ARY Network was launched in the United Kingdom in December 2000 as the Pakistani channel to cater to the Pakistani community living in the region.[citation needed] It used Samacom, an uplink provider based in the UAE, as the uplink teleport station.[1]
Later, the channel rebranded to ARY Digital. It started off with a format similar to PTV Prime and other South Asian channels; it provided slots for soap operas in general while presenting an hourly slot for news headlines.
In February 2017, ARY Network UK, which consisted of ARY Digital, ARY News, ARY QTV, ARY World News and ARY Entertainment was banned in the UK.[2]
In March 2017, a company called New Vision TV bought the rights to broadcast ARY News[3] and ARY Digital[4] in the UK. In April 2017, ARY News was relaunched as New Vision TV ARY World,[5] airing content from ARY News and some UK based shows. On 12 December 2017, ARY Digital UK relaunched as ARY Family airing content from ARY Digital and launching a few UK based shows.[6]
On 13 November 2020, ARY Family UK rebranded to ARY Digital UK airing content from ARY Digital and some shows for UK viewers.[7]
Programming
The channel line-up include dramas, sitcoms, comedy, feature films, teleplay, educational shows, series, game shows and talk shows. The channel also broadcast religious shows during Islamic events.