Ban Indian Channels

shaheerk · 2009-11-04 21:39:18

I'm not sure why Banged Up Abroad isn't allowed to be aired in Pakistan (check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banged_Up_Abroad) (and it's not "Banged Abroad") but there are a number of reasons.

1) television stations need to buy rights for a certain market. Sometimes, a certain show isn't available in certain markets, and at other times, it is. In the case of NatGeo, all I can guess is that while they may have the rights, they are probably trying to be cautious and not air programs that may cause resentment amongst the officials in Pakistan.

2) as far as the nudity bit is concerned:
a) which region does that specific TCM channel broadcast to?
b) pay television usually has lax censorship. Moreover, before the START of each program, they announce a warning. In some areas (like South Africa, the UK and USA), they are forced to display the program rating either for the first 30 seconds of the program (for general viewing/family viewing) or non-stop (for, say, R18 programs). Moreover, because the channels are not publicly available, they are allowed some leverage in terms of censorship. The blurring that takes place is done because those specific channels are available on different media and for public viewing.

And hence, a number of pay TV channels don't blur out nudity. They show the movie as it is. If you don't want to watch it, don't. The channel only plays stuff. Afterall, you can't say they didn't warn you, because they did.

Oh, and another thing before I end - on decoders, there is already a system of parental locks. Desi cable doesn't support that, so parental locks are meant to block out the channel based on a filter automatically. PEMRA doesn't step in because they can't monitor everything.

Although PEMRA is nothing more than a truckload of crap.

Trouble is, desi cable is so primitive that it's impossible to do anything on it. If MMDS (satellite providers) enter Pakistan, PEMRA would lay guidelines for Pakistani-based channels. Distribution companies take no liability whatsoever what channels beyond their control air, as they are only a medium. Orbit/Showtime, in this case, is partly a medium, and partly a pay-service (and hence, little/no censorship cause different rules apply).

Hope that answers your question. And no, it wasn't inappropriate. You had a concern, so why is it inappropriate?

wiredpakistan :: A Pakistani Tech forum

#161 2009-11-04 21:39:18

Re: Ban Indian Channels

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