By: Javaid-ur-rahman

ISLAMABAD — While the state-run PTV is facing huge fiscal deficit, the PTV Global UK is likely to pay around 600,000 pounds per year to British service provider and make other payments without getting any commercial revenue.

PTV is paying huge amount to British service providers with minimal efforts to generate commercial revenue primarily because of negligence, mismanagement and internal rifts, well-placed sources informed TheNation.

It may be mentioned here that PTV is constantly loosing its viewer ship because of its improper programme planning.

Contrary to the claims, the PTV is not properly serving PakistanÂ’s cause abroad and countering propaganda of Indian channels and anti-Pakistani channels in UK.

When contacted, Controller Public Relations (PTV), Ali Akbar Abbas said that the Government had not given a task to PTV counter the negative propaganda. “If task was given to PTV then its instruction would be followed.” he said adding, “We are serving our national interest.”

It was learnt reliably that the issue had been pointed out in the last two meetings of the Board of Directors but the situation remained the same.

The sources said that the PTV Board of Directors meeting held couple of weeks ago had expressed serious reservations on the negligence and sought a report in its next meeting to be held in a week or so.

It was discussed that the PTV could avoid paying 600,000 pounds per year by encrypting the channel and getting subscriptions like other Pakistani channels.

PTV Global UK first made a deal with a local party for marketing but it ended the deal because of poor agreement terms, said the sources. However, it has failed to organise a system to g
enerate revenue either from Pakistan or UK.

It was learnt that about a year ago, the PTV bigwigs visited UK to meet parties for marketing and in this regards ads were given in the press. But, the sources said, no concrete measures have been taken in these regards.

The sources said that many parties had also shown interest in the marketing and ensuring significant amount in generating revenue but no step was taken in this regard.
When contacted, the Controller Public Relations (PTV) admitted that no commercial revenue was being generated. However, he said that marketing set up would be made, when it would be viable. He said that the PTV was paying 43960 pounds monthly but not more than that.

To another question, he said that the advertisement was also given for this purpose and it would be materialised.

He said that the PTV’s different local stations like Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, AJK were also not generating revenue.
Source: The Nation
Date:5/20/2010