Pemra set to issue licences for seven private TV channels
ISLAMABAD- Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) is set to issue licences to at least seven private companies this month to start television channels from Pakistan, an official said.
This would be first such occasion in the history of the country when the government will allow private television channels to start operations from Pakistan.
Earlier, about half a dozen channels were showing transmissions in the country but these were being aired from Dubai, Hong Kong, or London.
One channel had been given special permission to air transmission from Pakistan for a limited time.
The official said the seven companies in the run to get TV licence are: UK-based ARY Digital and Hong Kong-based Indus Television owned by the Shaheen Foundation, Virtual University, Mashriq Television Limited, International Marketing & Trading Limited, Tele World Top End Limited and AVT Prime Limited.
The seven companies had applied formally to Pemra for the licence earlier and after a thorough scrutiny by the Authority and other government authorities, the awarding of the contract was in final stages, the official said.
The Pemra laws do not allow cross-media ownership at the moment meaning anyone already owning a media or related business in Pakistan could not apply for a channel.
However, the government has announced that it is considering lifting this ban. The official said once the ban was lifted, as the issue would be discussed and approved by the cabinet shortly, the Pemra would invite applications again to issue more contracts in the private sector.
That would allow the companies already in media and related business to apply for a TV licence.
The official said that new channel operators could take benefit of advertising demand that is expected to increase significantly in the next two years.
Pakistan’s total advertising bill for electronic channels is about 3 billion rupees, majority of which goes to the three channels of Pakistan Television because of its wider audience.
Cable operators already reach out to about 10 million homes showing some local programming and more than 80 international channels.
Pakistan Television reaches out to 50 million viewers, getting the maximum of the advertising, the official said.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:4/12/2003
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