On a Strong Wicket to Respond to Pakistani Viewers’ Expectations

It was not very long ago when people in Pakistan had access to only a handful of TV channels for news and entertainment. Today, Pakistan’s media landscape, and its more than 130 channels, competes on the world stage by launching powerful dramas, engaging morning shows and exciting sports.

With Intelsat, media organizations in Pakistan can gain immediate access to the largest global media network and premier cable and broadcast systems – simply and seamlessly. Our two leading satellite video neighborhoods, Intelsat 20 and Intelsat 17, with the large number of headends pointing towards them ensuring a high penetration across the country, offer immense opportunity for programmers and broadcasters to reach their audiences across all provinces.

With 213.8 million inhabitants, Pakistan is a vast country of seven provinces that include dense urban areas, but also sandy deserts, desolate plateaus, fertile plains and mountainous regions. Wherever they are located, all inhabitants have the same appetite for optimal viewing experience with high quality content. While the country is progressing towards further digital and analog TV transmission, 51.9% of the population still relies on analog transmission only, even though the analog share shrinks in the Sindh province. Digital terrestrial is expected to expand in other provinces over the next few years, ensuring higher quality of image and access to a larger number of channels.

From food and children to entertainment channels, all are vying for new viewers by working on delivering the high-quality content viewers expect, in what has become a very competitive environment. Sport is also a major source of TV revenue with cricket games breaking viewership records each time. One of the most watched sporting events in Pakistan, the 2023 Cricket World Cup taking place in October and November, is expected to be watched on television by millions. With a penetration of 75%, television remains in Pakistan the main platform for news, sports and entertainment.

Satellites’ ability to reach a large area with no geographic restrictions makes it the technology of choice for video distribution in Pakistan. Households across the seven provinces can be reached relying on the 539 headends located in Pakistan, as established by a survey led by Intelsat and ChromeDM. Being the most industrialized province in the country, and the most populous one with 40% of its population concentrated in urban centers, Punjab is widely covered with antennas as well as Sindh, one of the largest economies in Pakistan. In all seven provinces, headends are strategically positioned to ensure content delivery, regardless of the location and at all times.

Consumer viewing habits and changes in television technologies evolve continuously, while the need to monetize content is constant. The investments required to create content demands a smart, global distribution strategy.

As the country moves towards further digitization, Intelsat satellites, platforms and connectivity support the transition to digital television and help media organizations grow their audience, not their costs. Intelsat has full-time leases available on the Intelsat 20 and Intelsat 17 premier video neighborhoods and a cost-effective way to test new broadcast markets with multi-channel per carrier platforms.

Media organizations can trust Intelsat to deliver these exceptional viewing experiences to anyone, anywhere, relying on the reach of its video neighborhoods – enabling them to grow audiences and cater to the ever-changing needs of viewers.