Advanced Television

Pakistan acts against “illegal” Indian channels

July 4, 2011

By Chris Forrester

Pakistan’s broadcasting regulator PEMRA has initiated actions against what it describes as “illegal and proscribed” channels.  The channels are carried by many cable TV operators throughout the country.  According to local reports PEMRA says that despite previous warnings the – mostly Indian – channels are still being carried.

PEMRA rules state that relaying unlicensed or proscribed satellite TV channels and excessive CD channels beyond a permitted limit, or showing Indian movies on cable networks is an illegal activity and “a peril to society”. Moreover, relaying illegal channel and movies on cable TV networks is deemed a main source of content piracy and needs immediate steps by the Authority to stop such irregularities.

PEMRA also recently impounded illegal gray-import Indian DTH receiver boxes made or supplied by Sahara, TATA Sky, BIG TV and Dish TV, which were installed by the cable TV operators for the purpose of distributing- mostly Indian – and this “illegal” channels through their respective networks in the major Pakistan cities of Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Bahawalpur, Multan, Okara, Sahiwal, Kasur, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Jehlum, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Abbottabad, D.I.Khan, Sargodha, Peshawar, Mirpur, Gilgit and other areas.

 

Categories: Articles, Content, Piracy