PTC Punjabi

PTC Punjabi
File:PTC Punjabi.png
Launched	6 August 2008 (2008-08-06)
Owned by	Sukhbir chand badal
Audience share	UK: 0.01% (September 2015 (2015-09), BARB)
Country	India
Broadcast area	India, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom & Ireland
Headquarters	Noida, India,
Replaced	Music India
Availability
Satellite
Airtel DTH (India)	Channel 583
BIG TV (India)	Channel 953
Dish TV (India)	Channel 807
Sun Direct DTH (India)	Channel 666
Tata Sky (India)	Channel 955
Dish Network (USA)	Channel 737
Sky (UK & Ireland)	Channel 815
Astra 2F (Europe)	12522 V 22000 5/6
IPTV
MTNL	Channel 165

PTC Punjabi is a popular Punjabi television network from India and is owned by PTC Network. It features general interest programming including news, dramas, comedies, music and talk shows. PTC Punjabi commenced operations on 6 August 2008 and in a year, had become the most popular television network in Punjab. Some sources say PTC stands for Prakash Telecom Corporation But it nowhere officially mentioned.

In 2009, PTC Punjabi expanded its reach internationally. It launched in the USA on DirecTV on 23 August 2009. In September 2009, a Canadian version launched via a partnership with Channel Punjabi Television. In early 2010, PTC Punjabi was removed from DirecTV for unknown reasons. On 25 August 2010, PTC Punjabi launched on Dish Network, making the channel available in the USA once again.

In July 2010 PTC Punjabi was launched in Australia and New Zealand on Konnect TV Network and in 2011 on VisionAsia (Australia and New Zealand). The version in Australia is taking live feeds from India and does not include Punjabi News, Straight Talk, The Masters, Lokbani, Guftagu, Prime Time, Majha Malwa News, or Chal Meray Naal. The Australian broadcast of PTC Punjabi is only deemed good for live telecast of Gurbani from Sri Harmandir Sahib, but otherwise the channel lacks content as compared to the offerings of PTC Punjabi in North America (Canada, USA) and India.

PTC hosts the annual PTC Punjabi music awards and hosted, for the first time, PTC Punjabi film awards in 2011.

From 1 to 20 November PTC Punjabi and its sister networks PTC News and PTC CHAK DE gave live broadcasts of the 2011 Kabaddi World Cup. It gave live broadcasts of the opening and closing ceremonies.

On 18 February 2013, the channel soft launched on Music India on Sky in the United Kingdom and Ireland, before fully replacing Music India on 10 April 2013. Music India had been broadcasting PTC Punjabi and PTC News programming for a number of years.

Programming

Some of the most popular programs on PTC Punjabi include:

Gurbani (Amrit Dhara) is a religious program that engages the audience spiritually, specifically Gurbani prayers from the Harmandir Sahib (Darbar Sahib) Amritsar from India to gurudwaras in the US The channel aires live gurbani from Sri Harmandir Sahib (Darbar Sahib) for more than 8 hours a day. The programme is a hit among the Sikh as well as non-Sikh people. Gurbani is a flagship programme for the Channel. It also aires various live telecasts of Gurbani on various special occasions from different places in India as well as abroad.

News Bulletin: Punjabi News featuring the widest network of reporters and cameraman across Punjab.

Straight Talk is a hard-hitting talk show with political and community leaders in a format that allows for straight and candid discussion on current issues. Straight Talk has featured individuals fully acquainted with the entire family in an informal and entertaining format.

The Masters is an unplugged anchor-based show Punjab Dei Sitare, a fleet of legendary singers who will perform live with well-modulated voices that resound from the corners of the world, where the Punjabi diaspora is found.

Lokbani offers a platform for the common person of Punjab to ask their elected representatives questions directly. Also, discussions with area counselors and government authorities regarding local problems are aired. Miss PTC Punjabi is a stepping stone to the world of glitz, glamour, adulation and fame. It's an endeavour to bring the talent and beauty of Punjab to an international platform.

Guftagu: Based on walk-the-talk format where Ritesh Lakhi candidly chats up top leaders from many walks of life.

Primetime News features two news anchors who present the day's big stories in a lively, chatty format.

Majha, Malwa and Doaba Daily News Update: Special updates from Majha, Malwa and Doaba belts of Punjab catering to local happenings.

Chal Mere Naal: A travel show in Punjab about exciting, beautiful and safe destinations to travel across India and abroad.

Voice Of Punjab: It is a Punjabi musical reality TV game show. It started in 2010, and as of August 2012 it had 3 seasons.

It also telecasted two hit Pakistani drama serials Najiah and Koi Lamha Gulab Ho which used to be on Hum TV of Pakistan.

Sister networks

1. PTC NEWS is a sister network to PTC Punjabi, PTC Punjabi (Canada) and PTC CHAK DE. All three networks are owned by PTC Network.It features general interest programming including news, dramas, comedies, music and talk shows. From 1 to 20 November the PTC NEWS along with PTC Punjabi and PTC CHAK DE gave live broadcasts of the 2011 Kabaddi World Cup. PTC NEWS gave all of the night matches and also the semi final and final of the 2011 Kabaddi World Cup.

Criticisms

With the owner being Sukhbir Badal and the Badal family being synonymous in Punjabi politics the news programming is overwhelmingly biased according to some. Viewers have become aware that only positive stories about the Badal family are aired. Balanced news reporting on the channel is all but nonexistent at present.

The channel has quickly become popular with Punjabi audiences, but is not headquartered in the Punjab state. Critics have argued the channel cannot be an authentic channel for Punjabi people without having its main basis in the state where the Punjabi language and culture originated.

See also

• PTC News

External links

• PTC Punjabi Facebook page