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| Company type | Government-owned corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television |
| Genre | Mass media |
| Founded | 5 June 1979; 46 years ago (1979-06-05) |
| Founder | |
| Headquarters | Wickramasinghepura,, |
Area served | Sri Lanka |
Key people | |
| Products | Broadcasting Network |
| Revenue |  Rs 2.492 billion (2015)[1] |
 Rs 507.33 million(2015)[1] | |
| Rs 433.021 million (2015)[1] | |
| Total assets | Rs 4.059 billion (2015)[1] |
| Total equity | Rs 3.198 billion (2015)[1] |
Number of employees | 684 (2018)[1] |
| Parent | Ministry of Information and Mass Media |
| Website | www |
Independent Television Network Ltd (Sinhala:ස්වාධීන රූපවාහිනී මාධ්ය ජාලය;Tamil:சுயாதீன தொலைக்காட்சி ஊடக வளையமைப்பு), also known asITN Ltd or simply asITN (Sinhala:අයිටීඑන්), is a state-governed television and radio broadcaster in Sri Lanka. Its headquarters are located inWickramasinghepura,Battaramulla. ITN received the Shrama Abhimani Award in October 2009.[2] The network broadcasts programmes to a wide demographic within Sri Lanka as well as to the expatriate community. Its content is presented inSinhala,Tamil, and English, with broadcast coverage extending to 99% of the country.[3][4][5]
The ITN channel is the flagship television channel of ITN Ltd. In addition, ITN operates threeFM radio stations:Lakhanda (formerly ITN FM), which broadcasts inSinhala; Vasantham FM, which broadcasts inTamil; andPrime Radio, which broadcasts in English. ITN also operatesVasantham TV, a second television channel that broadcasts in Tamil. In recent years, ITN launched ITN News, an online portal designed to distribute local news internationally.[6]
ITN channel was the first1080p full HD television channel in Sri Lanka. ITN Ltd invested Rs. 200 million in the construction of the country's first HD studio complex, commencing high-resolution broadcasting on 30 June 2016.
Prior to the establishment of ITN, several decisions had to be taken regarding the deployment of television in Sri Lanka. The Japanese companyNEC provided technical assistance for the construction of the station, and later also supported the establishment ofRupavahini in 1982. The development of ITN took place alongside that of Rupavahini. One of the crucial decisions concerned the selection of a colour television system. Although neighbouring India was then operating a black-and-white system using NTSC equipment, Sri Lanka adopted the PAL system, with technical support provided by Japan, which itself used avariant of NTSC.
ITN was founded by Anil Wijewardene and Shan Wickremesinghe at Mahalwarawa, with additional support from an American investor. The first test transmissions were carried out in 1979 and were initially received only in Colombo, the channel's first coverage area. Early programming included international content such as the American educational seriesSesame Street and the British sitcomMind Your Language.[7]
ITN Ltd formally commenced operations on 13 April 1979 with the launch of the ITN television channel.[3] As the first television broadcasting service in Sri Lanka and South Asia, ITN introduced the first terrestrial television channel in the country. It was also the first privately owned television station in a region where radio and television were generally under government control.[8] The founding board of directors comprisedShan Wickramasinghe, Anil Wijewardene and Bob Christie. Initially, the ITN studios and transmission station were located at Mahalwarawa Estate,Pannipitiya. A one-kilowatt transmitter and a 65 feet (20 m) transmission tower broadcast within a 15 miles (24 km) radius ofColombo.[3] However, due to the geographical location of the station, weather conditions and limitations of the transmission equipment, early viewers often experienced disruptions and interference in programmes caused by voltage fluctuations.[citation needed]
On 5 June 1979, ITN Ltd was taken over by the state as a business undertaking under aCompetent Authority.[3] The lateD. Thevis L. Guruge, former Director General of theSri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, was appointed as Competent Authority and played a significant role in the early development of the organisation.
Soon after commencing test broadcasts, ITN expanded its regular programming to a wider urban area. Local companies began importing Japanese-manufactured television sets, and sales quickly exceeded projections by UNESCO. At the time, television in India was still limited to black-and-white transmissions byDoordarshan, largely aimed atagricultural education, which contributed to the high demand for Japanese-made television sets in Sri Lanka, some of which were smuggled across borders due to the absence of an established market for foreign brands.[7]
ITN was also the pioneer ofcolour television broadcasting in Sri Lanka.[8] On 5 June 1984, ITN relocated to its present headquarters inWickramasinhapura. In 1992, ITN was converted into a public company, with the state as its major shareholder.[3] Thereafter, its revenue, programming diversity, technical capacity and coverage expanded considerably.[citation needed]
Among its radio operations, ITN managesLakhanda and Vasantham FM. Lakhanda originated as a subsidiary of theSri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) and was amalgamated with ITN Ltd on 1 April 1997.[9] It broadcasts content in Sinhala. Vasantham FM, launched in June 2009, was established to cater to the Tamil-speaking community in Sri Lanka.
On 25 June 2009, ITN introduced its second television channel,Vasantham TV, which broadcasts in Tamil.[10][11] On 12 November 2009, ITN also launchedPrime TV andPrime Radio, which provide content in English.[5][12]
The television channels and radio stations of ITN Ltd broadcast a wide range of programmes in Sinhala, Tamil and English. The following are some of the programmes and genres associated with its services.
ITN channel (Sinhala)[13]
Vasantham TV (Tamil)[10]
Prime Radio (English)[19]
Cumulatively, the broadcasts of ITN Ltd reach more than 99% of Sri Lanka. However, the individual coverage of each television channel and radio station varies considerably.
ITN[4]
Vasantham TV[10]
Lakhanda[22]
Vasantham FM[10]