Sikh Channel
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Sikh Channel
| logo = Sikh Channel logo.png
| logo_size = 150px
| logo_caption = Sikh Channel logo
| launch_date = 13 April 2009
| owner = Sikh Channel Community Interest Company Limited
| area = International
| replaced = Brit Hits
| website = [http://www.sikhchannel.tv www.sikhchannel.tv]
| online_serv_1 = Sikhchannel.tv
| online_chan_1 = [http://www.sikhchannel.tv/media/LiveStreaming.swf Watch live]
}}
The Sikh Channel is a United Kingdom based, free-to-air, Sikhi-focused satellite television channel. It's broadcast across Europe via satellite television, in Canada and is also streamed live on the internet. The Sikh Channel began broadcasting on 13 April 2009 on UK Sky channel 840, replacing Brit Hits.{{cite web|url=http://media247.co.uk/bizasia/newsarchive/2009/04/brit_hits_tv_ma.php|title=Brit Hits TV makes way for The Sikh Channel|publisher=Biz Asia|date=10 April 2009|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415142917/http://media247.co.uk/bizasia/newsarchive/2009/04/brit_hits_tv_ma.php|archivedate=15 April 2009}} The Sikh Channel primarily focuses on education and religious programming for the Sikh community.{{cite web|url=http://media247.co.uk/bizasia/newsarchive/2009/04/exclusive_the_s.php|title=Sikh Channel launches this month|publisher=Biz Asia|date=5 April 2009|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416133437/http://media247.co.uk/bizasia/newsarchive/2009/04/exclusive_the_s.php|archivedate=16 April 2009}} Its headquarters operate from a studio in the Aston area of Birmingham.
History
The Sikh Channel was founded by Davinder Singh Bal in April 2009 by TV Legal Limited.{{cite web|url=http://media247.co.uk/bizasia/newsarchive/2010/02/owner_of_brit_a.php|title=Owner of The Sikh Channel fined |publisher=Biz Asia|date=26 February 2010}} TV Legal formed The Sikh Channel Community Broadcasting Company Limited to accept donations, which are used to pay for the broadcasting and programming expenses.{{cite web|url=http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/enforcement/broadcast-bulletins/obb162/|title=Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 162 19/07/10|publisher=Ofcom|date=19 July 2010}} The Sikh Channel Community Broadcasting Company Limited became a registered Community Interest Company (CIC) on 25 September 2009, and later a registered charity on 2 June 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.sikhchannel.tv/cic.php|title=Certificate of incorporation of a community interest company|publisher=Sikh Channel|accessdate=7 September 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://media247.co.uk/bizasia/newsarchive/2010/07/ofcom_clears_th.php|title=Ofcom clears The Sikh Channel on appeals|publisher=Biz Asia|date=19 July 2010}} In December 2012, TV Legal Limited transferred the channel's television broadcast licence to the Sikh Channel Community Interest Company Limited.{{cite web|url=http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/tv-broadcast-licences/updates/122012|title=Television Broadcast Licensing Update December 2012|publisher=Ofcom|accessdate=8 January 2013}}
The Sikh Channel organised a demonstration on so-called ‘Dastar Day’ to obtain respect for the turban, following the introduction of manual checks at airports decided by the European Union, in front of the Palace of Westminster on September 25, 2011.
On 18 April 2013, the channel launched in Canada through an exclusive licensing agreement with the Asian Television Network as 'ATN Sikh Channel'.{{cite web|url=http://www.rapidtvnews.com/index.php/2013042327383/canada-s-atn-boosts-punjabi-tv-offer.html|title=Canada's ATN boosts Punjabi TV offer|publisher=Rapid TV News|date=23 April 2013}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.sikhchannel.tv/ Official website]
{{Sikhism}}
Category:Broadcasting in Birmingham, West Midlands
Category:Religious television channels in the United Kingdom
Category:Television channels and stations established in 2009
Category:Sikhism in the United Kingdom
Category:2009 establishments in the United Kingdom
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