History of Television in Sri Lanka

 The history of television in Sri Lanka

 reflects the country's media development and technological progress since the late 20th century. Here's a concise overview:

Early Beginnings

1979: Television was officially introduced to Sri Lanka.

Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) was established as the national television broadcaster under Act No. 6 of 1982, and began regular transmissions in 1982.

The first experimental telecast was made by the Independent Television Network (ITN), which began operations on 13 April 1979, becoming South Asia’s first television broadcaster.

Major Milestones

ITN: Initially a private venture, it was taken over by the government in June 1979 and became state-owned.

SLRC (Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation): Launched in 1982 with Japanese aid; focused on educational, cultural, and informational programming.

1992: Marked the beginning of private television broadcasting. The first private TV station was MTV (now TV Derana and Sirasa TV).

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Growth and Expansion

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, multiple private and regional channels were established.

Channels began broadcasting in Sinhala, Tamil, and English, catering to the island’s diverse population.

Satellite and cable TV services started gaining popularity in the 2000s.

Digital Era and Modern Developments

Transition from analog to digital broadcasting began in the 2010s, with Japan’s ISDB-T standard selected for digital migration.

Emergence of online TV platforms and live streaming, especially after 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Popular stations now include Sirasa TV, Swarnavahini, Hiru TV, TV Derana, Nethra TV, and TNL TV.