PBA will not give content to PEMRA’s DTH licensees: chairman
Broadcasters, cable operators form committee to hold talks with PEMRA.
PHOTO: REUTERS
KARACHI:
After successful talks with the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), cable operators called off their countrywide strike on Tuesday, with PBA Chairman Mian Amir Mehmood warning the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) that the broadcasters will not let their channels be broadcast by Direct-to-Home (DTH) licensees if their concerns are not addressed.
DTH bidding row: Cable operators go on strike
Speaking at a news conference following talks with PBA, Pakistan Cable Operators Association Chairman Khalid Arain and Imran Abidi criticised Pemra for being hasty in attempting to auction off DTH licences and said effective measures to stop the use of illegal Indian DTH services had not been taken. They said illegal DTH services were already harming Pakistan’s cable industry, adding that cable operators would suffer twofold if Pemra allows the launch of local DTH services.
Mehmood, meanwhile, said a committee comprising cable operators and PBA members has been formed to hold talks with Pemra. He warned that unless the reservations of broadcasters and cable operators are addressed, PBA will not give any content to Pemra’s DTH licensees.
Services 'suspended' in parts of country as cable operators go on strike
Mehmood expressed hope that the government will show seriousness on this grave issue and assured his full cooperation in case of retributive actions. He said that both the organisations will try to solve the issue in a legal manner.
The meeting was attended by a large number of PBA members and cable operators.
(WITH INPUT FROM OUR LAHORE CORRESPONDENT; TRANSLATED BY ARSHAD SHAHEEN)
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2016.
After successful talks with the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), cable operators called off their countrywide strike on Tuesday, with PBA Chairman Mian Amir Mehmood warning the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) that the broadcasters will not let their channels be broadcast by Direct-to-Home (DTH) licensees if their concerns are not addressed.
DTH bidding row: Cable operators go on strike
Speaking at a news conference following talks with PBA, Pakistan Cable Operators Association Chairman Khalid Arain and Imran Abidi criticised Pemra for being hasty in attempting to auction off DTH licences and said effective measures to stop the use of illegal Indian DTH services had not been taken. They said illegal DTH services were already harming Pakistan’s cable industry, adding that cable operators would suffer twofold if Pemra allows the launch of local DTH services.
Mehmood, meanwhile, said a committee comprising cable operators and PBA members has been formed to hold talks with Pemra. He warned that unless the reservations of broadcasters and cable operators are addressed, PBA will not give any content to Pemra’s DTH licensees.
Services 'suspended' in parts of country as cable operators go on strike
Mehmood expressed hope that the government will show seriousness on this grave issue and assured his full cooperation in case of retributive actions. He said that both the organisations will try to solve the issue in a legal manner.
The meeting was attended by a large number of PBA members and cable operators.
(WITH INPUT FROM OUR LAHORE CORRESPONDENT; TRANSLATED BY ARSHAD SHAHEEN)
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2016.