July 30, 2015
News
PEMRA bars channels from vulgarity, undue foreign content
Regulator asks TV channels to telecast national anthem daily in morning
INPISLAMABAD – Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) – in its fresh advice – has asked all TV channels to immediately stop rampant un-ethical and indecent content, programmes and songs being aired on private channels.
The advice has been issued in pursuance to directives of Senate’s Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage to PEMRA on July 3, 2015. PEMRA has also raised serious concerns on excessive religious consumerism and commercial type programmes aired during the month of Ramazan.
According to PEMRA, such programmes were not only lamented by the legislators but also by large number of public who have generally viewed these kinds of programmes against the norms and sanctity of the holy month. Therefore, the authority has directed all TV channels not to telecast;
1 – Excessive foreign content beyond permissible limit of 10% in violation of Regulation 18(1)(a) of PEMRA (Television Broadcast Station Operations) regulations-2012,
2 – Excessive commercials exceeding limit of 12 minutes per hour in violation of Rule 15 (3) of PEMRA Rules 2009,
3 – Programmes promoting religious consumerism particularly hurting sanctity of the holy month of Ramazan in sheer disregard to Section 20 of PEMRA Act 2007 and the Code of Conduct,
4 – Sporadic songs/clips being aired in every bulletin and news in the garb of entertainment news in violation of Code of Conduct for programmes and,
5 – Programmes and commercials containing indecent and objectionable clips etc.
6 – Programmes on re-enactment and dramatization of crimes.
– Healthy programmes for children –
Moreover, the authority has advised the TV channels to telecast national anthem before the start of every day transmission as also being practiced in neighbouring countries to promote patriotism. PEMRA has also asked TV channels to develop healthy programmes for the children as there was no serious focus on children programming and only couple of foreign channels are presently catering to this need.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk