Interview with Shovvozbek Poziljonov, Deputy Director of the ZUR TV channel in Uzbekistan.

Childhood in Andijan

– When, where, and in what kind of family were you born?

I was born on April 19, 1987, in the city of Andijan, Uzbekistan.

– What did your parents do for a living?

I come from an ordinary family. My mother was a nurse, and my father was a welder at a factory.

– How many children are in your family?

I have two brothers, an older and a younger one. There were no girls, so we had to do many things ourselves: washing dishes, doing laundry, and cleaning.

Education and First Job

– Which school did you attend? What subjects did you like?

I went to a regular high school. Honestly, at that time, I was only playing football at school. I wasn’t very interested in classes. I was always hanging out with my friends. But even then, I wanted to work and help my family. So, I sold samsa and kebabs. Old ladies baked them at home, and we bought and resold them at a higher price. I saved this money and spent it on gifts for my loved ones during holidays.

– At what age did you start working?

In the second grade. At first, I sold with friends. In the seventh grade, I started working as a bodyworker in a workshop. My father got me the job. I worked in the workshop for two years, repairing and painting cars.

– What did you do after finishing school?

I studied until the 9th grade and then went to college to become an economist-lawyer. My parents chose this field. They wanted me to become a financially secure person in the future.

– Did you serve in the army after college?

No, I didn’t serve in the army. At some point, I needed a military ID, so I went to the military enlistment office and asked to join the service, but the conscription had already passed.

First Steps in the World of Technology

– How did you get into the world of technology and television?

It was an interesting situation. At that time, I was studying in college. I was late for class, and there were no seats left. The auditorium was full, and the subject was a core one, so I had to stand. Then another teacher knocked on the door and asked if anyone knew how to use a computer.

Honestly, I had never even held a keyboard before, but I said I knew everything. They took me to the computer lab, where the task was to convert a document into an electronic format. I started slowly typing the letters. From that moment, I came to the computer lab every morning to learn about computers.

– Modern technology requires constant education and learning. How did you keep up with this knowledge?

My friends helped me. At that time, the internet wasn’t very developed. We would sit and study at home, one day at my place, the next day at a friend’s place. We bought old computers, IBM, and old equipment. We disassembled them, studied them, replaced RAM, and changed parts. Sometimes we went to a master, took an old broken computer, and asked him to fix it, while we watched how he did it. Then we would come back and test it. Eventually, the internet developed, and we got knowledge from there.

From Sound Engineer to Technical Director

– After finishing college, where did you go to work?

I was already deeply into IT, so I chose this path. I started working at the state company UzbekNavo, which organizes concerts.

– How did you get into UzbekNavo?

It was by chance. My friends and I decided to host a disco, but we didn’t know we needed a contract for the event. We held the event illegally, and the company invited us over. That’s how my technical interest developed. They had big speakers, equipment, and sound amplifiers.

I was interested in how to use all that, so I studied how to connect the equipment, where to adjust it, when to turn it off, and how it all worked. Once, the sound engineer quit, and no one knew how to set up the equipment. The director invited me to the position. I agreed, even though I only understood about 40% of it. I became a sound engineer and worked at concerts.

– Why did you decide to leave UzbekNavo?

I already had certain responsibilities, but there was no room for growth.

– How did your career develop after that?

I started working at a recording studio. There, I got interested in the operator part and learned how to shoot music videos. I filmed and edited videos.

– How long did you work there?

I worked at the studio for two years. Then I was invited to work at the Didor radio station. In the Fergana Valley, it was one of the most popular radio stations. At first, I did sound editing, then I was appointed technical director. Broadcasting became the main focus of my career. I loved that place. Unfortunately, the radio station closed. After it closed, I waited for six months without a job.

– Where did you go after the radio station closed?

I was invited to another radio station, Echo of the Valley, where I still work. Then I moved to television as an editor. At that time, it was the only TV and radio company that had transmitters, a radio station, and a newspaper. A single big organism. We provided all the technical support ourselves.

– Did anyone train you on-site?

My mentor was Ravshan Khasanov. He taught me a lot. He took me everywhere with him and showed me how everything worked and how to set it up correctly. He built the entire technological process.

I became his replacement, becoming the technical director and chief engineer, even though I was the youngest employee in the organization. I tried to develop it.

Moving to Tashkent and Becoming the First Private HD Channel in Uzbekistan

– How did you end up moving to Tashkent?

We moved to Tashkent and became the first private channel in Uzbekistan to broadcast in HD. We also changed the name to Zur TV, meaning “Developed Television in Modern Uzbekistan.”

– How did you learn about Zor TV?

The company started in the 90s as ATV, then YTRK. It had its radio station and newspaper.

– How did they find you?

My friends, who were hosts there, invited me. The management knew the radio station where we had good staff had closed. They came every day, but I kept refusing, hoping the radio station would reopen. But my mom told me to stop declining since they were waiting for me. So, I started working in television.

– Did you start from the bottom?

Yes, I was a sound engineer at the radio station. That was in 2011. A year later, I was appointed editor. In 2015, I became the deputy director of technical operations.

– How many employees were under your supervision at that time?

About 25–30 people.

– What tasks did the management give you?

I had to solve issues quickly, learn the equipment, and find solutions to problems.

– When did the channel move to Tashkent?

In 2016. The radio station in Tashkent was already broadcasting nationwide. Then the television followed.

Transition to HD Broadcasting

– Was there already a technical base when you arrived?

The system we worked with in the valley was outdated, in SD format, and analog. We had to buy and set up everything from scratch.

– Who designed it?

My second mentor, Nizom Supibekov, and I did it together. He was the technical director, and I was the chief engineer. We designed everything, planned the HD broadcasting project, and decided what equipment to buy. We fully developed the HD broadcasting project together.

– What equipment did you buy from China?

Cameras, studios, projectors, concert lighting, show lighting, and two 8-channel Blackmagic mixers. They came assembled. We didn’t even know what progressive or interlace was back then. We gave part of the P-signal and couldn’t receive the other part. Short cables worked, but long ones didn’t. So, we started studying and solving the problem.

International Cooperation

– Did you involve system integrators or consultants?

We always had system integrators, but we still had to refine things ourselves afterward.

– Were the system integrators local or foreign?

We had one project where we worked with a Turkish system integrator, Provestik. They did an upgrade for us.

– What task did you hire the Turkish system integrator for?

They offered their equipment, bringing in their studios, which had already gone bankrupt. We bought and installed these studios, and the setup began. We needed technologists, so we hired people and provided training. Now they work, and we just supervise.

– Do the Turks still cooperate with you?

No. I believe working with the same company is wrong. We need to find new ways of cooperation and development. Now we are communicating with the British.

The First OB Vans

– What tasks did you set for them?

We had a large OB Van Truck that we bought from the Turks. The boss suggested making another small one, an 8-camera van under a Sprinter. I searched online for offers.

There was one in Serbia, we called, went there, but it didn’t work out.

There was another van, but it didn’t look very appealing. However, the equipment was good. We called, and an Englishman answered, inviting us to see it. The van was in Africa, in Nigeria. I decided to go. I inspected the equipment, and it turned out the van had been used little. We bought it and are now waiting for it. So, the work process is ongoing.

– How will you bring it here?

We are already transporting it. It’s on the way now. From Nigeria, it will be shipped to London. In London, it will be upgraded and then transported to Tashkent.

– What was the purpose of buying the first big OB Van?

It was a new 4K van, assembled to our order. Both vans are needed for live broadcasts: sports events and concerts. Uzbekistan is developing.

Various events are constantly held, and the Futsal World Cup is coming up. We want colleagues in our field to know that Uzbekistan has its base and world-class technology.

Uzbekistan Has World-Class Technology

– Who works on this OB Van?

Our engineers. They were specially trained.

– Where do you output the 4K signal? Which series?

So far, we’ve used the 4K format twice. These were recordings of Sevara Nazarhan’s concert. They required 4K. Mostly, we use HD everywhere.

– What does the broadcasting company look like in terms of technology today? How many studios? What equipment do you use?

We are the largest private company in Uzbekistan in terms of area and the strongest in terms of the technical base. We have 15 studios. Broadcasting goes on 24 hours a day. It’s a full-fledged national broadcast. The morning show is live. After that, the live news begins. Then pre-recorded programs. In the evening: news and a nightly music project live. During the day and evening, there are live game shows like “Boriga Baraka.”

We also had exclusive rights to broadcast Euro 2024.

– Who owns the company?

A good person. He worked in this field and loves his job. When he earns something, he doesn’t pocket it; he buys equipment and builds new studios.

Pandemic

– How did you, as the deputy director of technology, cope with the pandemic?

All our employees worked remotely, but salaries continued to be paid. Engineers were also busy. We had a big and very popular project called “Renaissance Hall.” We were finishing it: building a concert hall. I personally worked on this project.

Achieving Success

– What do you consider your main achievement in your professional career? What are you proud of?

I am proud of the people who are no longer with me. If they hadn’t come into my life, I wouldn’t have achieved such heights and would have remained an editor. I am grateful to fate for bringing these people to me, and they didn’t turn away from me. And today, there are people who are always ready to help, and I am proud of all of them.

Family and Hobbies

– Let’s move on to personal matters. How and when did you meet your wife?

It was in 2007 when I was working at the studio. That’s when we met.

– How many children do you have?

Three. The eldest son was born in 2009. The youngest daughter, Safina, was born in 2019.

– Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of work?

I don’t have any hobbies. My hobby is my work. I’m the kind of person who wants everything to be perfect and without any incidents. So, I devote all my energy to work.

– What do you consider your main achievement in your professional career? What are you proud of?

I am proud of the people who are no longer with me. If they hadn’t come into my life, I wouldn’t have achieved such heights and would have remained an editor. I am grateful to fate for bringing these people to me, and they didn’t turn away from me. And today, there are people who are always ready to help, and I am proud of all of them.

Career Summary

2022–Present – Deputy Director, Zur TV
2012–2022 – Deputy Director of Technical Operations, Zur TV
2006–2012 – Technical Director, Didor
2007–2008 – Sound Engineer and Operator, Recording Studio
2007 – Sound Engineer, UzbekNavo