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Tag: Pemra

  • PEMRA Indian content ban to impact broadcasters

    PEMRA Indian content ban to impact broadcasters

    MUMBAI: 21 October, 15:00 hours is going to be a landmark day in the history of south Asian media and entertainment. Reason: that’s the day when the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s  (Pemra’s) order issued on 19 October banning all Indian content on Pakistan media will come into effect.

    The authority’s order is directed at all FM radio licence holders, landing right holders, and satellite television channels operating in Pakistan. Most TV and FM Radio channels air substantial amount of Indian content, sometimes going up to as much as 50-60 per cent.  That was trimmed down to six per cent following the Pakistan crackdown in September, when the old regulation promulgated during General Pervez Musharaff’s reign was activated.  And now, the latest order has reduced that to zero.

    However, PEMRA, in its order, says that Pakistan’s TV and FM radio services can continue to air up to 10 per cent foreign content from nations other than India. The authority has threatened defaulters with punitive legal action.

    Pakistan’s No 1 TV show was Indian import Naagin which was aired by Filmazia and helped its rise in the ratings pecking order while shows such as Yeh hai Mohabbatein helped boost the viewership of channels such as Urdu1 and shows such as Kumkum Bhagya  were rated highly on Geo Kahani. Among leading entertainment channels in Pakistan are: Colors, HumTV, Ary Digital, PTV Home, Geo Entertainment, APlus, ATV and Geo Kahani.

    According to Pakistan TV executives, the impact of banning Indian content is going to be felt by India’s music labels and TV channels. “Close to about Rs 25-30 150 crore of exports are going to vanish for Indian music and TV companies,” says an industry observer.

    However, they expect the official ban to continue for only a while, once the political heat between the two nations cools down. “We have already requested that Indian broadcasting companies from whom we have acquired the content to understand this force majeure which has been put on us,” says a Pakistan TV executive. “It is an act of the government over which we have no control, and we have to comply. Of course, our viewers are not going to be happy with such a sudden call to action and their favourite Indian TV shows going off just like that, and our ratings will probably  drop. But, we have to deal with it, positively as, it is in the two nations’ interest.”

    In the meanwhile, Pakistan channels are looking at filling the gap created by Indian content going off-air with Turkish and American content.

    Among the Indian TV networks which will feel the brunt of the ban include Viacom18, Zee TV, Sony and Star India.

    Of course, music labels will also feel the impact, but to what extent was not clear at the time of writing.

    The point of concern is whether the Pakistani ban will lead to a spurt in piracy of Indian content online and offline. “This is what Pakistan probably has in mind,” says a media specialist. “The official ban will lead to revenue losses on account of trade, but the piracy losses could probably be in multiples. And if Pakistan so desires it can  magnify the problem.”

    (Updated on 20 October; the figure of losses that Indian broadcasters would suffer was upped to Rs 150 crore after discussions with broadcasters and theatrical film distributors.)

  • PEMRA Indian content ban to impact broadcasters

    PEMRA Indian content ban to impact broadcasters

    MUMBAI: 21 October, 15:00 hours is going to be a landmark day in the history of south Asian media and entertainment. Reason: that’s the day when the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s  (Pemra’s) order issued on 19 October banning all Indian content on Pakistan media will come into effect.

    The authority’s order is directed at all FM radio licence holders, landing right holders, and satellite television channels operating in Pakistan. Most TV and FM Radio channels air substantial amount of Indian content, sometimes going up to as much as 50-60 per cent.  That was trimmed down to six per cent following the Pakistan crackdown in September, when the old regulation promulgated during General Pervez Musharaff’s reign was activated.  And now, the latest order has reduced that to zero.

    However, PEMRA, in its order, says that Pakistan’s TV and FM radio services can continue to air up to 10 per cent foreign content from nations other than India. The authority has threatened defaulters with punitive legal action.

    Pakistan’s No 1 TV show was Indian import Naagin which was aired by Filmazia and helped its rise in the ratings pecking order while shows such as Yeh hai Mohabbatein helped boost the viewership of channels such as Urdu1 and shows such as Kumkum Bhagya  were rated highly on Geo Kahani. Among leading entertainment channels in Pakistan are: Colors, HumTV, Ary Digital, PTV Home, Geo Entertainment, APlus, ATV and Geo Kahani.

    According to Pakistan TV executives, the impact of banning Indian content is going to be felt by India’s music labels and TV channels. “Close to about Rs 25-30 150 crore of exports are going to vanish for Indian music and TV companies,” says an industry observer.

    However, they expect the official ban to continue for only a while, once the political heat between the two nations cools down. “We have already requested that Indian broadcasting companies from whom we have acquired the content to understand this force majeure which has been put on us,” says a Pakistan TV executive. “It is an act of the government over which we have no control, and we have to comply. Of course, our viewers are not going to be happy with such a sudden call to action and their favourite Indian TV shows going off just like that, and our ratings will probably  drop. But, we have to deal with it, positively as, it is in the two nations’ interest.”

    In the meanwhile, Pakistan channels are looking at filling the gap created by Indian content going off-air with Turkish and American content.

    Among the Indian TV networks which will feel the brunt of the ban include Viacom18, Zee TV, Sony and Star India.

    Of course, music labels will also feel the impact, but to what extent was not clear at the time of writing.

    The point of concern is whether the Pakistani ban will lead to a spurt in piracy of Indian content online and offline. “This is what Pakistan probably has in mind,” says a media specialist. “The official ban will lead to revenue losses on account of trade, but the piracy losses could probably be in multiples. And if Pakistan so desires it can  magnify the problem.”

    (Updated on 20 October; the figure of losses that Indian broadcasters would suffer was upped to Rs 150 crore after discussions with broadcasters and theatrical film distributors.)

  • Pak bans Indian TV content, films from being screened

    Pak bans Indian TV content, films from being screened

    NEW DELHI: Even as Pakistani theatres decided not to show Indian films in the wake of the current tensions between the two countries, that country’s media regulator has asked all channels in the country to “immediately” stop broadcast of illegal Indian content amid theongoing tension between the two nations.

    Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) in a statement said it has been receiving complaints that several local private channels were showing Indian talk shows, reality programmes and dramas without permission.

    “The complaints have shown serious concerns on this issue (illegal Indian content) in the wake of current situation between India and Pakistan. Complainants have urged PEMRA to impose immediate ban on broadcast and distribution of illegal Indian channels and illegal Indian DTH,” PEMRA said in a statement.

    PEMRA said that it had already taken steps to stop illegal broadcast of Indian channels and warned that all distribution networks and TV channels should follow the laws and “immediately” stop the broadcasting of Indian contents.

    “This will send a positive signal to the public about the satellite TV channels and distribution networks’ commitment with rule of law and the country – about which a huge number of talk shows preach daily,” it said.

    According to PEMRA rules, local channels can only show five per cent foreign content but it has been seen that several channels mostly rely on foreign contents, mostly Indian, Turkish, American and European.

    Interestingly, the only Indian general entertainment channel which was showing Pakistani content, Zee’s Zindagi, has also decided to stop such broadcasts from 2 October.

    Last week, Raj Thackeray-led MNS issued an ultimatum to Pakistani artistes and actors, including Fawad Khan and Ali Zafar, to leave India by 25 September or else they would be “pushed out”. Concerts of Pakistani singers Shafqat Amanat Ali and Atif Aslam scheduled in Bengaluru and Gurgaon, respectively, were also cancelled.

    And though actor Salman Khan backed Pakistan artistes following the ban on them by the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association, Pakistani cinemas have stopped screening Indian films in “solidarity” with the country’s armed forces.

    “We have stopped screening Indian movies at our cinemas from Friday till the situation improves and normalcy returns,” said Nadeem Mandviwalla, whose Mandviwalla Entertainment runs eight cinemas in Karachi and the capital, Islamabad, according to a report in a New York-based Indian newspaper. Indian films had been popular both at the cinema and on pirated DVDs in Pakistan.

    Pakistan’s domestic film industry has seen a revival in recent years, but is dwarfed by India’s Bollywood. Pakistani actors have increasingly been appearing in big budget Bollywood films in the last few years.

    Super Cinemas General Manager Khurram Gultasab confirmed his group would also not be screening Indian films. He said the move had been made by cinema owners themselves, rather than on government directions. The group runs ten cinemas in cities across Pakistan’s Punjab province.

    Other Pakistani cinemas posted on social media saying they would not be showing Indian films after Thursday’s violence.

  • Pak bans Indian TV content, films from being screened

    Pak bans Indian TV content, films from being screened

    NEW DELHI: Even as Pakistani theatres decided not to show Indian films in the wake of the current tensions between the two countries, that country’s media regulator has asked all channels in the country to “immediately” stop broadcast of illegal Indian content amid theongoing tension between the two nations.

    Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) in a statement said it has been receiving complaints that several local private channels were showing Indian talk shows, reality programmes and dramas without permission.

    “The complaints have shown serious concerns on this issue (illegal Indian content) in the wake of current situation between India and Pakistan. Complainants have urged PEMRA to impose immediate ban on broadcast and distribution of illegal Indian channels and illegal Indian DTH,” PEMRA said in a statement.

    PEMRA said that it had already taken steps to stop illegal broadcast of Indian channels and warned that all distribution networks and TV channels should follow the laws and “immediately” stop the broadcasting of Indian contents.

    “This will send a positive signal to the public about the satellite TV channels and distribution networks’ commitment with rule of law and the country – about which a huge number of talk shows preach daily,” it said.

    According to PEMRA rules, local channels can only show five per cent foreign content but it has been seen that several channels mostly rely on foreign contents, mostly Indian, Turkish, American and European.

    Interestingly, the only Indian general entertainment channel which was showing Pakistani content, Zee’s Zindagi, has also decided to stop such broadcasts from 2 October.

    Last week, Raj Thackeray-led MNS issued an ultimatum to Pakistani artistes and actors, including Fawad Khan and Ali Zafar, to leave India by 25 September or else they would be “pushed out”. Concerts of Pakistani singers Shafqat Amanat Ali and Atif Aslam scheduled in Bengaluru and Gurgaon, respectively, were also cancelled.

    And though actor Salman Khan backed Pakistan artistes following the ban on them by the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association, Pakistani cinemas have stopped screening Indian films in “solidarity” with the country’s armed forces.

    “We have stopped screening Indian movies at our cinemas from Friday till the situation improves and normalcy returns,” said Nadeem Mandviwalla, whose Mandviwalla Entertainment runs eight cinemas in Karachi and the capital, Islamabad, according to a report in a New York-based Indian newspaper. Indian films had been popular both at the cinema and on pirated DVDs in Pakistan.

    Pakistan’s domestic film industry has seen a revival in recent years, but is dwarfed by India’s Bollywood. Pakistani actors have increasingly been appearing in big budget Bollywood films in the last few years.

    Super Cinemas General Manager Khurram Gultasab confirmed his group would also not be screening Indian films. He said the move had been made by cinema owners themselves, rather than on government directions. The group runs ten cinemas in cities across Pakistan’s Punjab province.

    Other Pakistani cinemas posted on social media saying they would not be showing Indian films after Thursday’s violence.

  • Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority appoints Absar Alam as its new chairman

    Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority appoints Absar Alam as its new chairman

    MUMBAI: Senior journalist Absar Alam has been appointed as the chairman of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).

     

     According to the official statement released by the government, with the approval of competent authority, Alam has been appointed as the chairman PEMRA under Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage. In the terms of section -7(1) of PEMRA (Amendment) Act, 2007 with the effect and until further orders.

     

    PEMRA was established under PEMRA Ordinance 2002 to facilitate and regulate the private electronic media. It has the mandate to improve the standards of information, education and entertainment and to enlarge the choice available to the people of Pakistan including news, current affairs, religious knowledge, art and culture as well as science and technology.

  • PEMRA bans Geo Entertainment and ARY News

    PEMRA bans Geo Entertainment and ARY News

    MUMBAI: A few days after the licence of Pakistan’s leading news broadcaster Geo News was suspended for a fortnight alleging it had defamed the Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has done the same for two other channels.

     

    Another Geo channel, Geo Entertainment and news channel ARY News have also been asked to stop broadcasting for 30 and 15 days respectively and cough up a fine of Rs 1 crore for airing unsuitable content.

     

    Geo Entertainment’s licence was suspended as PEMRA accused it of insulting the viewers’ religious sentiments by playing a religious song at the mock wedding of controversial Pakistani actress Veena Malik.

     

    ARY News on the other hand was hauled up for airing shows that were anti-judiciary and disrespectful to the higher courts. The channel’s anchor Mubashir Lucman and his talk show Khara Sach have also been banned. In return the channel has stated in one of its programmes that it will challenge the ban in the court.

  • Pak cable ops switch off BBC World News

    Pak cable ops switch off BBC World News

    NEW DELHI: Pakistani cable television operators have begun blocking the BBC‘s international news TV channel, BBC World News, reportedly in response to a documentary broadcast by the channel entitled Secret Pakistan.

    Other foreign channels broadcasting “anti-Pakistan” material have been warned that they too will be blocked.

    The BBC said it was deeply concerned by the move, and called for its channel to be speedily reinstated.
       
    “We condemn any action that threatens our editorial independence and prevents audiences from accessing our impartial international news service,” a BBC spokesperson said. “We would urge that BBC World News… to be reinstated as soon as possible.”

    The two-part BBC documentary questioned the country‘s commitment to tackling Taliban militancy. It argued that some in Pakistan were playing a double game, and quoted US intelligence officials as saying that they had acted as America‘s ally in public while secretly training and arming the Taliban in Afghanistan.

    Correspondents say the Pakistani government is likely to have put pressure on the operators to impose the ban, although Pakistan has denied this. The country‘s High Commission in London said the cable operators had taken the decision to block BBC World News on their own.

    “The government of Pakistan strictly believes in the freedom of press and media,” said a statement from the High Commission.

    The decision to block BBC World News and the warning to other international news channels came after a media uproar in Pakistan over a NATO air strike that killed 24 Pakistani troops near the Afghan border over the weekend.

    The operators called on the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) “to revoke the landing rights of foreign channels” if they were found to be “propagating” information harmful to the country.

    Correspondents say it is not possible to see BBC World News in most Pakistani cities, with the ban expected to be extended to rural areas too.

    Cable Operators Association spokesman Khalid Arain said that no anti-Pakistan foreign channel would “ever” be broadcast in the country. He said BBC World News would only be put back on air if the corporation offered assurances that it would not broadcast anything “against Pakistan”.

  • PBA, Casbaa & Pemra to host Intl. forum titled ‘A Digital Future for Pakistan’

    PBA, Casbaa & Pemra to host Intl. forum titled ‘A Digital Future for Pakistan’

    MUMBAI: The Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) and the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (Casbaa) are pleased to announce details of the first Electronic Media Exhibition and Conference (EMEC) in Karachi, Pakistan, on 15 – 16 May.

    The international forum that has been themed ‘A Digital Future for Pakistan’ will be hosted by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and co-organised by the PBA and Casbaa.

    According to an official announcement, the issues that the forum will attempt to address include the development of a world class pay-TV industry within Pakistan, international best practices for content development and the impact of digital technologies such as IPTV on new business models. The speakers for the event will be drawn from media companies from across the world.

    “This is a uniquely exciting time for broadcasting in Pakistan,” said Pemra chairman Iftikhar Rashid. “With the introduction of advanced cable systems, Direct-to-Home satellite services and IPTV systems, Pakistan is on the cusp of great change. During our conference Pemra will welcome the participation of specialists in international best practices and the suppliers of the very best of the new technologies.”

    “Pakistan is experiencing unprecedented growth in broadcast services,” said PBA chairman and Pakistan broadcaster GEO TV chairman Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman. “The PBA, working with Casbaa, will provide a rare opportunity to examine international business models and technologies that can be brought to Pakistan.”

    “As a regional industry body devoted to the advancement of multi-channel television, Casbaa is delighted to partner with the PBA and with Pemra to forge new relationships,” said Casbaa chairman Marcel Fenez.