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Geo TV vs Cable Operators: Cable Operators to shut down service for 24 hours
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Cable TV operators have warned of a complete blackout from Saturday noon in protest against countrywide raids by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority PEMRA) on cable networks relaying Cricket World Cup matches by channels not authorized by the Supreme Court.
The operators issued the warning at a press conference here on Friday night after PEMRA raided 78 cable networks and seized their systems for allegedly relaying the matches from different channels and positioning Geo Super — the only private channel with rights to show the matches — at the end.
Before taking action, the authority gave a three-day warning to the cable operators through notices. The raids were conducted in all major cities, Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan and Quetta.
People are likely miss the crucial match between Pakistan and Australia starting at 2pm on Saturday if the dispute between PEMRA and cable operators is not settled before noon.
“We did not violate any law. PEMRA has requested cable orders to adjust the private channel (Geo Super) at the end. Now they (PEMRA authorities) want it placed within top 25 channels. We have followed their instructions,” said Malik Hafeez, a coordinator of the Cable Operators Association.
The association’s former general secretary Babar Bhatti warned that cable operators would pull the plug on Saturday for 24 hours and the blackout could continue for an indefinite period if PEMRA did not return the confiscated equipment.
In a statement issued on Friday, PEMRA said it had acted against the cable operators following the Supreme Court decision on broadcasting rights of the ICC Cricket World Cup matches. “These cable networks were defying the court orders as well as rules laid down by Pemra.” The authority also warned of tough legal action under the Pemra Ordinance against the operators. Before the start of the Cricket World Cup, PEMRA had announced that Geo Super had secured the exclusive cable and satellite broadcast rights to the biggest sporting event and warned other broadcasters in the country to refrain from telecasting action from the competition.
PEMRA has received a list of about 100 cable operators across the country from the legal counsel of Geo Super accusing them of running illegal satellite channels showing the Cricket World Cup matches. He also informed PEMRA about various cable networks involved in buffering and shuffling of the channel position of Geo Super in disregard of the court orders.
Some prominent cable TV networks raided by the Pemra enforcement teams are: Islamabad/Rawalpindi: DAHI Telemen (Pvt) Ltd, Pasban Cable TV Operators, SA Cable Network, Regal Cable Network, Unicom (Pvt) Ltd, Five Star Cable Network, Shan Cable Network; Lahore: Ashiq Cable Network, New Star Cable Network, British Cable Network, Sahar Cable Network, OK Video Cable Network, Power Cable Network, Bright Multi Media Cable Network, Global Cable Network, Four Star Cable Network, Cable & Cable Network; Faisalabad: Mediacom Cable Network; Karachi: Sky Multi Services, PECHS, Delta Cable Network, Akhtar Colony, Highway Communication, Sohrab Goth, Lucky Communication, Orangi Town, Media Plus Communication, Karachi Cable Services, Pakistan Cable Services, New Digi Cable Network (Pvt) Ltd., DHA, Delta Communication, DHA, Greek Vista, World Call Cable (Pvt) Ltd; Hyderabad: Universal Cable Communication, City Cable Communication; Sukkur: Star Cable TV Network; Multan: Worldcall Cables (Pvt)Ltd., Sky Vision International, Digital City Cable Network, Baluch Cable Network; Quetta: Combined Broadband Cable TV Network and New Pakistan Cable TV Network.
More than 2,500 cable networks are operating in the country.
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