Geo TV goes free in UK; joins BARB

After our exclusive news break last month, BizAsia can now confirm that Geo TV has gone free-to-air permanently in the UK and has signed up to BARB.

The popular Pakistani channel was previously available free-to-air for a couple of years when it launched in the UK in 2005. However due to the highly competitive free TV market, Geo TV has had to rejig its business model and drop the encryption wall on its channel. It will now join Hum TV Europe in the free market. Hum TV Europe has been a huge success as a free service since its launch in March this year. ARY Digital currently has an exclusive deal with Sky Asia Pack and thus is only available through its subscription.

Geo TV’s sister channels – Geo News and Geo Tez turned free recently and have done well in UK ratings. It will be interesting to see if Geo TV can prove a bigger success than Hum TV Europe with its high-end content.

Previously, Geo TV denied it was going free-to-air permanently, saying the current “free window” is for a short period only.

According to Kantar Media, Geo TV’s official viewing data from BARB becomes available from today (Tuesday 30th December).