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Tag: GEO

  • Broadcasters can now bid for new Pak DTH licence auction

    Broadcasters can now bid for new Pak DTH licence auction

    MUMBAI: The Lahore High Court has requested PEMRA, Pakistan’s broadcast regulatory body, to start the bidding process for direct-to-home (DTH) licences again, after it declared the recent auction void that must be reheld. PEMRA is considering challenging the order in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, local newspapers reported.

    With the new order, broadcasters such as ARY and GEO will now be able to bid to operate DTH satellite TV services in the country.

    Three direct-to-home (DTH) licences in Pakistan were on 23 November awarded for a total of PKR 14.694 billion (USD 140 million). The highest bid was raised by Mag Entertainment for PKR 4.91 billion, respectively followed by M/s. Shahzad Sky for PKR 4.90 billion and M/s. Star Time for Rs 4.89 billion. PEMRA had issued non-exclusive licences for 15 years to the three companies.

    PEMRA chairman Absar Alam had said the DTH service would not end the cable operators’ business, but would compel them to invest in technology and distribution systems.
    The auction barred broadcasters from bidding owing to what was believed to be a conflict of interest. The court however said the restriction was based on an assumption that any vertical integration between broadcast media and distribution services would result in undue concentration of ownership.

    Pakistani DTH services would have countered the sale of illegal Indian DTH services in Pakistan, which leads to annual transfer of between US$ 200 million to US$ 350 million to India on account of subscription fee.

    Also Read: Pak DTH: Mag, Shahzad & Star Time to start ops in a year

    Pakistan gets tough on Indian DTH & content

    Pak DTH licence bidding stayed

     

  • Broadcasters can now bid for new Pak DTH licence auction

    Broadcasters can now bid for new Pak DTH licence auction

    MUMBAI: The Lahore High Court has requested PEMRA, Pakistan’s broadcast regulatory body, to start the bidding process for direct-to-home (DTH) licences again, after it declared the recent auction void that must be reheld. PEMRA is considering challenging the order in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, local newspapers reported.

    With the new order, broadcasters such as ARY and GEO will now be able to bid to operate DTH satellite TV services in the country.

    Three direct-to-home (DTH) licences in Pakistan were on 23 November awarded for a total of PKR 14.694 billion (USD 140 million). The highest bid was raised by Mag Entertainment for PKR 4.91 billion, respectively followed by M/s. Shahzad Sky for PKR 4.90 billion and M/s. Star Time for Rs 4.89 billion. PEMRA had issued non-exclusive licences for 15 years to the three companies.

    PEMRA chairman Absar Alam had said the DTH service would not end the cable operators’ business, but would compel them to invest in technology and distribution systems.
    The auction barred broadcasters from bidding owing to what was believed to be a conflict of interest. The court however said the restriction was based on an assumption that any vertical integration between broadcast media and distribution services would result in undue concentration of ownership.

    Pakistani DTH services would have countered the sale of illegal Indian DTH services in Pakistan, which leads to annual transfer of between US$ 200 million to US$ 350 million to India on account of subscription fee.

    Also Read: Pak DTH: Mag, Shahzad & Star Time to start ops in a year

    Pakistan gets tough on Indian DTH & content

    Pak DTH licence bidding stayed

     

  • MSM’s SAB gets onto OSN Pehla bouquet

    MSM’s SAB gets onto OSN Pehla bouquet

    MUMBAI: Multi Screen Media Network channel Sab has signed a carriage deal with leading middle easy pay TV network – OSN for its Pehla subscribers. The latter has also brought on board Pakistan-based news channel GEO News.

     

    GEO News and SAB TV will be available on OSN Pehla Variety and OSN Pehla Prime Packages.

     

    The OSN platform is owned and operated by Panther Media Group – a company is owned by KIPCO and Mawarid Group.

     

    Says OSN CEO David Butorac: “Since its launch in August 2013, the response to OSN Pehla has been overwhelming. The large community of South Asians who live in the MENA region can now have complete control over their entertainment experience though our award-winning technology and can enjoy world-class cricketing action in high definition. We are delighted that OSN Pehla serves as a bridge for the large South Asian community to their home countries.”

     

    Adds MSM EVP and head international business Neeraj Arora: “We identified a unique offering in the South Asian television sector with SAB TV, which offers round-the-clock and original family comedy content. Our emphasis is to connect with families by providing innovative, light-hearted and clean entertainment. Our partnership with OSN will take SAB TV to a wider audience of not just Indians but people from across South Asia, who live and work in the MENA region.”

     

    “GEO News has set its ambition to be ubiquitous. Our launch on OSN Pehla brings us closer to our mission in the Middle East. As a credible source of news and current affairs in Urdu, GEO News enjoys a loyal and well informed audience,” says GEO TV Network President Iman Aslam. “With an estimated 1.8 million Urdu speaking expatriates in the region, GEO News is sure to become the expat’s window to their homeland to stay on top of local issues. OSN Pehla’s extensive reach, technological and digital capabilities and high standards in customer service are an ideal fit for us to provide a value-added TV experience for our audiences.”

     

    OSN Pehla has a portfolio of over 30 popular South Asian channels in Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Tamil and Malayalam. And Butorac is looking at adding more channels to that bouquet over the next few months. 

  • Labour court restrains Outlook group from terminating People mag employees

    Labour court restrains Outlook group from terminating People mag employees

    MUMBAI: It was last weekend that the Outlook group announced that it was shutting down three of its magazines – Geo, People, and Marie Claire. That announcement may end up being just a proclamation if the journalists working at People magazine have their way. They have managed to get the Mumbai Labour Court to issue a restraint on the Outlook group management from terminating its employees till the due process of law is followed.

     

    In its order, the court, presided by small causes court judge P K Chitnis, directed Outlook to maintain status quo of the services of its employees. “Respondents are directed to maintain status quo and services of the complainants may not be terminated without following due procedure of law,” said the court order.

     

    The copy of the court order has been sent to both Outlook management president Indranil Roy and editorial chairman, senior journalist Vinod Mehta.

     

    The court took notice of a petition filed today morning by People magazine editor Saira Menezes along with 16 other employees. Advocate Anees S Kazi represented the complainants.

     

    The Outlook management had through a public statement issued on 26 July announced the termination of its licenses with international magazines-People, Marie Claire and Geo.

     

    Almost 60 employees will be affected by the shutting down of the three magazines. The petition was filed by the employees of People, India, but could apply to the employees across the three magazines.

     

    At the time of writing the report, the Outlook management had not received the court order. “I have not received the order as yet, but have only heard about it,” informed Outlook Publishing president Indranil Roy.

     

    “Outlook group has never held back anyone’s dues and neither do we plan to do it in this case. The dues will be cleared. After all we are all friends. No one should doubt our intentions,” he added.

     

    When asked on the time frame within which the dues of the employees will be cleared Roy said, “Now that the matter has been taken to the court, we will talk to the court only.”

     

    When Outlook Group editorial chairman Vinod Mehta was contacted, he refused to comment.