BOL Network
Native name
بول
Bol (lit. 'speak')
TypePrivate
IndustryMedia and publishing house
FoundedJune 2013
Headquarters
Karachi
,
Pakistan
Area served
Pakistan
Key people
  • Sameer Chishty (Chairman & CEO)
ParentAsiaPak Investments
Websitebolnetwork.com

BOL Network (Urdu: بول نیٹ ورک) is a Pakistani TV network. It is formerly owned by Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh.[1][2][3] The company's head office is located in Karachi and called Bolistan,[4] and it has regional headquarters in Lahore, Peshawar and Islamabad.[4]

When Axact was revealed to be a diploma mill, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) temporarily revoked the license that it had awarded Bol.

In September 2023, Bol Network was acquired by AsiaPak Investments, a private investment firm, for an undisclosed sum, and Sameer Chishty was appointed as the new chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Bol Network.[5][6]

History

The BOL Network was started by Pakistani businessman Shoaib Ahmed Sheikh in June 2013, and according to him, it was meant to create an independent media house to portray a soft image of Pakistan and several notable journalists joined the network at that time.[7] After a number of delays, the network was launched December 1, 2016.[8]

It claims to have offered insurance of up to Rs. 10 million to cable operators.[9] In 2014, BOL Network advertised on more than 20,000 public transport vehicles in Pakistan.[10] The company also announced a television set brand by the name of BG.[11]

In 2017, Bol was accused of defaming politician Ishaq Dar.[12]

In September 2022, PEMRA again revoked the network's license due to the channel failing to acquire security clearance.[13][14]

Axact scandal

Involvement

When the offices of Axact were raided by the authorities, Bol Network provided digital satellite news gathering vehicles to block journalists from accessing to the building.[15] In the course of the investigation, Bol was accused of using illegally imported equipment.[16]

Aftermath

Many journalists and other senior staff, including the editor-in-chief Kamran Khan,[17] resigned in the course of the scandal.[18][19][20][21][22]

ARY Digital HD Network Group

In August 2015, ARY Digital HD Network Group announced that they would take over the business and incorporate into their network,[23] but these plans eventually failed.[24]

AsiaPak Investments Group of Companies Buy Bol Network HD.

AsiaPak Investments is an investment company with offices in Karachi, Lahore, and, Islamabad. It invests only in Pakistan; its sectors include infrastructure, energy, power, transport, logistics, and, technology. Sameer Chishty, newly installed chairman and CEO of Bol Network, is a seasoned international technology investor in Asia and the Middle East. He also added, “The new Bol Network promises powerful ways of generating and distributing content so we may all teach and we may all learn. We will empower users to engage their communities on issues important to them. Bol will enable Pakistanis to generate content in Bol studios captured by Bol cameras on Bol satellite TV and on global online social media assisted by Bol. We will all make our voices heard. Together we will know more, do more, and, be more. Bol invites our viewers, our advertisers, our employees, as well as our future employees, to join us on this mission”.

BOL Network Channels List


See also

References

  1. ↑ "BOL Network boss promises biggest ever corporate launch". journalismpakistan.com. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  2. ↑ Talal, Syed. "ARY Quits BOL Network Takeover". Prop Pakistani. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  3. ↑ Declan Walsh (17 May 2015). "Fake Diplomas, Real Cash: Pakistani Company Axact Reaps Millions". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  4. 1 2 "BOL Builds State-of-the-art Infrastructure in Pakistan". Bolnetwork.com. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  5. ↑ "Bol Network acquired by AsiaPak Investments". 11 September 2023.
  6. ↑ "AsiaPak Investments acquires Pakistan's Bol Network, amount not disclosed". 11 September 2023.
  7. ↑ "Big Names in Pakistani Media Making the Move to BOL TV". ZemTV. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  8. ↑ HIP DESK (16 November 2018). "Bol Entertainment to be launched on 1st December". Hip. hipinpakistan.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  9. ↑ "BOL Network announces free lifeinsurance of up to Rs. 1 crore to cable operators across Pakistan - Pakistan Tribe". www.pakistantribe.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  10. ↑ "BOL Family Program providing Rozgar upgrading Public Transport: Simply CSR or Brilliant Marketing Strategy?". Media Watch 360. 24 November 2014. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  11. ↑ "BOL Group Introduces Its Very Own TV brand – BG!". www.bolnetwork.com. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  12. ↑ "Ishaq Dar Sends Legal Notice to Bol TV & Dr. Shahid Masood". 30 January 2017. Archived from the original on 30 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  13. ↑ "Pakistan: BOL broadcast suspended across Pakistan / IFJ". www.ifj.org. 7 September 2022. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  14. ↑ Dawn.com (5 September 2022). "Pemra orders 'immediate' closure of Bol News broadcast citing failure to obtain security clearance". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  15. ↑ "'Fake degrees mill' FIA raids Axact offices". The Express Tribune. 20 May 2015. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  16. ↑ "Equipment at Bol TV 'imported illegally'". The Express Tribune. 26 May 2015. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  17. ↑ "Kamran Khan quits Axact's BOL Network". Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  18. ↑ Imtiaz, Saba (23 May 2015). "Pakistani Journalists Resign to Cut Ties to Axact, a Fake Diploma Company". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 12 April 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  19. ↑ "Kamran Khan Azhar Abbas other senior journalists quit Bol". Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  20. ↑ "Exodus in the making: Senior journalists quit Bol TV as Axact controversy deepens". The Express Tribune. 24 May 2015. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  21. ↑ Khan, Kamran [@AajKamranKhan] (23 May 2015). "Charges against Axact far from proven in court but my conscience not letting me continue.I've decided to disassociate from Bol immediately" (Tweet). Retrieved 18 September 2016 – via Twitter.
  22. ↑ "Exodus in the making: Senior journalists quit Bol TV as Axact controversy deepens". The Express Tribune. 24 May 2015. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  23. ↑ "ARY CEO and Founder Salman Iqbal takes over BOL Network management — says BOL will be launched in three weeks". ARY SERVICES LTD UK. ARYNEWS.tv. 19 August 2015. Archived from the original on 21 August 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  24. ↑ BOL Network [@BOLNETWORK] (30 September 2015). "Important Announcement regarding #BOL:" (Tweet). Retrieved 3 August 2023 – via Twitter.
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