Krishna57edits at 22:27, 26 December 2025

2025-12-26T22:27:45Z

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article

2023-09-19T13:12:14Z

Created a new article

New page

{{Short description|Sri Lankan state-owned broadcaster}}
{{for|the British Independent Television network|ITV (TV network)}}
{{redirect|ITN Ltd|the British Independent Television News Limited|ITN}}
{{redirect|ITN channel|the former British ITN News Channel|ITV News Channel}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{primary sources|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Independent Television Network Ltd
| logo = [[File:Independent Television Network (Sri Lanka) Logo.png|180px]]
| type = [[Government-owned corporation]]
| predecessor =
| successor =
| founder = {{plainlist|
* [[Shan Wickremesinghe]]
* [[Anil R. Wijewardene]]
}}
| defunct =
| fate =
| area_served = [[Sri Lanka]]
| key_people = {{plainlist|
* Shan Wickramasinghe ([[Organizational founder|founder]])
* Anil Wijewardene ([[Organizational founder|founder]])
}}
| industry = Television
| genre = [[Mass media]]
| products = Broadcasting Network
| services =
| revenue = {{increase}} [[Sri Lankan rupee|Rs]] 2.492 billion (2015)<ref name="itn15">{{cite web | url =https://www.parliament.lk/uploads/documents/paperspresented/annual-report-independent-television-network-2015.pdf | title = ITN 2015 Annual Report| publisher = [[Parliament of Sri Lanka]] | access-date = March 12, 2016}}</ref>
| operating_income = {{decrease}} [[Sri Lankan rupee|Rs]] 507.33 million(2015)<ref name="itn15"/>
| net_income = {{increase}} [[Sri Lankan rupee|Rs]] 433.021 million (2015)<ref name="itn15"/>
| assets = {{increase}} [[Sri Lankan rupee|Rs]] 4.059 billion (2015)<ref name="itn15"/>
| equity = {{increase}} [[Sri Lankan rupee|Rs]] 3.198 billion (2015)<ref name="itn15"/>
| owner =
| num_employees = 684 (2018)<ref name="itn15"/>
| parent = [[Ministry of Information and Mass Media]]
| divisions =
| subsid =
| footnotes =
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.itn.lk}}
| caption =
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1979|06|05}}
| location_city = [[Battaramulla]]
| location_country = [[Sri Lanka]]
| location = [[Wickramasinghepura]]
| locations =
}}

{{Infobox television channel
| logo = [[File:Independent Television Network (Sri Lanka) Logo.png|180px]]
| name = ITN Sri Lanka
| terr_serv_1 = [[VHF]] (Yatiyanthota) ([[Free-to-air|FTA]])
| terr_chan_1 = Channel 12
| terr_serv_2 = [[VHF]] ([[Bandarawela|Nayabedda]]) ([[Free-to-air|FTA]])
| terr_chan_2 = Channel 12
| terr_serv_3 = [[UHF]] ([[Rajagiriya]]) ([[Free-to-air|FTA]])
| terr_chan_3 = Channel 24
| terr_serv_4 = [[UHF]] ([[Hunnasgiriya]]) ([[Free-to-air|FTA]])
| terr_chan_4 = Channel 24
| terr_serv_5 = [[VHF]] ([[Deniyaya]]) ([[Free-to-air|FTA]])
| terr_chan_5 = Channel 09
| terr_serv_6 = [[VHF]] ([[Rattota|Karagahatenna]]) ([[Free-to-air|FTA]])
| terr_chan_6 = Channel 09
| terr_serv_7 = [[UHF]] ([[Rakwana|Sooriyakanda]]) ([[Free-to-air|FTA]])
| terr_chan_7 = Channel 24
| terr_serv_8 =
| terr_chan_8 =
| terr_serv_9 =
| terr_chan_9 =
| terr_serv_10 = [[TV Lanka Free Digital TV]] ([[Free-to-air|FTA]])
| terr_chan_10 = Channel 03 ([[Western Province, Sri Lanka|Western Province Only]])
| online_serv_1 =
| online_chan_1 = {{url|https://www.itn.lk/live}}
| sister_channels = {{Ubl|[[Lakhanda radio|Lakhanda Radio]]|[[Vasantham TV]]|Vasantham FM|ITN Digital}}
}}

The '''Independent Television Network Ltd''' ({{lang-si|ස්වාධීන රූපවාහිනී මාධ්‍ය ජාලය}}; {{lang-ta|சுயாதீன தொலைக்காட்சி ஊடக வளையமைப்பு}}) also known as '''ITN Ltd''' or simply as '''ITN''' is a Sri Lankan state-governed television and radio broadcaster located in [[Wickramasinghepura]], [[Battaramulla]], Sri Lanka. It is a Shrama Abhimani Award winner (Oct 2009)
,<ref>{{cite news
|url=https://www.youtube.com/?v=3YSdPTxZriE
|title=Shrama Abhimani awards for ITN
|author=The ITN Channel Reporters
|publisher=The ITN Channel
|date=14 October 2009
|access-date=31 December 2009
}}</ref> broadcasts content to a wide demographic within Sri Lanka as well as the expatriate community. The programmes are broadcast in three languages: [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], and English. The ITN broadcast coverage extends to 99% of the island of Sri Lanka.<ref name="about_itn">{{cite web
|url = http://www.itn.lk/about-itn
|title = About ITN
|author = ITN Digital
|access-date = 31 December 2009
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091227013549/http://www.itn.lk/about.html
|archive-date = 27 December 2009
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref><ref name="itn_coverage">{{cite web
|url = http://www.itn.lk/receiving.html
|title = Receiving ITN
|author = The ITN Channel
|access-date = 31 December 2009
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100103080847/http://www.itn.lk/receiving.html
|archive-date = 3 January 2010
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref><ref name="st_prime">{{cite news
|url = http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/life/132-life/11846.html
|title = Prime feat from ITN
|author = Susitha R. Fernand
|newspaper = [[The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)|The Sunday Times]]
|date = 22 November 2009
|access-date = 31 December 2009
}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The ITN channel is the flagship television channel of ITN Ltd. ITN further operates three [[FM radio]] stations; [[Lakhanda radio|Lakhanda]] (Former ITN FM), the [[Sinhala language]] service; Vasantham FM, the [[Tamil language]] service and [[Prime Radio]], the English language service. [[Vasantham TV]], a second television channel operated by ITN Ltd, broadcasts content in the Tamil language. ITN recently launched a website ITN News, which is an online portal for the distribution of local news internationally.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.itnnews.lk/
|title=ITN News – Latest Sri Lankan News
|author=Independent Television Network
|access-date=31 January 2010
}}</ref>

ITN channel is also the first [[1080p]] full HD television channel in Sri Lanka. The ITN Ltd has invested Rs. 200 Mn on the construction of the country's first HD studio complex and started high resolution broadcasting since 30 June 2016.

==History==
Ahead of the start of ITN there were decisions facing the deployment of television in Sri Lanka. Japanese company [[NEC]] provided basic support for the building of the station (and did the same later with [[Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation|Rupavahini]] in 1982). The development of the station happened at the same time as Rupavahini's. One of the key steps was selecting the colour system. PAL was favoured despite the fact that neighbouring India had a black and white system using NTSC equipment, and was provided by Japan despite using [[NTSC-J|its form of NTSC]]. ITN was being set up by Anil Wijewardene and Shan Wickremesinghe in Mahalwarawa and was expedited by an American investor. The first test transmissions in 1979 were well-received in Colombo alone, which was the initial coverage area of the channel. Programmes such as American educational series [[Sesame Street]] and the [[London Weekend Television|LWT]] British sitcom [[Mind Your Language]] were among the first programmes seen.<ref name=off>{{Cite web|last=Amunugama|first=Sarath|date=2022-11-27|title=Television takes off; JRJ takes over ITN fathered by two of his nephews|url=https://island.lk/television-takes-off-jrj-takes-over-itn-fathered-by-two-of-his-nephews/|url-status=live|access-date=2023-06-07|website=The Island|language=en|archive-date=2023-06-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607135142/https://island.lk/television-takes-off-jrj-takes-over-itn-fathered-by-two-of-his-nephews/}}</ref>

ITN Ltd commenced operations on 13 April 1979 with the introduction of the TN television channel.<ref name="about_itn" /> As the first television broadcasting service of Sri Lanka and South Asia they began transmission of the first terrestrial television channel in the country. It was also the first privately owned television station in a region where the government was in control of radio and television.<ref name="itn_so">
{{cite news
|url=http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2009/09/13/imp06.asp
|title=Digital future
|author=Observer Reporters
|newspaper=[[Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka)|Sunday Observer]]
|date=13 September 2009
|access-date=31 December 2009
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606005314/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2009/09/13/imp06.asp
|archive-date=6 June 2011
|url-status=dead
|df=dmy-all
}}
</ref>
The founding board of directors was composed of Mr. [[Shan Wickramasinghe]], Mr. Anil Wijewardene and Mr. Bob Christie. Initially the ITN Ltd studios and transmission station were based in Mahalwarawa Estate, [[Pannipitiya]]. A one kilowatt (1 KW) transmitter and {{convert|65|feet}} transmission tower were used to broadcast the ITN channel within a {{convert|15|mile|km}} radius of the city of [[Colombo]].<ref name="about_itn" /> Due to the geographical location of the transmission station, local weather and the transmission equipment used early viewers experienced many disruptions and interference to programmes as a result of voltage fluctuations.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

On 5 June 1979 ITN Ltd was acquired by the state as a business undertaking under a [[Competent Authority]].<ref name="about_itn" /> The duly appointed authority, the late [[Thevis Guruge|Mr. D. Thevis L. Guruge]] (ex-Director General of the [[Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation]]) contributed significantly to the early development of the organisation.

Shortly after commencing its test broadcasts, ITN announced the start of its regular broadcasts for a wide urban area. Local companies started selling television sets imported from Japanese manufacturers. Sales of sets skyrocketed, ahead of UNESCO projections. Due to the slow development of television in neighbouring India ([[Doordarshan]] still broadcast in black and white and was mainly [[Satellite Instructional Television Experiment|geared at educating farmers]]), Japanese-made TV sets sold in Sri Lanka were smuggled due to the lack of established presence of foreign brands at the time.<ref name=off/>

ITN Ltd was the pioneer of [[colour television]] transmission in Sri Lanka.<ref name="itn_so" /> On 5 June 1984 ITN Ltd relocated to its current base of operations in [[Wickramasinhapura]]. In 1992 ITN was converted to a public company with the state as the major shareholder of the company.<ref name="about_itn" /> Subsequently, the revenue, the diversity of programmes, technical services and coverage expanded significantly.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

[[Lakhanda radio|Lakhanda]] and Vasantham FM are two of the three FM radio stations operated by ITN Ltd. The Lakhanda radio station which originated as a subsidiary of the [[Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation]] (SLBC) was amalgamated with ITN Ltd on 1 April 1997.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.lakhanda.lk/
|title=Origin of Lakhanda
|author=Lakhanda
|access-date=31 December 2009
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091207054656/http://www.lakhanda.lk/about.html
|archive-date=7 December 2009
|df=dmy-all
}}</ref> This radio station broadcasts content in the Sinhala language. Vasantham FM is an FM radio station operated by ITN Ltd that broadcasts Tamil content. This radio station was launched in June 2009 to fulfill the media requirements of the Tamil speaking community within Sri Lanka.

Furthermore, ITN Ltd commenced transmission of a second television channel, [[Vasantham TV]] on 25 June 2009.<ref name="gov_vasTV">{{cite news
|url=http://www.news.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10330&Itemid=44
|title="Vasantham TV" transmissions from today
|author=The Sri Lankan Government
|author-link=The Sri Lankan Government
|publisher=[[The Official Government News Portal of Sri Lanka]]
|date=25 June 2009
|access-date=31 December 2009
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/06/30/fea23.asp
|title = ITN introduces Vasantham TV
|author = Ruwini Jayawardana
|work = [[Daily News (Sri Lanka)|Daily News]]
|date = 30 June 2009
|access-date = 31 December 2009
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110605030108/http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/06/30/fea23.asp
|archive-date = 5 June 2011
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref> This particular television channel broadcasts content in the Tamil language. ITN launched [[Prime TV Sri Lanka|Prime TV]] and [[Prime Radio Sri Lanka|Prime Radio]], a television channel and radio station that broadcasts material in English on 12 November 2009.<ref name="st_prime" /><ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/11/11/art08.asp
|title = Prime TV and Prime Radio breaks into the scene
|author = Ruwini Jayawardana
|work = [[Daily News (Sri Lanka)|Daily News]]
|date = 11 November 2009
|access-date = 31 December 2009
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110605030220/http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/11/11/art08.asp
|archive-date = 5 June 2011
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref>

==Programmes==

ITN Ltd's television channels and radio stations broadcast a variety of different of programmes in Sinhala, Tamil, and English languages. Listed below are some of the programmes broadcast by the television channels and radio stations operated by ITN Ltd.

ITN channel – (Primarily broadcasts content in the Sinhala language)<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.itn.lk/programs.html
|title = ITN Programmes and Schedule
|author = ITN Ltd
|access-date = 31 December 2009
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091227015508/http://www.itn.lk/programs.html
|archive-date = 27 December 2009
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref>
*News – (In Sinhala, Tamil and English)
*Teledramas – (Amaa, Ridee Siththam, Muthu Warusa, Tharu Piri Ahasak, Parana Towuma, [[Emy (TV Series)|Emy]], Snehaye Dasi, Nethu Piyena Thura, [[Kopi Kade]], Aluth Gedera, Sihina Tharaka, Rantharu, [[Bonda Meedum]] )
*Films – Classic Sinhala Films
*Documentaries – Atapattama
*Educational programmes
*Children's entertainment
*Programmes dubbed in Sinhala
*Game shows
*Reality TV
*Religious programmes
*Political debates

Vasantham TV – (Primarily broadcasts content in the Tamil language)<ref name="gov_vasTV" />
*News
*Teledramas
*Films – Tamil / Hindi Films
*Documentaries
*Educational programmes <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070812/TV/tv_13.html |title=Creatas muppets enact 'Panchathanthra' |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=11 December 2019}}</ref>
*Children's entertainment

[[Prime TV Sri Lanka|Prime TV]] – (Primarily broadcasts content in the English language)<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.primetv.lk
|title=Prime TV Programmes
|author=Prime TV
|access-date=31 December 2009
}}</ref>
*News
*Music Programmes – (Music Runway, House of Rock, Music With Bevil)
*Debates and Discussions – (The Round Table, Ayubowan Sri Lanka, Prime Sunrise)
*Educational/Variety Programmes – (Prime Sunset)
*Drama – (Beverly Hills 90210, Relic Hunter, Queen of Swords)
*Other – (Sports/Foreign News/Cartoons)
[[Lakhanda radio|Lakhanda]] – (Primarily broadcasts content in the Sinhala language)<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.lakhanda.lk/programmes.html
|title=Lakhanda programmes
|author=Lakhanda
|access-date=31 December 2009
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091218072129/http://www.lakhanda.lk/programmes.html
|archive-date=18 December 2009
|df=dmy-all
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.lakhanda.lk/schedule.html
|title=Lakhanda schedule
|author=Lakhanda
|access-date=31 December 2009
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091216225214/http://www.lakhanda.lk/schedule.html
|archive-date=16 December 2009
|df=dmy-all
}}</ref>
*News
*Music – Sinhala
*Religious programmes
*Educational programmes
*Political programmes

Vasantham FM – (Primarily broadcasts content in the Tamil language)<ref name="gov_vasTV" /><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.vasanthamfm.lk/programs.html
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305104255/http://www.vasanthamfm.lk/programs.html
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=5 March 2016
|title=Vasantham FM Programmes and Schedule
|author=Vasantham FM
|access-date=31 December 2009
}}</ref>
*News
*Music – Tamil
*Religious programmes
*Educational programmes
*Political programmes

[[Prime Radio]] – (Primarily broadcasts content in the English language)<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.primeradio.lk/shows.html
|title = Prime Radio Shows
|author = Prime Radio
|access-date = 31 December 2009
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722145635/http://www.primeradio.lk/shows.html
|archive-date = 22 July 2011
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref>
*News
*Music

==Frequencies and coverage==

Cumulatively, the broadcasts of ITN Ltd reach over 99% of the country. However, the coverage for the individual radio stations and television channels vary considerably.

ITN<ref name="itn_coverage" />
*Frequency/ies: VHF Ch9, VHF Ch 12, VHF Ch 24
*Coverage: 99% of country except certain areas in the North
*International coverage: Live online streaming at The ITN Channel Online

Vasantham TV<ref name="gov_vasTV" />
*Frequency/ies:VHF Ch9, UHF 25
*Coverage:Western Province, North and East
*International coverage: Live online streaming at Vasantham TV Online

Prime TV<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.facebook.com/PrimeTV.UHF24
|title=Facebook – Prime TV
|author=Prime TV
|access-date=31 December 2009
|author-link=Prime TV Sri Lanka
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=https://twitter.com/PrimeTVsrilanka
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121209133922/http://www.twitter.com/PrimeTVsrilanka
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=9 December 2012
|title=Twitter – Prime TV
|author=Prime TV
|access-date=31 December 2009
|author-link=Prime TV Sri Lanka
}}</ref>
*Frequency/ies:UHF Ch24
*Coverage:Western Province
*International coverage: Live online streaming at Prime TV Online

Lakhanda<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.lakhanda.lk
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061115123501/http://www.lakhanda.lk/
|url-status = dead
|archive-date = 15 November 2006
|title = Lakhanda
|author = Lakhanda
|author-link = Lakhanda
|access-date = 31 December 2009
}}</ref>
*Frequency/ies + Coverage: 97.6 MHz – Colombo, South / 87.9 MHz – North and 88.5 MHz Islandwide
*International coverage: Live online streaming at [https://web.archive.org/web/20061115123501/http://www.lakhanda.lk/ Lakhanda Radio Online

Vasantham FM<ref name="gov_vasTV" />
*Frequency/ies + Coverage: 97.6 MHz – Colombo, 97.0Mhz
*International coverage: Live online streaming at Vasantham FM Online

Prime Radio
<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.primeradio.lk
|title=Prime Radio
|author=Prime Radio
|author-link=Prime Radio
|access-date=31 December 2009
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.facebook.com/PrimeRadio104.5
|title=Facebook – Prime Radio
|author=Prime Radio
|author-link=Prime Radio
|access-date=31 December 2009
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=https://twitter.com/PrimeRadio
|title=Twitter – Prime Radio
|author=Prime Radio
|author-link=Prime Radio
|access-date=31 December 2009
}}</ref>
*Frequency/ies + Coverage: 104.5 MHz – Colombo, 95.5 MHz – Kandy, 99.0 MHz – Galle
*International coverage: Live online streaming at Prime Radio Onlin]

==See also==
*[[List of television networks in Sri Lanka]]
*[[List of radio networks in Sri Lanka]]
*[[Media of Sri Lanka]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*ITN starts HD broadcasting: [https://web.archive.org/web/20161002180236/http://www.itnnews.lk/local-news/sri-lankas-first-full-hd-television-studio-complex-will-be-opened-tomorrow/ Sri Lanka’s first full HD television studio complex will be opened tomorrow], 29 June 2016

==External links==
*[http://www.itn.lk/ Official website of the ITN Channel]
*[http://www.itnfm.lk ITN FM Radio]
*[http://www.vasantham.lk/ Vasantham TV]
*[http://www.vasanthamfm.lk/ Vasantham FM Radio]
*[http://www.primetv.lk/ Prime TV Sri Lanka]
*[http://www.primeradio.lk/ Prime Radio Sri Lanka]
*[http://www.itnnews.lk/ Official Govt. News Portal – ITN News]
*[http://www.sundaytimes.lk/050724/tv/1.html ITN goes digital]

{{Media of Sri Lanka}}

[[Category:Sinhala-language television stations]]
[[Category:Independent Television Network| ]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1979]]
[[Category:1979 establishments in Sri Lanka]]

Independent Television Network - Revision history

Krishna57edits at 22:27, 26 December 2025

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article