By Matters India Reporter
Jalandhar, Aug 19, 2020: A Catholic television channel in the northern Indian state of Punjab has been flooded with congratulatory messages after YouTube honored it for achieving a “six-digit milestone.”
“You have just done something that very few YouTube creators accomplish. You had an astonishing 100,000 people subscribing to your channel,” says the “Certificate of Recognition” the Prarthana Bhawan (prayer house) TV of the Jalandhar diocese received on August 18 from the American online video-sharing platform.
Bishop Agnelo Rufino Gracias, apostolic administrator of Jalandhar, on August 18 presented the certificate and the “Award of Silver Play Button” from YouTube to the Father Martin Sadiq, who took over as the television channel director in March 2019.
Father Sadiq told Matters India August 19 that the channel, launched ten years ago, had only 14,610 subscribers when he took over. By August 19, the channel had 112,236 subscribers with 17, 297,555 viewers.
“You achieved this milestone with hard work, perseverance and probably a healthy sense of humor too,” says the YouTube certificate. “What you have achieved cannot be taken away from you. And we’d like to recognize you and all your hard work with the Silver Creator Award, a small token of our esteem and respect;” it adds.
The certificate, signed by YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, also points out that everyone who has subscribed to the Church channel “has been touched by what you created. They were inspired, challenged and entertained.”
The certificate also acknowledges that the Church channel does not hanker after awards.
“You do it because you have a drive to create and share, and because you’ve found an audience who cares. Believe us when we say that we can’t wait to see what you do next. A million subscribers may be a long way off right now, but you’re closer than you think. And we are rooting for you,” says the certificate.
Members of the Indian unit of Signis, the Catholic international media organization, have flooded its WhatsApp group with messages of congratulations after Father Sadiq shared the news about the award.
Father Sadiq says his television channel offers programs in Punjabi, Hindi and English through platforms such as Jio TV, NXT Digital Cable, Inland Digital Service, IPTV Galaxy Worldwide and Airtel Xtream.
A year ago, it was only on Airtel Digital TV, explained Father Sadiq, a native of Punjab, who had earlier served as a professor and vice rector of the Jalandhar-based Holy Trinity Regional Major Seminary.
He is also the executive secretary to the Jalandhar diocese’s Media Commission
YouTube was created in February 2005 and Google bought it November 2006. It now operates as one of Google’s subsidiaries. As of May 2019, more than 500 hours of video content were uploaded to YouTube every minute. Based on reported quarterly advertising revenue, YouTube is estimated to have US$15 billion in annual revenues.