December 30, 2009 UCAN: Karachi archdiocese launched the first Catholic satellite television channel in the country.

Archbishop Evarist Pinto launched the Good News TV channel with a click of the mouse to applause from the crowd of 350. The event was held just before Christmas.

“Good News TV will place a special emphasis on values and will show programs which cannot be seen on other TV channels,” said Vicar General Father Arthur Charles, chief executive of the enterprise.

Program hosts and guests will include members of the clergy, prominent laypeople, members of secular society and media personalities. The channel will broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In addition to presenting programs on the Mass, scripture readings, the lives of the saints and rosary recitations, the channel will also cover current events, politics, music, entertainment, arts and sports.

As a satellite channel, Good News TV is expected to reach more people than existing Catholic television services in the country.

The archdiocese of Lahore broadcasts a TV channel on a cable network but it can only be viewed within a 10-kilometer radius of St. Francis parish in the city.

“It was no easy task to get our own satellite TV channel,” said Father Charles, adding that the project could not have been realized without the support of Archbishop Pinto and priests.

The archbishop hailed the launch of the satellite service as “a massive step forward” for Church broadcasting in the country.