ETV (Sri Lanka)
Encyclopedia
ETV is a Sri Lanka
n television station. As of 2010 it is broadcast on two transmitters, E35 located in Kolpity (providing TV coverage to the Colombo area, and E40 located in Magalkanda (providing TV coverage to the Kalutara
area). Its offices are located in Colombo.
ETV was originally founded as one of the first two 24-hour television channels in Sri Lanka, which were ETV 1 and ETV 2, by Nahil Wijesuriya
- Chairman of East West Enterprises Ltd. It re-broadcast the "Free-To-Air" satellite TV programming originating from STAR TV
on local terrestrial UHF channels. Its revenue was generated by replacing satellite commercials with local advertisements. Later it developed local chat shows with political content.
But this caused problems, as STAR TV did not have a license to broadcast in Sri Lanka, and wanting to avoid the creation of a legal precedent in the Sri Lankan courts, which would name STAR TV as an illegal broadcaster without licenses, which could have affected STAR TV in the entire region, STAR TV signed ETV as its official rebroadcaster for two years. This out-of-court settlement stopped the impending judgment against STAR TV.
However, as the "Free-To-Air" channels were being converted to encrypted frequencies, and with the consequent end of access to free programming imminent, ETV was sold to the EAP Group, which had the resources to develop the necessary studios and facilities.
In 1998 ETV 1 was renamed as Swarnawahini and ETV 2 was renamed as ETV. In the same year ETV traded BBC World
for Sky News
.
In May 1998 ETV was relaunched by Vanguard Management Services (Pvt) Limited, an affiliate of EAP Group. Since that time ETV has arranged to broadcast Hollywood TV drams, sitcoms, soaps and reality shows including The Bold and the Beautiful
, Gilmore Girls
and American Idol
.
EV also pioneered electronic business news and analysis by launching Sri Lanka's first independent electronic business news program, the Lanka Business Report (LBR).
Other locally-produced English-language television programs include the Home Gourmet, LBO.tv, and LBRMoney.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n television station. As of 2010 it is broadcast on two transmitters, E35 located in Kolpity (providing TV coverage to the Colombo area, and E40 located in Magalkanda (providing TV coverage to the Kalutara
Kalutara
Kalutara is a resort town located approximately 40 km south of Colombo in Sri Lanka.- Overview :Once an important spice-trading center, the city's name is derived from the Kalu Ganga River . In the 11th Century, the town was temporarily made a capital on the orders of a South Indian Prince...
area). Its offices are located in Colombo.
ETV was originally founded as one of the first two 24-hour television channels in Sri Lanka, which were ETV 1 and ETV 2, by Nahil Wijesuriya
Nahil Wijesuriya
Nahil Wijesuriya is the Chairman of East West Group of companies and the Founder of ETV the first 24 hour TV station in Sri Lanka.He studied at Trinity College, Kandy and was awarded the Captain of Industry and Commerce in 1994...
- Chairman of East West Enterprises Ltd. It re-broadcast the "Free-To-Air" satellite TV programming originating from STAR TV
STAR TV (Asia)
Satellite Television Asian Region is an Asian TV service owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation.In 2009, News Corporation restructured STAR Asia into four units – STAR India, STAR Greater China, STAR Select and Fox International Channels....
on local terrestrial UHF channels. Its revenue was generated by replacing satellite commercials with local advertisements. Later it developed local chat shows with political content.
But this caused problems, as STAR TV did not have a license to broadcast in Sri Lanka, and wanting to avoid the creation of a legal precedent in the Sri Lankan courts, which would name STAR TV as an illegal broadcaster without licenses, which could have affected STAR TV in the entire region, STAR TV signed ETV as its official rebroadcaster for two years. This out-of-court settlement stopped the impending judgment against STAR TV.
However, as the "Free-To-Air" channels were being converted to encrypted frequencies, and with the consequent end of access to free programming imminent, ETV was sold to the EAP Group, which had the resources to develop the necessary studios and facilities.
In 1998 ETV 1 was renamed as Swarnawahini and ETV 2 was renamed as ETV. In the same year ETV traded BBC World
BBC World
BBC World News is the BBC's international news and current affairs television channel. It has the largest audience of any BBC channel in the world...
for Sky News
Sky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
.
In May 1998 ETV was relaunched by Vanguard Management Services (Pvt) Limited, an affiliate of EAP Group. Since that time ETV has arranged to broadcast Hollywood TV drams, sitcoms, soaps and reality shows including The Bold and the Beautiful
The Bold and the Beautiful
The Bold and the Beautiful is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS Daytime. It premiered on March 23, 1987....
, Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls is an American family comedy-drama series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. On October 5, 2000, the series debuted on The WB and was cancelled in its seventh season, ending on May 15, 2007 on The CW...
and American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
.
EV also pioneered electronic business news and analysis by launching Sri Lanka's first independent electronic business news program, the Lanka Business Report (LBR).
Other locally-produced English-language television programs include the Home Gourmet, LBO.tv, and LBRMoney.