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Website Development to Create the Urdu Presence of Pakistani News Channel

Samaa TV

Aiming to deliver the same website experience to its Urdu speaking viewers, Samaa TV needed a reliable tech partner. So, it tagged DPL to help it achieve its Urdu-first vision.

The Client

The Client

Launched in 2007, Samaa TV is a Pakistani news channel with several accolades under its belt.

Samaa TV is the first private satellite channel to provide live transmission from five cities simultaneously. It’s also one of the major innovators in journalism, introducing iSAMAA to empower citizen journalism, and ‘Breaking News Alerts’ to ensure people on the go receive updates in a timely manner.

Samaa TV has also cemented its reputation as a leading news channel by employing the biggest name in journalism, state of the art studios, and advanced technologies. It currently holds the title of fourth-largest news channel in Pakistan.

The Problem

The Problem

Samaa TV wished to honor its Urdu-first policy by creating an Urdu language news page. Visitors would land on that page first whereas the existing English page would be shifted to an entirely separate domain.

In addition to splitting its Urdu and English website, Samaa TV wanted to be able to manage each from separate admin panels. This was currently impossible using the current site’s technology.

The Solution

The Solution

Samaa TV’s project was a delicate one considering its scale and tight deadline. The legacy systems in place were another challenge as it may impact the performance of the new website.

Intrigued by this challenge, DPL’s website development teams started working immediately. We were able to –

  • Host both the English and Urdu sites on separate new domains
  •  Create a unique website to replace its then-current single content database
  • Implement the latest version of WordPress without impacting the user interface or user experience
  •  Change URLs of the stories published on both sites while ensuring proper redirection
  • · Integrate the latest security measures to prevent threats and issues that can compromise the website
  • · Set up Google Analytics for the English and Urdu versions of Samaa TV

The Impact

Samaa TV was able to launch its Urdu website and achieve its Urdu-first vision. While this was a relatively short engagement, the new channel retained our services for several more to secure its position as an innovator in its industry.

Talha Saleem

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Talha Saleem, Head of Business Growth