ATN Urdu is a Canadian

pay television Pay television, also known as subscription television, premium television or, when referring to an individual service, a premium channel, refers to Subscription business model, subscription-based television services, usually provided by multichan ...

channel owned by

Asian Television Network Asian Television Network (ATN) is a publicly traded Canadian broadcasting company (listed SAT on the TSX Venture Exchange), with 54 television channels in 9 languages, serving the South Asian cultural communities in Canada. ATN operates a So ...

(ATN). It is an Urdu-language general entertainment network, airing programming that appeals to the entire family including comedies, serials, talk shows, music, religious programs, and more.

History

In November 2000, ATN was approved by the

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC; ) is a public organization in Canada tasked with the mandate as a regulatory agency tribunal for various electronic communications, covering broadcasting and telecommunic ...

(CRTC) to launch a television channel called ''Urdu Channel'', described as ''"a national ethnic Category 2 specialty television service targeting the Urdu-speaking community."'' The channel launched on May 8, 2004 as ''ATN ARY Digital'' under a licensing agreement with

ARY Digital ''ARY Digital HD'' () is a Pakistani television network available in Pakistan. ARY Digital was founded by a Dubai-based holding company Pakistani businessman, Abdul Razzak Yaqoob and Salman Iqbal (ARY). The network is focused towards on Pak ...

, a television network from Pakistan. In December 2012, the channel was re-branded ''ATN Urdu'' due to the expiration of the programming agreement with ARY. As of January 3, 2013, ATN Urdu no longer airs any programming from ARY Digital as the rights are now held by a different broadcaster. On August 30, 2013, the CRTC approved Asian Television Network's request to convert ATN Urdu from a licensed Category B specialty service to an exempted Cat. B third language service.

References

External links

* Specialty television channels in Canada Pakistani-Canadian culture Pakistani diaspora mass media Television channels and stations established in 2004 South Asian television in Canada {{Canada-tv-station-stub