ITN: История и развитие первого HD-канала Шри-Ланки

Sri Lankan state owned broadcaster
the British Independent Television network

The ITN channel is the flagship television channel of ITN Ltd. ITN further operates three FM radio stations; 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. 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.

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 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 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 LWT British sitcom Mind Your Language were among the first programmes seen. ITN Ltd commenced operations on 13 April 1979 with the introduction of the TN television channel. 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 transmission tower were used to broadcast the ITN channel within a radius of the city of Colombo. 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. This particular television channel broadcasts content in the Tamil language. ITN launched Prime TV and Prime Radio, a television channel and radio station that broadcasts material in English on 12 November 2009.