat Com HoldingsSatellite
TV LankaPrivateDigital terrestrial2012

Former

The following is a list of former television providers which were based in Sri Lanka.

ProviderOwnershipOwnerTransmissionEstablishedClosed
Multivision [g] PrivateRuhunu 2001 MultivisionAnalog microwave19992008
Franknet [h] PrivateT.GuhanCable TV19951998

Television stations

Current

The following is a list of current television stations based in Sri Lanka.

StationOwnershipOwnerLanguageEstablishedTerrestrialSatelliteCableIPTV
Streaming
Analogue
[i] 		Digital Dialog
TV
[4] [5] 		Dish
TV
[6] 		FreesatASK Cable Vision (Pvt) LtdLBN
[7] 		PEO
TV
[8]
Haritha TV Non-profitHaritha NetworkSinhala31 March 2021Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg14Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg9Check-green.svg
A Plus Kids TV PrivateRu Sala Media Networks Pvt LtdSinhala3 July 2017Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg48Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Ada Derana 24 [j] PrivateDerana Macro Entertainment under Dilith Jayaweera Sinhala/English20 July 2014Check-green.svgDark Red x.svg142508Dark Red x.svg14Dark Red x.svg
ART Television [k] PrivateIWS HoldingsEnglish1996Check-green.svgDark Red x.svg13Dark Red x.svgCheck-green.svg017Dark Red x.svg
Channel CPrivateWide Angle ProductionsSinhala10 March 2008Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg45Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Channel Eye [l] State-owned Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation EnglishApril 1999Dark Red x.svg032572Check-green.svg002Check-green.svg
Channel One PrivateDialog TVSinhala / English6 June 2019Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg1Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Citi HitzPrivateOnAir World CeylonSinhala10 December 2007Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg019Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Colombo TVPrivateColombo Television LimitedSinhala1 January 2015Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg111Check-green.svg
Dan TVPrivateASK Media (Pvt) LtdTamil1 January 1999
Dharmavahini TVPrivateDharmavahini FoundationSinhala20 May 2007Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svg
Dream TV [m] Private GalleZone Solutions Sinhala2010Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg2511Dark Red x.svg015Dark Red x.svg
ETV [n] Private Lyca Productions English1995Check-green.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svg119Dark Red x.svg
Heritage TV [o] PrivateHeritage TelevisionSinhala8 May 2009Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Hiru TV PrivateAsia Broadcasting CorporationSinhala23 May 2012Check-green.svgDark Red x.svg112507Check-green.svg019Check-green.svg
ITN Channel State-owned Independent Television Network Sinhala13 April 1979Check-green.svgDark Red x.svg042517Check-green.svg003Check-green.svg
Knowledge TVPrivatePix & WordsSinhala2010Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg018Dark Red x.svg
Nethra TVState-owned Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation Tamil1 January 2008Check-green.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg016Check-green.svg
Rangiri TVNon-profitRangiri Sri Lanka Media NetworkSinhalaJuly 2011Check-green.svgDark Red x.svg212532Dark Red x.svg022Check-green.svg
Raw TVPrivateRaw TelevisionSinhala26 October 2015Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svg
Ridee TVPrivateTiss Nagodavithana FilmsSinhala2012Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg18Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Rupavahini State-owned Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation Sinhala15 February 1982Check-green.svgDark Red x.svg0022506Check-green.svg001Dark Red x.svg
Jaya TV Sri LankaPrivateJayamaga Media NetworkSinhala04 February 202025 94
Supreme TV PrivateSupreme Global HoldingsSinhala19 December 2019Check-green.svgDark Red x.svg20Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg16Check-green.svg
Sarana TVNon-profitSarana Media NetworkSinhala2014Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg094Dark Red x.svg
Shakthi TV Private MTV Channel Tamil20 October 1998Check-green.svgDark Red x.svg092609Check-green.svg011Dark Red x.svg
Shraddha TV Non-profitMahamevnawa Buddhist MonasterySinhala29 September 2012Check-green.svgDark Red x.svg27253127Dark Red x.svg099Check-green.svg
Sindu TVPrivateIraj ProductionsEnglish/Sinhala2015Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Sirasa TV [p] Private MTV Channel Sinhala10 June 1998Check-green.svgDark Red x.svg082513Check-green.svg010Check-green.svg
Siyatha TV PrivateVoice of Asia NetworkSinhala17 September 2009Check-green.svgDark Red x.svg152512Check-green.svg008(SD)
300(HD)		Check-green.svg
Siyasa TVPrivateSiyasa Media NetworkSinhala28 January 2014Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg095Dark Red x.svg
Sri TVPrivateSri TVSinhala2006Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svg
Star Tamil [q] PrivateVoice of Asia NetworkTamil17 September 2009Check-green.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg2618Check-green.svg021Dark Red x.svg
Swarga TVNon-profitRock FoundationEnglish/Sinhala/Tamil2011Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg30Dark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Swarnavahini [r] Private Lyca Productions Sinhala1997Check-green.svgDark Red x.svg072516Check-green.svg006Check-green.svg
The Buddhist [s] Non-profitSri Sambodhi FoundationSinhala29 June 2007Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg0262592Dark Red x.svg096Dark Red x.svg
TNL TV PrivateTelshan NetworksEnglish/Sinhala21 June 1993Check-green.svgDark Red x.svg122526Check-green.svg013Check-green.svg
TV 1 [t] Private MTV Channel English/Sinhala14 December 1992Check-green.svgDark Red x.svg102553Check-green.svg012Check-green.svg
TV Derana PrivateDerana Macro Entertainment under Dilith Jayaweera Sinhala11 October 2005Check-green.svgDark Red x.svg062514Check-green.svg004Check-green.svg
TV DidulaNon-profitSanhinda Media NetworkSinhala20 February 2016Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg172509Check-green.svg117Dark Red x.svg
UTV Tamil [u] PrivateSATIS Agency (Pvt) LtdTamil23 March 2017Check-green.svgDark Red x.svg23Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg127Dark Red x.svg
Vasantham TV State-owned Independent Television Network Tamil25 June 2009Check-green.svgDark Red x.svg0052614Check-green.svg007Check-green.svg
Verbum TV Non-profitVerbum TelevisionEnglish/Sinhala/Tamil2014Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg031Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg093Check-green.svg
CeyFLiXPrivateAusflix PTY LTDSinhala/English/Tamil/Hindi2019Dark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svg
Lankan LinkPrivateCodeNinja PTY LTDSinhala/English/Tamil2015Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svg

Former

The following is a list of former television stations which were based in Sri Lanka.

StationOwnershipOwnerLanguageEstablishedClosedNotes
Carlton Sports Network PrivateCarlton Sports NetworkEnglish/Sinhala7 March 20112016License suspended [9]
DAN Tamil OliPrivateAsk Media and Cable Vision NetworkTamilJanuary 20092013Now shown only on cable and satellite.
NTV State-owned Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation English18 November 20092015
Prime TV State-owned Independent Television Network English12 November 20092010
TV 2PrivatePeoples Media NetworkEnglish1 November 20082009
You TV [v] PrivateMGM NetworksEnglish/Sinhala/Tamil17 January 2007

Notes

  1. ↑ Available in Jaffna peninsula only.
  2. ↑ Available in Colombo only.
  3. ↑ Formerly CBNsat.
  4. ↑ Available in Colombo and Jaffna only.
  5. ↑ The Government of Sri Lanka owns the majority of shares in Sri Lanka Telecom, the ultimate parent company of PEO TV, either directly or via organisations controlled by it (e.g. Bank of Ceylon, Employees' Provident Fund, National Savings Bank and Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation).
  6. ↑ Formerly Srilakvahini.
  7. ↑ Formerly Comet Cable.
  8. ↑ Formerly Hatton Cable, Special in Up-country and Wellawatte area. Channels of Sun TV Network, Doordarshan from S-C Band Satellite.
  9. ↑ Channels 21-69 on UHF, channels 2-12 on VHF.
  10. ↑ Formerly Ada Derana 24X7.
  11. ↑ Formerly Dynavision.
  12. ↑ Formerly Rupavahini 2 Sinhalese and Tamil and English Television Channel.
  13. ↑ Also known as TV Dream Music.
  14. ↑ Formerly ETV 2.
  15. ↑ Also known as HTV.
  16. ↑ Formerly MTV (Sri Lankan Sinhala And English, Tamil TV channel)
  17. ↑ Formerly Varnam tv Vettri TV.
  18. ↑ Formerly ETV, ETV 1 Sinhalese And Tamil,English Entertainment Television
  19. ↑ Also known as Buddhist TV.
  20. ↑ Formerly MTV Newsvision, MTV, Channel One MTV, MTV Sports, MTV.
  21. ↑ Formerly Udhayam TV.
  22. ↑ Formerly Max TV.

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References

  1. ↑ "World Communications" (PDF). UNESCO. 1975. p. 342. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 May 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Indrajit Banerjee, Stephen Logan, ed. (2008). Asian Communication Handbook 2008. Singapore: Asian Media Information and Communication Centre, Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University. pp. 446–459. ISBN   9789814136105.
  3. ↑ "SRI LANKA RUPAVAHINI CORPORATION". LawNet.
  4. ↑ "Channels". Dialog TV. Archived from the original on 2016-03-29. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
  5. ↑ "List of Channels on Dialog TV". TV Channels List. Archived from the original on 2016-01-11. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
  6. ↑ "Packs: Ntertainment". Dish TV (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 2016-02-02. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
  7. ↑ "LBN Packages". Lanka Broadband Networks. Archived from the original on 2017-03-13. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
  8. ↑ "Channel Lineup". PEO TV. Archived from the original on 2016-04-07. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
  9. ↑ "Media Ministry suspends CSN license". Archived from the original on 2017-03-13. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
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