Cable operators end country-wide strike, resume services
Cable Operators
on Tuesday announced the end of their country-wide strike and resumption
of cable services, said Cable Operator Association leader Khalid Arain.
The operators had suspended their services on Monday in
various parts of the country following a strike call after the refusal
from Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to postpone
the auction of Direct-to-Home (DTH) service licences.
The
Lahore High Court also issued a stay order on Tuesday to halt the
auctioning of Direct-to-Home (DTH) licences which was scheduled to be
held on November 23, reported DawnNews.
Pemra Chairman
Absar Aalam, however, indicated that the auction of DTH licence services
will be held as per announced schedule in accordance with the earlier
orders of the supreme court .
"DTH is an inevitable
platform for progress in media services and SC had instructed Pemra not
to halt auctioning of the DTH licences," said Absar Alam.
The
Pemra chairman also revealed that licences are allotted under a
transparent system and licences will not be allotted to any company
which do not have more than 49 per cent shares in Pakistan.
"The
ones who are opposing and running campaigns against DTH, the ones who
have approached the courts, had never opposed Indian DTH," added Alam.
While talking to media persons, Absar Alam also said,"Business of cable operators will not be affected by introduction of DTH."
While
commenting on the stance of Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA),
the Pemra chairman revealed that PBA had recommended in the court to
introduce the DTH as soon as possible.
"Cable operators do not have any reason for strike and I wish they had opposed the Indian DTH in the same way," he said.
"In
light of the apex court's decision, cable operators do not have the
right to halt access of Pakistanis to DTH service," he added.
Unlike
the traditional cable connections, DTH service is a digital setup that
broadcasts channels directly to homes from satellite using small dish
antennas
Pemra on November 12 had shortlisted 12
companies for participation in the first auction on November 23 for DTH
service licences.
The shortlisted companies are:
- Orient Electronics (Lahore)
- Mag Entertainment (Lahore)
- Skyflix (Islamabad)
- Startimes Communications (Islamabad)
- Sardar Builders (Islamabad)
- Smart Sky (Islamabad)
- Parus Media and Broadcast (Islamabad)
- Naya Tel (Islamabad)
- Maestro Media Distribution (Islamabad)
- Shahzad Sky (Islamabad)
- HB DTH (Islamabad)
- IQ Communications (Karachi)
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