Pemra to award licences to rating companies

Also decides in principle to award five satellite TV broadcast station licences

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Tuesday unanimously approved the Television Audience Measurement (TAM)/Television Rating Points (TRP) Rating Service Regulations 2018 and decided in principle to award licences to rating companies on case to case basis.

In its 145th meeting held at its headquarters in Islamabad, the authority was apprised of the orders passed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan with regards to rating regulations. The draft rating regulations were presented before the authority, which endorsed it. The authority urged making this rating mechanism transparent and flawless up to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.



Pemra also approved to give five satellite TV broadcast station licences after the completion of procedural formalities. In this regard bidding was held on 11 September, 2018, under Section 19 of the PEMRA Ordinance 2002 in pursuance of advertisement dated September 1, 2014. The process was delayed due to litigation; however, the SC dismissed the petitions in favour of Pemra.

Pemra also approved request for transfer of shares and induction of new directors/shareholders of the Vision Network Television ‘GNN TV’ and the Radiance Services, a mobile TV licensee.

Two landing right permissions were also approved for foreign TV channels – the M3 Pakistan for ‘MY TV’ under children category and the Tower Sport for ‘Ten Sports Two’ under sports category.

Approval was granted for one mobile TV to the Nexlinx Networks. The mobile TV will provide video and audio content, according to an official statement issued to the media.

The 145^th Pemra meeting was chaired by Pemra Chairman Muhammad Saleem. Member Punjab Nargis Nasir, Member K-P Shaheen Habibullah, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Muhammad Naveed and Perma Executive Member Ashfaq Jumani also attended the moot.