Zone (Porowon)

Zone is one of the three English-speaking channels operated by the Media Corporation of Porowon. In its current configuration, it broadcasts 12 hours of kids programming (14 on weekends) and 3 of sports. The channel operates from 9am (7am on weekends) to midnight.

The channel's current configuration dates back to 2008, however Zone has had a longer, more complex history.

History

PHK 11

Channel 11 opened on January 31, 1984 by the then-PHK. In its initial configuration it broadcast programs dedicated to arts and culture, primarily in English. It later became the house of Bengali-language television.

Zone

The channel was rebranded Zone in 2000. It was divided into three subchannels: Kids Zone, Ekushey Zone and Arts Zone. Ekushey Zone was dropped from the schedule in October 2008 when the standalone Ekushey channel launched.

The channel formally became Zone from then on. It ran on cable and DTT channel 7.

On February 20, 2019, the Media Corporation of Porowon announced that Zone would shut down on April 30, 2019. There are a few reasons: the government recently banned children from appearing on Porowonian television, this allows kids production in Porowon to be restricted; the laws in favor of a ban on Sierran content on MCP radio and television services and budget reasons. It is possible that Zone's shutdown might also be related to illegal use of its frequencies two weeks before the decision was made and again in April, before the definitive shutdown.

Zone eventually shut down on April 30, 2019 at 23:59.

Programming

Kidszone (2000-2008)

• [USS] Jumanji: The Animated Series
• [USS] Jackie Chan Adventures
• [KEI] Stickin' Around

Kids programming after the rename to Zone (2008-2019)

• [USS] Panwapa
• [KEI/DAE] Z Squad
• [KEI/HPL] Wayside
• [MAL] Boo and Me
• [USS] SpongeBob SquarePants
• [NOR/MIC] H2O: Just Add Water
• [NOR/MIC/LEN] a gURLs wURLd
• [NOR/NMI/GSC] Staines Down Drains
• [NMI] The Amazing Extraordinary Friends

There was also a strand called Kidflicks that ran on Friday nights at 7pm. Some of the films (not entirely aimed at kids) featured on the channel included:

• Karate Kid
• Stuart Little
• Jumanji
• Iz and the Zizzles
• Neverending Story
• Richie Rich
• Back to the Future
• Back to the Future 2
• Back to the Future 3
• The Archies in Jugman

Illegal occupation

In February 2019, an unnamed clandestine television channel took over Zone's signal at around 2am when the channel was off-air. The channel was broadcasting a discussion between two opposition members and were talking about subjects that are not suitable for television according to the current government. They were later arrested by the Porowonian Justice Force for "violating the country's principles".

Television Great Scorria correspondents gathered footage of the illegal broadcast, censoring the faces of the culprits, but not censoring references to their plans against George Wangjia.

A second broadcast was held at 12:10am already on the 21st of April; a four-minute broadcast featuring Peter Joro in defense of violence in Porowon and Great Scorria was shown. Although the perpetrator behind the illegal broadcast is the same as the one from February, one of the faces of the February broadcast was already in prison. Like the above broadcast, most news organizations chose to censor the faces, including that of Peter Joro, who is guilty of killing 54 people, yet isn't jailed due to his status as being a relative of George Wangjia.