Photo By Hamidullah Hafizi 

The founder and CEO of Telephone Systems International (TSI), Mr. Ehsan Bayat, has launched a private, non-partisan, television and radio station in Kabul in summer 2005: ARIANA Television Network (ATN) and ARIANA Radio (FM 94.8). ATN provides original content that helps re-kindle Afghan traditions and culture, as well as, English-language and international programming that will help offer “a window for a better tomorrow” and bring the world to all Afghans. ATN programming places particular emphasis on education, health, children's programming, women's and world issues.

Mr. Bayat's main objective in starting his media businesses (akin to his other projects in Afghanistan ) is his desire to return something to his home country which suffered greatly in 25 years of war.

Particularly affected have been children and schooling.

Mr. Bayat, a U.S. citizen who escaped from Afghanistan in the 1980s and has been a long-term resident of New Jersey, has been working to identify and develop relationships with international partners that may be able to provide educational related programming that helps promote U.S. culture, English language, and can help overcome the decades of minimal educational opportunities the children have had. ATN is also committed to work closely with the Ministry of Education and other relevant Afghan government offices to donate televisions to a number of schools & community centers around Afghanistan so those most in need can tune into the educational material.

ATN has launched with a significant amount of original content each day, developed by a team of experienced Afghan writers, producers, and directors; in short, a team of Afghans producing programs in Afghanistan, for Afghanistan. ATN is proud to hire talented local Afghanis who, even with minimal resources, have been able to produce high quality television programs, and ATN is also proud to have selected a team on the basis of not only media expertise and skills, but also keeping in mind the need to have representation from all the major ethnic groups in the country. ATN's commitment to being a truly Afghan broadcaster is also seen in its news reporting and content – news reports are read in Dari, Pashtu, and English, and content features updates, programs, specials, and subject matter from all of Afghanistan 's regions. Furthermore, all of the high quality educational and entertainment programs purchased internationally will have Dari and Pashtun subtitles inserted and, as appropriate, voice-overs by one of ATN's numerous talented Pashtun and Dari announcers, writers, or producers. ATN plans to augment its own content with selective introduction of international content that will indeed act as a “Window to the World” for the Afghan viewing audience. This content will help educate, inform, and inspire Afghans (particularly youth and women) to put the decades of conflict behind them and look towards the future.

An Afghan initiative, ATN is committed to bring intelligent and stimulating television programs to the people of Afghanistan . ATN's pledge is to bring educational television in a vibrant entertaining way. The audience will experience other lands, cultures, or even parts of their native Afghanistan for the first time. ATN will indeed be a “Window for a Better Tomorrow” for the Afghan people.

ATN is strongly committed to bring educational television programs. We believe the best way to rebuild a nation is through education. ATN seeks to give its viewers the tools they need to make a difference in their lives and to help build their country.

ATN will use its non-partisan position to broadcast accurate, unbiased news to the audience as events occur. In addition, ATN intends to bring current events and news from the various regions of Afghanistan , and provide live coverage of the upcoming Parliamentary elections this autumn.

ATN will provide entertaining education through its programs, but will serve as a place for local Afghani talents to come together to create unique and valuable television. ATN hopes to expand opportunities for writers, directors, producers, and actors within the creative Afghani communities.

By creating Afghani arts and cultural television programs, ATN hopes to help re-establish Afghani culture and traditions that were lost during many years of war. ATN also wishes to expose its audience to international arts and culture by bringing the best of arts & cultural television from around the world.

It is ATN's mission to unite the many regions of Afghanistan under one flag; one big community which -- despite varied demographics -- will still share in a common interest: to rebuild Afghanistan through education and culture.