Induction of new private channels enthralls Pakistan viewers

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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Pretty revolutionary in Pakistani terms, and one that will be widely welcomed by most people in Pakistan who are sick of the domination of state-contolled PTV for so many years.

Induction of new private channels enthralls Pakistan viewers

Television underwent a revolution in Pakistan in 2003, as new independent cable channels—many broadcasting from offshore—hit the airwaves and broke all the old rules. The phenomenal induction of private television stations broke the state’s monopoly on broadcasting to thrill Pakistanis, starved of entertainment and incisive, impartial debates on domestic and international issues. Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali’s nascent government awarded broadcasting licenses to more than 66 private radio and television companies in 2003, striking tough competition for the official networks. Cable TV has been the winner, setting news agendas, engaging audiences with interactive TV debates and maximising cross-media fertilisation, with many of them borne of long-established print news organisations.

GEO-TV, broadcasting out of Dubai, grew out of the Jhang news group which publishes top-selling English daily The News. Its high profile guarantees big-time guests and big audiences, and it has etched a place for itself as one of the key newsmakers and breakers. Also broadcasting out of Dubai, as well as London and Karachi, is the ARY cable channel. Indus TV broadcasts from Karachi, Prime broadcasts out of London, while Mashriq, Uni Plus and Virtual University beam out of eastern city Lahore, the seat of Pakistan’s Lollywood film industry. “It is a sea-change,” GEO TV president Imran Aslam said. “For Pakistan access to information is still a dubious preposition, but within the constraints what these private channels have done is to open up a discourse in society, which for many years was monopolistic and one-sided.”

**Up until 1999 when General Pervez Musharraf seized power, state-run television and radio monopolised news and current affairs. Musharraf began liberalising the media by giving print media a free hand, but private broadcasting did not kick off until his three-year military rule was officially replaced by an elected government late 2002. Now state-run television hosts talkback programs criticising government policies. **

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well, its a good change, and will also help change PTV's sick and tired setup of programs and same style of news and talk shows since ages.

now some fat a$$ people of PTV need to actually work and face the music.

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Geo…:k:

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PTV, apart from the stupid musharrafnama err Khabarname is a good channel, wity quality urdu programming.

Let me elaborate further on these so called private channels. Most of them are being operated from outside of Pakistan, so the whether Musharraf likes it or not, they will continue to operate. So the Government need not be congratulated on something they did not do. They would never encourage private channels, for they know their hypocrisy and corruption could easily be exposed on these channels. Secondly, their ban on Indian channels has now expanded beyond the news channels, and cable operators continue to defy their ban. As a result, even these new channels have started to show Indian stuff. Hence, the Government has only been successful in blocking Indian news channels, popular Indian programmes and films, which are popular in Pakistan are still running. I just wintessed that myself.

However, we must congratulate everyone who is really responsible (not Mr. musharraf) for launching channels such as ARY, Indus, IM, Geo, the muziq etc!!!

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Well thats all fine and dandy Mr.Spock, unless you realise that if the govt. could ban Indian channels, then there’s pretty much nothing that can stop it from banning Geo and ARY, virtual non-starters with hardly any brand loyalty. Who would miss them if they were banned, anyway? Secondly, if the govt. was against these private channels, you wouldn’t see Shaikh Rashid and other ministers appearing in talk shows on private channels. And you’ll have to admit that some of these talk shows really are tough talking. Ever think about that?
Moreover, the govt. is planning to launch DTH technology on 1st Jan. '04 (much before even India) that will allow viewers to access more than 200 channels. Again, if the govt. wasn’t committed to a liberal electronic regime, why would it do that? As hard as it is for you to swallow, you’ll have to accept the fact that Musharraf has done more for the thankless Pakistanis in 4 years than the 11 years of the democratic govts. And those govts were supposedly liberal left wingers to boot. :rolleyes:

Lastly, the freedom of expression enjoyed in Pakistan today is not just limited to electronic media. Pick up any newspaper and read the columnists like Ayaz Amir going all cylinders against the govt. Compare that to what our democratically elected govts did (remember TFT and The News drama?) and you’d come to appreciate this bold change in policy by the govt.

As for the Musharaffnama comment, instead of just changing the name from Wazeernama, I would encourage you to actually watch the PTV khabarnama and notice how rare Musharraf really is. There’s hardly more than one piece of news attributed to him on any day, and even thats not everyday. Keeping in mind that he’s the President of Pakistan, I would say that’s pretty damn good. Wouldn’t you?

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ChthonicPowers: *

As for the Musharaffnama comment, instead of just changing the name from Wazeernama, I would encourage you to actually watch the PTV khabarnama and notice how rare Musharraf really is. There's hardly more than one piece of news attributed to him on any day, and even thats not everyday. Keeping in mind that he's the President of Pakistan, I would say that's pretty damn good. Wouldn't you?
[/QUOTE]

Maybe you should realize that if the Government bans channels such as ARY and Geo, who are mainly for the Pakistani audience after their so called ban on Indian channels, they would loose all credibility. The cable operators are already openly defying the ban on Indian channels, not because they want the people to see Indian news, but the demand for Indian entertainment channels in Pakistan. Now you can deny the fact that there is no demand, but thats the Musharraf-loyalty speaking. Furthermore, I never said these new Pakistani channels are broadcasting anti-musharraf sentiments, so why did you even think about their possibility of being banned? I merely said the Government did not encourage the initiation of any channels because of the fears of what would be portrayed in the news. I didnt say any of the new channels were doing that right now so the Government need not ban them.

As for your comment about the khabarnama not being musharaffnama, which world are you living in? The first headline starts from mushrraf, and then the senseless propoganda shifts to Jamali, and then to Chaudhry Shujaat, Governor of Punjab etc. There was a nice article on nawai-e-waqat on the airtime given to musharraf in the khabarnama, and there was even a tree sketched by the 'sihafi', where the khabarnama starts from, and where it ends. According to him, more airtime to musharraf trend started after that stupid referundum, and has been continuing ever since.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Spock: *

Maybe you should use your brain cells and realize that if the Government bans channels such as ARY and Geo, who are mainly for the Pakistani audience after their so called ban on Indian channels, they would loose all credibility.
[/QUOTE]

So you agree that this govt. at least had the courtesy to save its credibility by not banning Geo/ARY? Thats good because I can quote a few examples where our elected govts. didn't even care too much about losing credibility while going after the Press. Moreover, you'd be glad to know that this govt. has awarded a license to ARY to offer DTH services in Pakistan. If this whole act of allowing private TV channels was a mere exercise in saving credibility then the govt. shouldn't have bothered to award the license to ARY as it has already saved its credibility by allowing private TV channels.

Bottom line is, the press and electronic media is much freer in Pakistan today than it has been even under the elected govts. This is all credit to Musharraf since when he siezed the govt. he openly criticised the closed media policy in Pakistan and encouraged the opening up of Private TV Channels. Additionally, not many govts. allow a group owning newspapers to operate TV channels. Not even in the US. Even Laws in Pakistan prohibited a newspaper group to own a TV channel but this govt. amended the rules to allow jang group to air Geo transmission. Now you tell me dear, if that was just to save credibility or a determined effort by the govt. to allow Pakistanis access to information and entertainment?

Contrast that with Nawaz Sharif stifling the paper quota of The News and TFT just because they wrote a few lines against him. Its only natural that the private TV channels didn't start transmission until there was a supportive and a liberal govt. in place. You can harp all day long about how the govt. did nothing for the private TV channels but let me assure that without govt. support you wouldn't be seeing Geo, ARY, Indus etc.

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Spock: *
The cable operators are already openly defying the ban on Indian channels, not because they want the people to see Indian news, but the demand for Indian entertainment channels in Pakistan. Now you can deny the fact that there is no demand, but thats the Musharraf-loyalty speaking.
[/QUOTE]

Talk about being more loyal than the King. Quick factoid: Did you know PTV is still banned in India? Did you?

So, if they continue to keep our innocent PTV banned, why should we unban their propaganda machines? i dont care if cable operators are showing Indian channels. They never implemented the ban in the first place. What I care about is the govt. stand. And in the present situation, its clear and justified. They banned our channels first and still haven't unbanned them. So shouldn't we. End of story.

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Spock: *
Furthermore, I never said these new Pakistani channels are broadcasting anti-musharraf sentiments, so why did you even think about their possibility of being banned?
[/QUOTE]

Because you claimed that these private channels exist not because of the govt. support but some divine help that guides them through. They could be banned on any pretext. Preceived threat of open criticism, threat to national security? There are zillion of arguments that can be presented for a ban. and you might not have said it, but the fact is that these channels do allow opposition members to air their opinions and criticise the govt. as openly as in any other country. That would form a clear cut case of a ban, or personal threats, or vandalism, for a democratic govt. But not for this one.

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Spock: *
I merely said the Government did not encourage the initiation of any channels because of the fears of what would be portrayed in the news. I didnt say any of the new channels were doing that right now so the Government need not ban them.
[/QUOTE]

Do you even have a proof of what you're saying? Or are you just repeating what the guy next to you in the sofa uttered? Read the part about govt. amending the law to allow Geo's transmission. Does that sound like the activities of an unsupporitve govt. ? Moreover, who created Pemra and other TV regulatory authorities? Thats right. Musharraf. Your Geo/ARY and Indus wouldn't even be there if Musharraf hadn't ordered the creation of Pemra. This body offers licenses to Cable operators and regulates the whole Private TV business. Now tell me, why was it not created under previous govts.? Why did Musharraf bother to create a whole regulatory body and an industry if he was against private TV channels? In fact Private TV was so high on Musharraf's priority list that he ordered the creation of RAMBO (PEMRA's predecessor) alongside the creation of NAB and NRB. Now if he is giving as much importance to Private tv as to matters of national importance, would you say that is the work of a govt. that doesnt support Private TV?

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Spock: *
As for your comment about the khabarnama not being musharaffnama, which world are you living in? The first headline starts from mushrraf, and then the senseless propoganda shifts to Jamali, and then to Chaudhry Shujaat, Governor of Punjab etc. There was a nice article on nawai-e-waqat on the airtime given to musharraf in the khabarnama, and there was even a tree sketched by the 'sihafi', where the khabarnama starts from, and where it ends. According to him, more airtime to musharraf trend started after that stupid referundum, and has been continuing ever since.
[/QUOTE]

Buddy, I live in Pakistan 365 days a year. Where do you? Just answer that. I dont care what an editor sitting on his bums in his drawing room thinks about the TV time being given to the ruling party. He apparently has so much free time that he even bothered to count the minutes being given to Musharraf.

anyway, if we do give some sort of credence to this exalted journalist of yours, even then your theory of musharrafnama falls flat on its face. Why? Just read what you typed. The Khabarnama does not revolve around Musharraf. Its the chowdhary's and Shaikhas hogging the lime light. In fact there was a protest in the parliament about Shaikh rashid being given too much air time. If I remember correctly, there never was any oppostion to the time being alloted to Musharraf. And you know how stiff the oppostion is these days. They will hold the govt. responsible for some sort of conspiracy to spread Tuberculosis even if the sugar in their cup of tea is not to their liking. These politicians are the product of our democratic process, not PMA Kakool.

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Bhai, you dont need to be living in Mars to know what the khabarnama is. we've been watching it since the times it was zia-nama, to bibi-nama, transforming to nawaz-nama and now finally musharraf-nama. You can defend it all you like, but the fact remains, khabarnama is no more than a propoganda tool that Musharraf (and those before him) use. The sad thing is, people like you are denying what is so obvious.

Did you see the khabarnama yesterday? It again started with Musharraf LOL, and no, this is before the assasination attempt. Then it moved on to Jamali, and then to Shujaat. And then the rest of the henchmen follow. The khabarnama is a big disgrace, and the only different one can see is that there are less and less reports about Kashmir, thats the only change Ive observed, otherwise its the usual crap.

Oh, and did anyone catch the world sqaush final on PTV? They spent more time showing musharraf and his governor of punjab than the game. In the end they were giving them trophies, it was so pathetic that even Musharraf said, you dont need to be playing squash to become the champion in Pakistan. Poor Shabana :). Even in the musharraf-nama, all they showed was musharraf watching the game.

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That's great. I couldn't care less if you think PTV gives more time to Musharraf than anyone else. That isn't what the thread is about or your major complain; originally. What matters is he liberated the electronic media and press in Pakistan. Not completely but its in a lot better condition now than before. The much touted cable TV wouldn't even be there if it weren't for Musharraf's initiative. The question of Geo and ARY then becomes of a secondary nature. And that is what irritates me. The guy has done so much for the Pakistanis, yet we blindly continue to criticise him without even ascertaining the facts. Trust me, I am not just another one of pro-Musharraf Guppies trying to defend Musharraf out of loyalty to him. I've done projects on Freedom of Press in Pakistan, and Macroeconomy of Pakistan . Only then did I develop a favorable attitude for Musharraf. In the process I've talked to the author of "Freedom of Press in Pakistan" reports. Situation is much improved. Its not ideal but he still isn't given the credit for what he's done.

Edit: I find it odd that the opposition does not have a problem with the air time being given to Musharraf yet you do. The oppostion has a problem with Shaikh rashid which you don't. Are you sure you read your handout clearly? Or is this a matter of personal hatred and an inability to give credit where its due? :)

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ChthonicPowers: *
That's great. I couldn't care less if you think PTV gives more time to Musharraf than anyone else. That isn't what the thread is about or your major complain; originally. What matters is he liberated the electronic media and press in Pakistan. Not completely but its in a lot better condition now than before. The much touted cable TV wouldn't even be there if it weren't for Musharraf's initiative. The question of Geo and ARY then becomes of a secondary nature. And that is what irritates me. The guy has done so much for the Pakistanis, yet we blindly continue to criticise him without even ascertaining the facts. Trust me, I am not just another one of pro-Musharraf Guppies trying to defend Musharraf out of loyalty to him. I've done projects on Freedom of Press in Pakistan, and Macroeconomy of Pakistan . Only then did I develop a favorable attitude for Musharraf. In the process I've talked to the author of "Freedom of Press in Pakistan" reports. Situation is much improved. Its not ideal but he still isn't given the credit for what he's done.

Edit: I find it odd that the opposition does not have a problem with the air time being given to Musharraf yet you do. The oppostion has a problem with Shaikh rashid which you don't. Are you sure you read your handout clearly? Or is this a matter of personal hatred and an inability to give credit where its due? :)
[/QUOTE]

Has BB ever had a problem with the airtime given to Nawaz during his regime or vice versa? What can the impotent opposition do? Most of them are busy with the horse trading and deals going on. Stop being so informative about Sheikh Rashid, lal hewali is just 5 minutes away from where I am right now, and you would be surprised to know how much I know about Sheeda Talli.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Spock: *

Has BB ever had a problem with the airtime given to Nawaz during his regime or vice versa?
[/QUOTE]

I know not, and I care not.

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Spock: *
What can the impotent opposition do? Most of them are busy with the horse trading and deals going on.
[/QUOTE]

I wouldn't expect anything better than that from them.

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Spock: *
Stop being so informative about Sheikh Rashid, lal hewali is just 5 minutes away from where I am right now, and you would be surprised to know how much I know about Sheeda Talli.
[/QUOTE]

I don't claim to be informative about Shaikh Rashid. Not at all. I dont go out of my way to gather news about people that don't concern me. Whatever I mentioned about Shaikh Rashid and the opposition was in the papers, and I happen to read one. Thats all. You know stuff about Shaikh that I don't or the general public don't, good for you. Maybe you can share it with us someday to kill time?

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Sheeda Talli tales should have a thread of their own!

Btw, these are the Pakistani channels I have seen so far, and to be honest, most of them, with the exeption of PTV-2 (ETV) were excellent with quality programmes, khabarnama excluded from PTV ofcourse...

PTV
Indus
PTV2
NTM
Geo
Ary (all of them)
The Music
IM
PTV world
Prime

If anyone remembers anymore, please add!

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ARY has a lot of channels now. QTV, ARY News, ARY Digital, The Music, City Channel.

You missed KTN. I gather its Sindhi or Balochi from their dresses and language.

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these too many trashy networks are just spreadinng immorality.

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Is it right that a new tv channel has been started in Pakistan which probably telecasts all of its programmes in the local languages with Urdu subtitle?

Does somebody have any information?

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goe is doinggood

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by rehman1: *
these too many trashy networks are just spreadinng immorality.
[/QUOTE]

Could you elaborate?

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**How many of these channels are broadcast outside the subcontinent?

I know PVT Prime is available on Dish Network, What about Geo & Ary?**

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In the review for 2003, a Geo TV reporter said that 2003 was the worst year for the common man in terms of growing prices of essential commodities, and the report itself was excellent. With the advent of both news and entertainment channels, soon no one will watch PTV anymore unless it comes out of its dark ages.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Spock: *
PTV,... is a good channel, wity quality urdu programming.

[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Spock: *
soon no one will watch PTV anymore unless it comes out of its dark ages.
[/QUOTE]