Cable transmission resumes
By: Arshad Bhatti | Published: March 20, 2011
LAHORE – Pakistani cricket lovers missed an important match of Pakistan and Australia played at Colombo owing to the legal scuffle among Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), a private TV channel and The Cable Operators Association here on Saturday. The Cable Operators blocked their broadcasting and information flow in connection with announced strike for 24 hours.
However, the state-run channel Pakistan Television telecasted ball-to-ball live cricket match. Moreover, the in-house channels broadcasted their entertainment shows and films.
The act of PEMRA and the Cable Operators, who deprived off the cricket lovers watching each movement of their favourite cricket stars, was a part of the association’s protest to get back their gadgets which had been allegedly seized by the PEMRA.
On Saturday night, cable operators resumed the transmission in all over the country after successful negotiation with information ministry. While talking to a press conference at Karachi, Khalid Araen, president of the association said they had called back the strike after assurance made by the Federal Information Minister Firdos Ashiq Awan. He said the minister assured them to give back their gadgets and raid-like action would not be repeated. He further warned that if their demands would not be fulfilled they had the right to protest by pulling the plug.
He said the token-protest was against the act of launching countrywide raids by PEMRA on cable networks relaying Cricket World Cup matches by channels not authorised by the Supreme Court.
On Friday, the operators issued the warning at a press conference after PEMRA raided 78 cable networks and seized their systems and confiscated their gadgets. The PEMRA, however, in a statement said it had acted against the cable operators following the Supreme Court decision on broadcasting rights of the ICC Cricket World Cup matches. It said some cable networks were defying the court orders as well as rules of PEMRA, adding that the authority warned of tough legal action under the PEMRA Ordinance against the operators on the eve of Cricket World Cup.
However, the state-run channel Pakistan Television telecasted ball-to-ball live cricket match. Moreover, the in-house channels broadcasted their entertainment shows and films.
The act of PEMRA and the Cable Operators, who deprived off the cricket lovers watching each movement of their favourite cricket stars, was a part of the association’s protest to get back their gadgets which had been allegedly seized by the PEMRA.
On Saturday night, cable operators resumed the transmission in all over the country after successful negotiation with information ministry. While talking to a press conference at Karachi, Khalid Araen, president of the association said they had called back the strike after assurance made by the Federal Information Minister Firdos Ashiq Awan. He said the minister assured them to give back their gadgets and raid-like action would not be repeated. He further warned that if their demands would not be fulfilled they had the right to protest by pulling the plug.
He said the token-protest was against the act of launching countrywide raids by PEMRA on cable networks relaying Cricket World Cup matches by channels not authorised by the Supreme Court.
On Friday, the operators issued the warning at a press conference after PEMRA raided 78 cable networks and seized their systems and confiscated their gadgets. The PEMRA, however, in a statement said it had acted against the cable operators following the Supreme Court decision on broadcasting rights of the ICC Cricket World Cup matches. It said some cable networks were defying the court orders as well as rules of PEMRA, adding that the authority warned of tough legal action under the PEMRA Ordinance against the operators on the eve of Cricket World Cup.
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