ISLAMABAD: Following its failure to convince cable operators to stop arbitrarily moving private TV channels\u2019 positions, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Tuesday issued warnings to cable operators, ordering them to follow the regulator\u2019s directives.<\/p>\n
A press note issued by the electronic media regulator says, \u201cPemra has strictly warned cable network operators to refrain from any activity that is against Pemra laws and the terms & conditions of their licenses.\u201d<\/p>\n
The action comes amid public complaints that various cable operators are still airing illegal TV channels or are playing vulgar content on their in-house CD channels, but the regulator\u2019s primary concern is the blacking out of certain private TV channels and the frequent changes in their position on cable networks.<\/p>\n
Since 2010, Pemra policy dictates that all the channels have to be placed in the relevant cluster, but the authority has not yet been able to successfully implement this rule in this time.<\/p>\n
Earlier: Pemra suspends Geo Entertainment, ARY News licenses<\/p>\n
The Pemra policy refers to a \u2018bouquet placement\u2019 of channels, which means that all news channels, sports channels and entertainment channels should be placed close to each other.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea was to minimise misuse of personal discretion by the cable operators to place or change the position of any channel at will,\u201d a Pemra official said.<\/p>\n
Even viewers are fed up with the constant shifting around of channels. A number of people Dawn spoke to said they had complained to their cable operators about the arbitrary reshuffling of channels, but to no avail. Cable operators defend their actions by saying that they have to abide by the decisions of the cable operators\u2019 association. Even though Pemra is empowered to regulate cable operators, they have not been very effective and the Cable Operators Association of Pakistan seems to be calling all the shots.<\/p>\n
Pemra\u2019s role, of late, has mostly been limited to issuing directives or warnings \u2013 not only to cable operators but also TV channels, which who have violated the regulator\u2019s rules.<\/p>\n
The most recent controversy arose in the wake of the standoff between Geo TV and the ISI, which not only exposed the politicised nature of the authority but also its inherent structural weakness.<\/p>\n
While some cable operators continue to defy the directives of Pemra and are refusing to air Geo news, the authority is unable to take any punitive action against such violators.<\/p>\n
Also read: Senate body suggests media to promote patriotism<\/p>\n
A Pemra official told Dawn the authority has been fining cable operators and nearly Rs2 million in fines have been handed out so far.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the main problem is that the channels and even the cables operators move the courts and obtain stay orders against any decision by the authority,\u201d the official said adding that there were around 400 stay orders against various of Pemra decisions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese decisions include the suspension of cable operators\u2019 and TV channels\u2019 licenses and even over the content of certain TV programmes,\u201d the official said, adding, \u201cThe most serious issue faced by Pemra recently was over obscenity\u201d.<\/p>\n
The official said that the Supreme Court had taken suo motu over what it called \u2018obscenity in certain programmes\u2019, but at the same time, the lower courts had issued stay orders against a Pemra decision to stop the airing of such programmes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the management of those TV channels taunt us by touting stay orders \u2013employees of the same media group are seen requesting the apex court to ask Pemra to define \u2018obscenity\u2019 in the light of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (pbuh),\u201d the official added.<\/p>\n
Observers feel Pemra\u2019s poor implementation record also has to do with its weak management structure. The authority has not had a full-time chairman for over than six months now. Chaudhry Rasheed was appointed became chairman in July 2013, but soon after, cases were opened against him by the Federal Investigation Authority, keeping him otherwise occupied in various courts of law. His appointment was de-notified by the government in December 2013. Currently, Pemra is functioning with Pervez Rathore as its acting chairman.<\/p>\n