Private TV Channels’ Corruption
By Gul Raiz • Jul 16th, 2009 • Category: Politics • 19 CommentsFlip on any private T.V channel and you would get a load of self-righteous crap about honesty, truth, transparency and rule of law. Watch any news or talk show and you would see anchorpersons dressing down the politicians and other people. Making a mountain out of a molehill is what these channels are doing in the name of free media.
But their own dirty clothes are still waiting for the laundry and the stench is unbearable. Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (Pemra) is slow to monitor and regulate these channels and despite of clear proofs that these channels are not even following the rules they signed so lavishly is a great matter of concern and one wonders as why not the so activist, smug, self-righteous and hound investigative journalist like Ansar Abbasi or Javed Chaudhry raise their rich voices about the private media high-handedness.
Chairman Pemra Mushtaq Malik has himself conceded about the corruption of the private media channels. He says that as per Pemra regulations all the TV channels are allowed to air advertisements for only 12 minutes in an hour (4 hours and 48 minutes in 24 hours), which is not followed by any channel. Another regulation says all these channels are supposed to pay the government 5 per cent of their gross annual revenue, he added. Mushtaq said not a single channel has ever paid this amount to Pemra or the government.
Private TV channels especially bigwigs like GEO, AAJ, ARYONEWORLD and Express earn ugly amount of money. Though they are allowed just 12 minutes an hour for the advertisements, they use more than half an hour for them. They never disclose as how much they pay their prime anchorpersons and key people, who also evade taxes. SECP, PEMRA and CBR must hold a stern and open audit for these channels.
Trackback URL
|
|
|
Gul Raiz, after ‘entertaining’ an ugly idea in your mind and then going public with it has reduced you to a level that whatever you say or write sounds less than its worth and mumbling of a sick mind. Please, apologise and withdraw from here the documentary proof of your insanity so that you can be rehabilitated back into civilization. You know what I am talking about. Right it is about your very own: “Should Pakistan Drop Atom Bomb on South Waziristan ???”
Nobody could deny the great role of electronic media in awareness campaign in the masses especially by some of the very talented anchors but in celebrating the bright side we shouldn’t overlook the dark side, if it is any.
Well, I don’t know much about Pemra rules and channels behavior in following the rules. But if some channels are airing commercials in excess to allowed limit or not paying the %age of revenue as taxes which they supposed to pay than this matter should also be highlighted also.
i wish some one should add a button in the remote control,which when pressed bang the anchorperson, or some of the guests talking, these hits be recorded in the studio to know the responce of the viewers,
this may help in reducing the nonesence out of these programes.
Aftab S. Alam,
Agree with you 100%, it seems that the grand Chu_too aka Pervez Musharraf has opened the flood gates of this breed of chu__toos
100% agreed with Comment# 1—Plus—What an anchor person has to do with the revenue and Commercial thing—would you please explain?
You talking about channels, where does anchor persons come in between? its none of their business you should talk of owners.
Hello Mr Stupid Gul,
You cannot deny the role of electronic media in awareness of people and stand against Musharaf and nor Zardari Govt, effort in raising funds for Swat IDPs… Author should also described that…!
Mr. Gul, you should write an apology straight away. The money people are making in the media is by telling the truth not through corruption, let Pemra do its work and dont bother to write any thing more about the able anchor persons, as you seem totally out of your mind, read their auto biographies and their struggle for the future of Pakistan. Shame on you!
What is role of pamera so far.A pet of president house nothing more than it .If pamera found this corruption why they didnt take any action so far.They should go for it as it will generate lot of revenue.this is same pamera who in just one orders shut all the TV pro grammes with one order from higher authority.Our last talented sherry rehman was out from scene as she didnt accept wrong doing of establishment, being done through the cover up of pamera on people of Pakistan.
Electronic media and its brave anchors are now writing new dimensions of Pakistan.They have become real informers of Pakistan who risk their lives to transfer real situation from helms of state to streets.
It is surely annoying our establishment as people are responding them as per coverage of media.
This media change is really taking us toward civilian revolution and ch ifitkhar’s restoration is first victory of this media power.A big thorn in the heart of establishment.
Well your article have received a lot of bashing–I think it wud have been better off if you had focussed on certain exceptions where media not the anchors have faltered e.g.The recent case of Shumaila Rana where the accused was bashed up by the media Special Reference Geo T.V.—First of all the accusation has not been proved (the CCTV Footage is not really conclusive) and Secondly the most important thing is that Shumaila Rana is a female and as a muslim nation specially we should be more careful–ok she might have done something wrong but let the investigation conclude and let the law and the party to decide her fate but not bash her so publicly —She should be respected as a Female and Islam gives a lot of respect to Women————————–Anyone having other thoughts?——-thats my view about the scenerio.
Most of these private media channels do not portray the real face of any situation or event but show only that side to the public which is in line with their policy, interest and/or agenda.
They are also in the race of ‘breaking news’ and in the process air unauthenticated and incomplete news to the viewers. I can quote numerous examples to support this.
Politically,they present tilted opinions and tailor their programs in a way that convey a hidden message to the masses. I believe this is not the role of the media.
Their anchors of talk shows cleverly constitute the team of participants as they know who can forcefully support the theme which they plan to convey to the viewers. In many cases I have observed that the host is putting words into the mouth of a participant to get the desired statement.
Occasionally I see series of news on a particular type of happening as to form public opinion in that context. In some cases these news bring bad names to the country.
‘Breaking News’ which sometimes proved wrong are not followed by any apology or corrigendum. This in a way be termed as professional dishonesty.
Last but not least is the fact that these channels are profusely funded by those powerful elements who want their agenda to be followed. Extra ordinary high salaries and hidden perks to the anchors of these programs support my claim.]
Summing up, I would say that these channels need to be regulated and be made answerable for any incorrect, unauthenticated piece of news, claims/’inkshafat’ by the hosts of these channels.
@TS: Why you are so concerned about their PRIVATE LIFE or INCOME — I guess it has nothing to do with the audience (us). As long as they are taming politicians we are happy with them. Whatever they do in personal lives or how much they earn should not be our concern. Moreover you have posted a very generalized statement, how could you include all big name in your hate list ? How sure you are that their income tax don’t deduct in from their salary cheques ?
Why show pictures of anchorpersons when you are talking about media owners? So do you suggest that we also nuke media houses?
nasir
In the period of musharf, all binoculars were set on media and strong media men.Intelligence agencies were desperate to look for single case of corruption against any TV or its anchors that are disturbing the sweat dreams of Musharf.But not a single case was found that you have tried to mention.
All channels except PTV automatically synchronize their activities when ever any wrong doings are found in any public and state affairs.
You look quite unaware of salaries of private sectors and its hidden perks(as these are basically hidden from the eyes of tax department who always axed to working class for generating revenue ) which is normal and surely improved with each coming year.As in corporate sector owners don’t compromise on quality and ability of professional and get him/her with high prices.
So instead of giving lecture on corruption in media bring any particular case and then give space to others to accept this reality with solid evidence.
Do you want o show us who is bearing the expenses of altaf hussain and his daughter in one of expensive city of UK.
Do you think that a salaried class general can buy expensive flat in the heart to UK without selling off his single assets and all money was sent from his foreign hidden accounts.Do you think his pensions benefits are so high that he could bear his daily royal expenses in UK life
What we see in Pakistan is according to natural phenonmena.When a corrupt person can become the President of Pakistan,then expecting that there would be no organization or organizations which has shunned corruption is like you are not being realistic.
Pakistan on the whole is a society which has to have a lot of corrupts and dishonests as there is no concept of rule and law in Pakistan.We desperately need an honest leadership on top which must come in power after a succesful struggle.Who can be better option than Imran Khan who has started struggle against the current system.?
Do you have any proof against any of anchors you highlighted in the image? Or was it just a LAME effort to get more and more readers come through? I wonder how did this article arrive here, that too as a “leading Story”.
Are there any channels portraying a PAKISTANI immage? In my opinion NO. They are copying our neigboring country for every thing. Are our channels Patriotic to Pakistan? NO , they all have there self and business intrest first. Concocted stories are being spread on the pakistani media and foreign press is jumping on it and using it against Pakistani Nation. Its a good media for the Illitrate tribes.
@#18: Peer Khan: “Its a good media for the Illitrate tribes.” ….. as well as the ‘aliterate’ class!
Dear Webmaster, I loved your article here at Private TV Channels’ Corruption | The Pakistani Spectator but I am definitely not understanding the theme. Is it a standard design or some thing? Take care and maintain posting!