PEMRA takes notice of closure of entertainment channels

ISLAMABAD: Chairman, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) took notice of closure of some entertainment channels on cable networks.

PEMRA says some licensed cable operators have reportedly blocked the channels owing to a dispute between Cable Operators of Pakistan (CAP) and few members of Pakistan Broadcasting Association (PBA).

Sources, on the other hand, say the cable operators have jammed these channels as a protest against a ban on Indian entertainment channels, which they are pushing the PEMRA to restore for quite sometime now.

PEMRA chairman urged all the stakeholders to resolve their grievances amicably by holding a joint meeting.

Meanwhile, CAP has been asked to restore the transmission of closed channels.

Moreover, PBA also said that such gagging tactics were being used to plunge the broadcasters into crisis so that they could not render transparent coverage of the upcoming elections.