ISLAMABAD: A large number of satellite TV channels went off air, leaving cable subscribers guessing for the reason as there was no prior intimation.

The action has been initiated by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) against almost all satellite channels being aired through cable distribution network. The authority said the cable operators were violating rules and regulation by airing channels that were not registered with the electronic media regulator.

“In order to increase their subscription, cable TV operators, generally, prefer foreign satellite channels which, on the contrary, are illegal for distribution purposes,” a Pemra statement said.

It claims that action was taken across the board without discrimination against any channel.

After Pemra’s action, calls had been received from residents expressing concerns over the blocking of family entertainment channels like Star Gold, BBC Lifestyle, Cartoon Network and various movie channels including MGM, TCM and Hallmark.

However, Pemra’s statement said more than 100 illegal/unregistered satellite TV channels were being aired through cable distribution networks across the country.

“These illegal/unregistered channels were not only violating Pemra laws but also incurring huge financial loss on the government exchequer,” the statement said. The media regulator said these illegal satellite channels had blocked the space which as per law was a legal right of local satellite TV channels that had been licenced/registered by Pemra since 2002.

“This action was therefore taken in a bid to create space for legitimate satellite TV channels which had obtained licences and paid their respective dues to the authority,” Pemra release said, adding that action was taken to support local broadcast industry.

However, issues between cable operators and the regulator had caught viewers unaware and the subscribers, who despite paying monthly charges to their respective cable operators, had been denied access to majority of TV channels.

The authority said cable TV networks in the country were operating on ‘analog technology’, restricting their channel capacity to 90.

Whereas, Pemra says that it has granted licences to 82 satellite TV channels and landing rights to 28 foreign channels. These licenced channels are being exploited by cable distribution networks either by not carrying them on their respective networks or by tuning them in the last numbers having poor signal quality.

It said action was taken to protect legitimate rights of licenced satellite TV channels and to ensure others get registered/licenced with Pemra.

The regulator has also said all satellite TV channels which had been banned at the moment would only be allowed for distribution through cable TV networks after getting registered with the authority.
Source: Dawn
Date:4/9/2010