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.
History
[edit]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 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, where the Pandemic starting 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
Educational Television providers
[edit]Provider | Channel | Number | Language | Grade | Duration |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ask Cable Vision[a] | Nilet | 19 | Sinhala/Tamil | Mixed | Full day |
Grade 6 | 20 | Sinhala | 6 | Full day | |
Grade 7 | 21 | Sinhala | 7 | Full day | |
Grade 8 | 21 | Sinhala | 8 | Full day | |
Grade 9 | 21 | Sinhala | 9 | Full day | |
Grade 10 | 21 | Sinhala | 10 | Full day | |
Grade 11 | 21 | Sinhala | 11 | Full day | |
Channel Eye | Sinhala/Tamil | Mixed | Full day | ||
Nethra TV | Sinhala/Tamil | Mixed | Full day | ||
Kalvi-TV 1 | Tamil | 6-13 | Full day | ||
DialogTV - VIU APP | Guru TV | 22 | Sinhala/Tamil | 5 - 13 | Full day |
Nenasa Sinhala | 24 | Sinhala | 5 - 13 | Full day | |
Nenasa Tamil | 25 | Tamil | 5 -13 | Full day | |
Channel One | 1 | Sinhala/English | 6 - 13 | 2 hours | |
A-Plus | 52 | Sinhala | 5 | 1 hour | |
Supreme TV | 118 | Sinhala | 10 - 11 | 8 hour | |
Channel Eye | 3 | Sinhala/Tamil | 7 - 13 | Full day | |
PeoTV | Vidasa 5 | 205 | Sinhala | 5 | Full day |
Vidasa 6 | 206 | Sinhala | 6 | Full day | |
Vidasa 7 | 207 | Sinhala | 7 | Full day | |
Vidasa 8 | 208 | Sinhala | 8 | Full day | |
Vidasa 9 | 209 | Sinhala | 9 | Full day | |
Vidasa 10 | 210 | Sinhala | 10 | Full day | |
Vidasa 11 | 211 | Sinhala | 11 | Full day | |
Channel Eye | 2 | Sinhala/Tamil | Mixed | Full day | |
Nethra TV | 16 | Sinhala/Tamil | Mixed | Full day |
Television providers
[edit]Current
[edit]The following is a list of current television providers based in Sri Lanka.
Provider | Ownership | Owner | Transmission | Established |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ask Cable Vision[b] | Private | Ask Media & Cable Vision | 2010 | |
City Cable[c] | Private | City Cable Links | ||
Dialog TV[d] | Private | Dialog Axiata | July 2005 | |
Star TV Lanka Satnet | Private | Star TV Lanka | Digital satellite | 1945 |
Lanka Broadband Networks[e] | Private | Lanka Broadband Networks | Analog cable, digital cable | 2000 |
PEO TV | State-owned[f] | SLTMobitel | IPTV | September 2008 |
Satcom[g] | Private | Future Sat Com Holdings | Satellite | |
TV Lanka | Private | Digital terrestrial | 2012 |
Former
[edit]The following is a list of former television providers which were based in Sri Lanka.
Provider | Ownership | Owner | Transmission | Established | Closed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Multivision[h] | Private | Ruhunu 2001 Multivision | Analog microwave | 1999 | 2008 |
Franknet[i] | Private | T.Guhan | Cable TV | 1995 | 1998 |
Television stations
[edit]Current
[edit]The following is a list of current television stations based in Sri Lanka.
Station | Ownership | Owner | Language | Established | Terrestrial | Satellite | Cable | IPTV | Streaming | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Analogue [j] | Digital | Dialog TV [4][5] | Dish TV [6] | Free sat | LBN [7] | PEO TV [8] | ||||||
Haritha TV | Non-profit | Haritha Network | Sinhala | 31 March 2021 | ![]() | ![]() | 14 | ![]() | ![]() | 9 | ![]() | |
A Plus Kids TV | Private | Ru Sala Media Networks Pvt Ltd | Sinhala | 3 July 2017 | ![]() | ![]() | 48 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Ada Derana 24[k] | Private | Power House Ltd under Dilith Jayaweera | Sinhala/English | 20 July 2014 | ![]() | ![]() | 14 | 2508 | ![]() | 14 | ![]() | |
ART Television[l] | Private | IWS Holdings | English | 1996 | ![]() | ![]() | 13 | ![]() | ![]() | 017 | ![]() | |
Channel C | Private | Wide Angle Productions | Sinhala | 10 March 2008 | ![]() | ![]() | 45 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Channel Eye[m] | State-owned | Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation | English | April 1999 | ![]() | 03 | 2572 | ![]() | 002 | ![]() | ||
Channel One | Private | Dialog TV | Sinhala / English | 6 June 2019 | ![]() | ![]() | 1 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Citi Hitz | Private | OnAir World Ceylon | Sinhala | 10 December 2007 | ![]() | ![]() | 019 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Colombo TV | Private | Colombo Television Limited | Sinhala | 1 January 2015 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | 111 | ![]() | |
Dharmavahini TV | Private | Dharmavahini Foundation | Sinhala | 20 May 2007 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Dream TV[n] | Private | GalleZone Solutions | Sinhala | 2010 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | 2511 | ![]() | 015 | ![]() | |
ETV[o] | Private | Lyca Productions | English | 1995 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | 119 | ![]() | |
Heritage TV[p] | Private | Heritage Television | Sinhala | 8 May 2009 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Hiru TV | Private | Asia Broadcasting Corporation | Sinhala | 23 May 2012 | ![]() | ![]() | 11 | 2507 | ![]() | 019 | ![]() | |
ITN Channel | State-owned | Independent Television Network | Sinhala | 13 April 1979 | ![]() | ![]() | 04 | 2517 | ![]() | 003 | ![]() | |
Knowledge TV | Private | Pix & Words | Sinhala | 2010 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | 018 | ![]() | |
Nethra TV | State-owned | Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation | Tamil | 1 January 2008 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | 016 | ![]() | |
Rangiri TV | Non-profit | Rangiri Sri Lanka Media Network | Sinhala | July 2011 | ![]() | ![]() | 21 | 2532 | ![]() | 022 | ![]() | |
Raw TV | Private | Raw Television | Sinhala | 26 October 2015 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Ridee TV | Private | Tiss Nagodavithana Films | Sinhala | 2012 | ![]() | ![]() | 18 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Rupavahini | State-owned | Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation | Sinhala | 15 February 1982 | ![]() | ![]() | 002 | 2506 | ![]() | 001 | ![]() | |
Jaya TV Sri Lanka | Private | Jayamaga Media Network | Sinhala | 04 February 2020 | 25 | 94 | ||||||
Supreme TV | Private | Supreme Global Holdings | Sinhala | 19 December 2019 | ![]() | ![]() | 20 | ![]() | ![]() | 16 | ![]() | |
Sarana TV | Non-profit | Sarana Media Network | Sinhala | 2014 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | 094 | ![]() | |
Shakthi TV | Private | MTV Channel | Tamil | 20 October 1998 | ![]() | ![]() | 09 | 2609 | ![]() | 011 | ![]() | |
Shraddha TV | Non-profit | Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery | Sinhala | 29 September 2012 | ![]() | ![]() | 27 | 2531 | 27 | ![]() | 099 | ![]() |
Sindu TV | Private | Iraj Productions | English/Sinhala | 2015 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Sirasa TV[q] | Private | MTV Channel | Sinhala | 10 June 1998 | ![]() | ![]() | 08 | 2513 | ![]() | 010 | ![]() | |
Siyatha TV | Private | Voice of Asia Network | Sinhala | 17 September 2009 | ![]() | ![]() | 15 | 2512 | ![]() | 008(SD) 300(HD) | ![]() | |
Siyasa TV | Private | Siyasa Media Network | Sinhala | 28 January 2014 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | 095 | ![]() | |
Sri TV | Private | Sri TV | Sinhala | 2006 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Star Tamil [r] | Private | Voice of Asia Network | Tamil | 17 September 2009 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | 2618 | ![]() | 021 | ![]() | |
Swarga TV | Non-profit | Rock Foundation | English/Sinhala/Tamil | 2011 | ![]() | ![]() | 30 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Swarnavahini[s] | Private | Lyca Productions | Sinhala | 1997 | ![]() | ![]() | 07 | 2516 | ![]() | 006 | ![]() | |
The Buddhist[t] | Non-profit | Sri Sambodhi Foundation | Sinhala | 29 June 2007 | ![]() | ![]() | 026 | 2592 | ![]() | 096 | ![]() | |
TNL TV | Private | Telshan Networks | English/Sinhala | 21 June 1993 | ![]() | ![]() | 12 | 2526 | ![]() | 013 | ![]() | |
TV 1[u] | Private | MTV Channel | English/Sinhala | 14 December 1992 | ![]() | ![]() | 10 | 2553 | ![]() | 012 | ![]() | |
TV Derana | Private | Power House Ltd under Dilith Jayaweera | Sinhala | 11 October 2005 | ![]() | ![]() | 06 | 2514 | ![]() | 004 | ![]() | |
TV Didula | Non-profit | Sanhinda Media Network | Sinhala | 20 February 2016 | ![]() | ![]() | 17 | 2509 | ![]() | 117 | ![]() | |
UTV Tamil[v] | Private | SATIS Agency (Pvt) Ltd | Tamil | 23 March 2017 | ![]() | ![]() | 23 | ![]() | ![]() | 127 | ![]() | |
Vasantham TV | State-owned | Independent Television Network | Tamil | 25 June 2009 | ![]() | ![]() | 005 | 2614 | ![]() | 007 | ![]() | |
Verbum TV | Non-profit | Verbum Television | English/Sinhala/Tamil | 2014 | ![]() | ![]() | 031 | ![]() | ![]() | 093 | ![]() | |
CeyFLiX | Private | Ausflix PTY LTD | Sinhala/English/Tamil/Hindi | 2019 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Lankan Link | Private | CodeNinja PTY LTD | Sinhala/English/Tamil | 2015 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Former
[edit]The following is a list of former television stations which were based in Sri Lanka.
Station | Ownership | Owner | Language | Established | Closed | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carlton Sports Network | Private | Carlton Sports Network | English/Sinhala | 7 March 2011 | 2016 | License suspended[9] |
DAN Tamil Oli | Private | Ask Media and Cable Vision Network | Tamil | January 2009 | 2013 | Now shown only on cable and satellite. |
NTV | State-owned | Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation | English | 18 November 2009 | 2015 | |
Prime TV | State-owned | Independent Television Network | English | 12 November 2009 | 2010 | |
TV 2 | Private | Peoples Media Network | English | 1 November 2008 | 2009 | |
You TV[w] | Private | MGM Networks | English/Sinhala/Tamil | 17 January 2007 |
Most viewed channels (FTA) - TVSL Ratings (22/05/2023 - 12/08/2024)
[edit]Position | Channel | Share of total viewing (%) |
---|---|---|
1 | Sirasa TV | 18.92 |
2 | Siyatha | 18.89 |
3 | Hiru TV | 18.38 |
4 | TV derana | 11.62 |
5 | ITN | 11.40 |
6 | Swarnavahini | 8.15 |
7 | Supreme TV | 4.90 |
8 | Rupavahini | 2.35 |
9 | Ada Derana 24 | 1.12 |
10 | Shakthi TV | 0.97 |
Notes
[edit]- ^ Available in Jaffna peninsula only.
- ^ Available in Jaffna peninsula only.
- ^ Available in Colombo only.
- ^ Formerly CBNsat.
- ^ Available in Colombo and Jaffna only.
- ^ 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).
- ^ Formerly Srilakvahini.
- ^ Formerly Comet Cable.
- ^ Formerly Hatton Cable, Special in up country and wellawatte area.channels of Sun TV Network, Doordarshan from S-C Band Satellite.
- ^ Channels 21-69 on UHF, channels 2-12 on VHF.
- ^ Formerly Ada Derana 24X7.
- ^ Formerly Dynavision.
- ^ Formerly Rupavahini 2 Sinhalese and Tamil and English Television Channel.
- ^ Also known as TV Dream Music.
- ^ Formerly ETV 2.
- ^ Also known as HTV.
- ^ Formerly MTV (Sri Lankan Sinhala And English, Tamil TV channel)
- ^ Formerly Varnam tv Vettri TV.
- ^ Formerly ETV, ETV 1 Sinhalese And Tamil,English Entertainment Television
- ^ Also known as Buddhist TV.
- ^ Formerly MTV Newsvision, MTV, Channel One MTV, MTV Sports, MTV.
- ^ Formerly Udhayam TV.
- ^ Formerly Max TV.
References
[edit]- ^ "World Communications" (PDF). UNESCO. 1975. p. 342. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d 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.
- ^ "SRI LANKA RUPAVAHINI CORPORATION". LawNet.
- ^ "Channels". Dialog TV.
- ^ "List of Channels on Dialog TV". TV Channels List.
- ^ "Packs: Ntertainment". Dish TV (Sri Lanka).
- ^ "LBN Packages". Lanka Broadband Networks.
- ^ "Channel Lineup". PEO TV.
- ^ "Media Ministry suspends CSN license".
- internetlk. Davies (2 February 2021). "Television Stations in Sri Lanka".
- "UHF Television Channel Assignments" (PDF). Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka. 20 July 2012.
- "Licensed Media Operators in Sri Lanka" (PDF). Ministry of Mass Media. 2015.
- "Viewership share of TV Channels from 2006-2012". Survey Research Lanka. 2012.