Ariana Television Network

2023-02-05T03:48:10Z

2601:582:0:CEC0:E8FA:C809:DDCB:859E:

{{For|the unrelated U.S.-based television network|Ariana Afghanistan}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Update|date=September 2021}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2021}}
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{{Infobox television channel
| name = Ariana Television Network آریانا
| logo = Ariana television logo.png
| logo_size =
| launch_date = 17 August 2005
| closed_date =
| picture_format = [[SDTV]]
| network =
| owner = [[Ehsan Bayat]]
| country = [[Afghanistan]]
| area = [[Central Asia]] [[India]] [[Middle East]] [[Pakistan]] [[UK]]
| former_names =
| headquarters = [[Kabul]]
| sister_channels = [[Ariana News]]
| timeshift_service =
| website = [http://www.arianatelevision.com www.arianatelevision.com]
| terr_serv_1 = Normal antenna
| terr_chan_1 = 46 UHF ([[Kabul]]) 49 UHF ([[Kandahar]]) 55 UHF ([[Herat]]) 51 UHF ([[Mazar-i-Sharif]]) 52 UHF ([[Kunduz]]) 47 UHF ([[Jalalabad]]) 45 UHF ([[Taloqan]]) 53 UHF ([[Puli Khumri]]) 49 UHF ([[Ghazni]]) 55 UHF ([[Khost]])
}}

'''Ariana Television Network''' ('''ATN''') ([[Dari]]/[[Pashto]]: {{lang|fa|آریانا}}) is a private [[television network]] based in [[Kabul]], [[Afghanistan]]. The channel was launched by Afghan-American [[Ehsan Bayat]] (owner of [[Afghan Wireless Communication Company]]) in 2005 and started broadcasting internationally the following year. ATN is one of the leading television channels in Afghanistan and has terrestrial coverage in 33 of 34 provinces in the country.

==History==
The channel was launched in summer 2005 and aired internationally from 2006. In 2014 the channel had a new logo. That same year its sister channel [[Ariana News]], broadcasting news all day, was launched.

==Programming==
ATN has social, cultural, political and entertaining programs focusing to show pure Afghan culture. Some long running shows include ''Entekhāb-e Binendahā'' (''Viewer's Choice'', a music show), Parwāna-hā (''Butterflies'', a children's show), ''Cinemā'', ''Warzesh'' (''Sports''), ''Setārahā-ye Rangin'' (''Colored stars'', a music show) and the annual ''[[ATN Awards]]''.

''59-Minute Duel'' is a popular cooking show airing since 2011 in which two rival cooks have exactly 59 minutes to cook a three part course for the judges. Every week, a unique ingredient would be provided, and the meals had to be based around it. The prize is the title of "The Golden Chef", awarded to the winner after the scores had been given by the usually celebrity judges. On many occasions, the chefs would be an Afghan and a foreigner, such as a soldier from the American or British base.

Ariana has also been the product of a well known comedy character ''Motakhases'', who appeared on the former ''Khanda Hāy-e Girya Dār'' comedy show and later on ''Hekāyat Hāye Motakhases''.

Other airing programs of Ariana Television Network are:
* ''Mehmān-e Man''
* ''Yādeman''
* ''Yoz-Ma-Yuz'' ([[Uzbek language|Uzbek]])
* ''Bouy-e Māh''
* ''Darman''
* ''Techpedia''
* ''Saat-e-10''
* ''Musafir''
* ''Sobh-o-Zendagi''
* ''Marā Bebakhsh'' (Dari translation of Turkish drama ''Beni Affet'')

===Former notable programming===
*''Top 5'', a music show
*''Ariāna dar Nim-e roz'', a talk and cultural show
*''Haqiqat'' (''The Truth''), an investigative political show
*''Khanda Hāy-e Girya Dār'', a comedy show
*''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (Afghan game show)|Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?]]'', Afghan version of the British game show
*''Chashme Shishayi'', a cinema show

Ariana Television Network has aired various Indian soap dramas, some of which achieved high popularity in Afghanistan.
*''[[Banoo Main Teri Dulhann]]''
*''[[Kumkum – Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan]]''
*''[[Heena (TV series)|Heena]]''
*''[[Khwaish]]''
*''[[Mitwa Phool Kamal Ke]]''
*''[[Zaara (TV series)|Zaara]]''
*''[[Sasural Genda Phool]]''
*''[[Sapna Babul Ka...Bidaai|Bidaai]]''
*''[[Maayke Se Bandhi Dor]]''

==2008 journalist arrest==
Ariana Television Network gained international attention when [[Mohammad Nasir Fayyaz]], a journalist and presenter of Ariana's hard-talk political debate show ''Haqiqat'' (''The Truth'' in English), was detained by Afghan authorities on July 29, 2008. Fayyaz was critical of members of the country's [[First Karzai cabinet|cabinet]] at the time.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7530568.stm|title = Afghan TV journalist is detained|date = 29 July 2008}}</ref> He was detained by the intelligence agency [[National Directorate of Security]] (NDS) whilst he was presenting the show, and was released after one day but again returned to detention. [[Amnesty International]] warned the Afghan government to protect press and media freedom from the NDS.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/press-releases/2008/07/afghanistan-protect-media-freedom-intelligence-agency-interference-20080/|title=Afghanistan: Protect media freedom from intelligence agency interference|date=31 July 2008}}</ref> He was eventually released without charge and continued to present ''Haqiqat''.

==See also==
*[[Television in Afghanistan]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.arianatelevision.com Official site] {{in lang|en}}
{{Television stations in Afghanistan}}

[[Category:Television stations in Afghanistan]]
[[Category:Persian-language television stations]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2005]]
[[Category:Mass media in Kabul]]

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Ariana Television Network