World TV Day commemorated
The World TV Day was observed throughout the world on November 21 as proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1996. Ironically, however, in Pakistan the most important means of information – that is, television – is braving against all odds and is facing oppression at the hands of the government.
Since the imposition of the emergency on November 3, all private TV (both news and otherwise) channels in Pakistan remained off air. While the entertainment channels came back on air within a few days, the news channels were kept off air by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) by targeting cable operators in a bid to curb the freedom of expression of the media. As the days passed, most news channels came to an understanding with the government. Unfortunately, the two largest news networks of the country, Geo and ARY, were met with an unusual situation. The networks were forced to go off air internationally as the UAE government bowed down to the pressure that it faced at the hands of the Musharraf regime and, thus, the transmission was cut off from Dubai. In this regard, journalists across the country have been staging protest rallies against bans imposed.
Television, which plays an important role in disseminating information and serves as powerful tool for reflecting on the human condition, has been gagged in an under-developed country like Pakistan, where such introspection is much-needed. Thus, while the entire world celebrated TV Day, November 20 was marked as another one of the black chapters in the history of the Pakistani media.
On November 20, protests and demonstrations were staged throughout the country as well as in Karachi where journalists protested against this unnecessary ban. As a result, the media personnel were baton-charged and arrested by the law-enforcing agencies. Many were severely injured.
Till 1999, Pakistan Television (PTV), the only state media was running in the country. However, during Benazir Bhutto’s (BB) first tenure, STN and PTV 2 was given to private parties (the air time, that is) which gave a boost to TV.
It was in 2000 when a declaration was issued for the setting up of private TV channels. ARY, being the first network in this regard, started its transmission from Dubai and that too, entertainment channels. Two years later, the Jang Group of Newspapers launched the Geo television network (with its news channel).
The two channels were internationally recognised which gave boost to this industry as Pakistanis living abroad subscribed to them.
Television reduced the distance between the Pakistanis and expatriates. It has become one of the most influential forms of media to date. It is an arena where images, forms styles and ideas surrounding the human existence are mobilised. Indeed, television has made it mark as the most popular medium for communication and information.
Source: The News
Date:11/22/2007
” 
” 
” 
” 
” 
