For more than 10 years, Ariana Television Network (ATN) has been providing Afghans with a “Window for a Better Tomorrow” (as the company’s mission statement describes it) thanks to its wide range of first-class educational and entertainment programming. Over the past decade, ATN has brought audiences everything from unbiased news and current affairs programs to Afghanistan’s own version of the international smash hit “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?,” focusing particularly on content that rekindles Afghanistan’s rich cultural and historical traditions.
Today, ATN’s program offerings are as diverse and high quality as ever. Read on for a closer look at some of the network’s most popular current shows.
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Sobh-o-Zindagi
One of Afghanistan’s best-loved morning shows, Sobh-o-Zindagi airs every day from 7 am to 9 am, bringing viewers all over the country a daily slice of life in Afghanistan. The show features stories and interviews in a variety of categories—news, culture, the economy, the environment, technology, culture, and history are all on the menu—as well as reporting on important problems facing the country. For a lighter note, songs and sports news round out the show.
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Holy Quran recitation
Another important daily program is the recitation of the Holy Quran. Every morning at 4:30, a number of different speakers are called on to recite verses from the Holy Quran; their readings are aired live for the benefit of ATN’s many devout viewers.
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Mehman e Man
Get to know a local celebrity over a meal with Mehman e Man. In this program, some of Afghanistan’s most prominent social and political figures enjoy an informal talk about their lives and careers with the show’s host. But Mehman e Man puts a unique twist on the everyday talk-show format: host and guest not only chat together, they also cook together live on the program.
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Warzesh
With the rise of Afghanistan’s national football and cricket teams, not to mention the recent success of the country’s women’s cycling team, sport has come to play a major role in Afghanistan’s cultural identity. Warzesh brings viewers the latest news and updates from the domestic and international sporting world; the program also offers occasional live broadcasts of major sporting events.
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Rahgosha
ATN tackles critical contemporary issues head on with Rahgosha, a social-political critique program that airs twice every week. On the show, speakers discuss important and often controversial topics like unemployment, women’s issues, poverty, corruption, and environmental problems.
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Youz ma youz
The Uzbeks are one of Afghanistan’s largest ethnic groups, estimated to comprise about 9% of the country’s total population. In celebration of this legacy, the weekly program Youz ma youz is dedicated to exploring Uzbek traditions and culture and examining the stories of the Uzbek experience in Afghanistan.
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Nawai (Dulhann)
It seems that Afghan audiences just can’t get enough Bollywood. Movies and soap operas from India are immensely popular throughout Afghanistan, so ATN was delighted to secure the exclusive Afghan broadcast rights for Nawai (Dulhann), a wildly successful soap opera that aired on the Indian network Zee TV from 2006 to 2009. Dubbed into Dari and Pasto, the serial was a huge hit when it was first aired in Afghanistan; due to popular demand, ATN has brought the program back for repeat viewing.
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Mara bebakhsh
Another hugely popular dramatic serial, Mara bebakhsh tells the story of a Turkish family and its legacy of strength, determination, and hope as its members wrestle with the challenges of relationships and family life. Featuring exceptional writing and high-quality performances, Mara bebakhsh unfolds over the course of more than 400 episodes, which are aired by ATN every evening from Saturday to Wednesday.
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Viewer Choice
As its title suggests, in this live, hour-long music show, the programming is chosen by the audience: viewers call in to request their favorite songs, new or old, which are played live on air. A very popular program for viewers of all ages, Viewer Choice is a great opportunity to hear old favorites or learn about newly released albums and up-and-coming artists.
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Bo e Mah
Language and literature enthusiasts love Bo e Mah, a specialty program focused on Old Persian literature. Drawing on historical Persian literary works, the program’s host analyzes Persian grammar and explores special topics related to the Persian and Dari languages.
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Rawish e Roshan
Helping devout viewers better understand the Islamic faith is an important goal for ATN. That’s the principle behind Rawish e Roshan, a call-in show that lets viewers phone or text in their religious questions and get replies live on the air. It is broadcast every Friday at 3 pm.
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Darmaan
Another live, interactive program, Darmaan focuses on helping viewers with health and medical issues by providing the information and support they need to feel empowered. In this weekly show, a team of medical professionals discuss a variety of health-related topics, and answer health and medical questions from viewers who may not be able to get the information they need from their own doctors.