Protectionist TV industry against ‘foreign content’
Television stakeholders stand up against the promotion of foreign content.–Photo by White Star
LAHORE: Feeling insecure in face of the rising trend of dishing out foreign content (plays) on different local TV channels, United Producers Association and television professionals staged a joint protest outside the Lahore Press Club on Monday against the practice.
The protesters, including a number of TV artistes, carrying placards with different slogans expressing their concern over the foreign content, mainly Turkish, being shown on local channels. Their main slogans was ‘Save Pakistan Television Drama Industry’.
They demanded that all Indian and foreign content dubbed in Urdu should be taken off air in Pakistan.
They said the UPA through such protest was trying to save local television drama industry. The UPA, they said, had no objection to foreign channels and programmes if they were in any foreign language or even had subtitles in Urdu.
They demanded the government should stake steps to protect the interests of local industry as was the practice in all other countries.
They also demanded that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) regulations should be revised in consultation with stakeholders, adding that a permanent role should be given to UPA in revising the rules.
Actor Firdous Jamal said the foreign content was a ‘conspiracy’ against the local TV industry hatched by the wealthy capitalists.
He said the foreign content was not only damaging the local production but also pushing against the wall the directors, producers, technicians and other people associated with the industry.
Usman Pirzada said the trend of dishing out foreign content dubbed in local language was injurious to the health of the local industry.
Actor Rashid Mehmood said foreign plays being shown on different local TV channels did not reflect local culture and traditions and it would also damage the local TV industry.
UPA Vice-Chairman Yasin Malik said the content which was against local culture and values would not be tolerated, adding the artiste community was united against the practice.
Veteran artiste Samina Ahmed regretted that channels were showing dubbed foreign plays and Indian content during prime time instead of plays being produced by local industry.
Ms Ahmed said channels were showing foreign re-runs, ignoring freshly produced local plays which was deplorable.
She said the local drama industry was a growing sector which in the last four or five years had provided employment to a large number of professionals and it kept updating itself with the passage of time when it came to scripts or technical input. The trend of showing foreign content was plying havoc with a thriving TV industry of Pakistan, she added.
“We don’t have any pact with India under which we show their content. Our channels are banned there but we on the other hand are buying their plays and showing on local channels,” she said.
She said with this kind of steps what sort of future we envisage for our younger generation studying film and television production at various local institutions.
Television artiste Maria Wasti said Pakistani culture did not allow such content which was ‘so open’. She also opposed the Indian content, saying it was promoting Indian culture amongst the younger generation.
The protesters also included Khalid Butt, Ghulam Muhayyudin, Shaukat Ali, Simee Raheel, Iftakhar Iffi, Imran Pirzada, Kiran, former PTV Lahore Station general manger Rafique Warraich.
Shame on Pakistanis who watch these foreign channels. Traitors are those who air these channels.
I have seen plenty of with objectionable content shown on prime time in subtle yet visibly there ways in pakistani dramas. As for pemra banning this, COME ON! govrernment interferes in every aspect of our life and now entertainment too. most of the youngsters pick their entertainment off the internet where the playing field is level. So if a show is better the other then others IT will be popular. SO our artists should stop try to use pemra as a shield.it’s ridiculous! Pakistani people have a right to chose their entertainment!
This protest is a reflection of typical pakistani nature, that unortunately, we all have. Instead of critcizing or demanding band on foreign programes, the local industry should produce the content that every one loves to see. If the local drama’s are not worthy than obvious attention would be diverted to the good foreign dramas.
The pakistani shows like ” Bulbulay ” got famous because of its content, not from any regulation.
If you want to destroy an industry, give it protection from competition. Our film industry was given protection from Indian movies right till the end; it didn’t help. There are very few Pakistani movies and the once banned content, Indian movies, is screened regularly across Pakistan. If the authorities move to ban the foreign plays, the viewers would be deprived of quality productions and our industry competition which in the long run means deterioration. I am sure there are other creative ways of resolving this issue, as mentioned in Dawn’s editorial above.
I don’t think that there is anything wrong in learning about another culture. You don’t have to follow it, but it’s good knowledge. I practice one religion but I know enough about world religions and cultures. I think this expands your horizon. You cannot remain ‘Kooyien Ka Mendhak (frog in a well)’ and be oblivious of what is happening in another part of the world. I actually enjoy watching foreign channels to learn about different rituals and cultures, while following my own. How long do we want to keep our kids with a tunnel vision? One day they will have to go out and be on the global scene – do you want them to look so ignorant?
May be it will help us to understand the other cultures and see life from a different angles, different perspective,Since we didn not learn any thing from our own culture.
I watched on the net, just to test, one eps of “Manahil Aur Khalil” dubbed in Urdu. I must say I was NOT impressed at all. our Pakistani dramas are the BEST!
The irony is lost on the people who created the placard reading “Say no to cultural invasion” in English. HA
Just to gauge the huge popularity of Turkish drama serials —- they are being shown in over 35 countries in the Middle East, some Central Asian countries, and in Russia in either dubbed form or with subtitles. I don’t think Pakistani viewers should be denied this choice. Pakistani dramas should compete with the rest of the world and, indeed, they have a large viewership which cannot be eroded by drama serials of any other country. Pakistani dramas are still of a very high quality and have withstood the test of time since the days they were watched in India (despite the “cultural invasion” from India’s Bollywood and their TV industry). Regarding the suitability of foreign/Turkish programs, I personally don’t have any issue with what is shown on them, but comparing them with some of the Pakistani TV plays, I think more introspection is called for — for example, in one of the Pakistani private channel’s drama serials, they showed a divorced girl lying in bed with the husband of her cousin and in quite a compromising position by any standards! Also, in the same play, they used words like “Keep” and some foul language. So much for the “family plays” produced in Pakistan! Anyway, let’s enjoy entertainment from all over the world rather than passing hypocritical moral judgements. Pakistani drama producers should work harder rather than asking for protection.
All such cultural sharing should be equal and under some governmental body – I know how bad is the governance at this time, but that’s not the question here. Individual groups or channels must not be allowed to show whatever they want for the sake for profit and any other agenda. Pakistani dramas should be dubbed into Turkish, Hindi and other languages and shown in parallel on their prime channels at prime time.
If Pakistan started a reality show on (a)Taliban in Society (b) Sect based people getting into a house , together a la Big Boss and fighting it out (instead of the killings on the streets) (c) a reality show on crippling diseases and their impact on ordinary pakistani children and citizens like Polio (a la the Amir Khan Satmev Jayaate), Pak TV guys will win all TRP’s and huge ratings, and help improve society.
The question is – why don’t they become creative and try and do stufff which has both social as well as the “aha” factor of interest impact on TV viewers? Why should EVERYTHING on TV be to promote the culture and language only of Pakistan? and not the real social change needed by this slowly imploding nation?
Pakistani films and TV dramas in the 60s;70s & 80s were of high standard, the indian audience were crazy to watch pakistan’ TV dramas at their prime time and this shocked the indian entertainment industry – why can’t we raise the same standards again?
Pakistani films…………..?
In early nineties it was hat we Indians were fascinated by Pak TV plays, so wonderfully family, less of melodrama, subtle but effective comedy etc. I too have lost my content and contentment in TV.
It is true that all possible efforts should be done to save Pakistani film and TV industry. But, it is ridiculous to suggest that foreign TV channels are destroying local culture.
Indian chanels do not require dubbing to Urdu. Some Indian chanels require dubbing from Urdu to Hindi!!
We watch a lots of Pakistani chanels (like Geo, Ary, Hum and Masala etc.) and really enjoy.
while they’re at it, they should argue for a ban on foreign ads as well.
Why we are not banning Indian serials & movies??
UPA Vice-Chairman Yasin Malik said the content which was against local culture and values would not be tolerated, adding the artiste community was united against the practice……killing innocents and terrorise people who does not belong to your religion, you call it culture? What culture you are taliking about?
You are mixing things. Can’t compare apple and oranges.
I hope stopping is workable solution, personally I think it todays world blocking of channels is not a possibility.
Let us please not complicate things with anti-Islamic slogans, it is quite hypocritic. We should protect our local industry, every country does it…. This is a good enough reason!
Yes we need to say no to cultural invasion
Well this is good that media people have realized culture but in fact when we watch our own drama’s on private TV channels these days we do not find culture and family values there too as it was in past when drama was only on PTV some how we all are they some and every thing is so much commercialised
Although Foreign content are no suitable but what culture local dramas are promoting as well:
Husband interested in sister in law
Wife interested in Huband’s Friend etc
Policy should be sstrict and for all
Moral of the above story: If you can’t compete, shout foul. Works everytime, and doesn’t matter to which industry you belong; be it auto industry or entertainment industry.
Its like old desi wrestlers who call every local dangal as Bain al Aqwami dangal, but can’t compete internationally. Time to grow up and learn to live upto the competetion.
well said bro…lol
i think time has gone globally to protect any industry by not getting impacted by invasion of other. You can tax more max..now everything available on internet. Prepare urself for competition, give enviornment for local industry to delievr better content. and To be honest in India or Pakistan – movie test, tv test is almost same. So you cannot supress and put bad content infront of audience..else they will watch illegally which will be exchequre loss to govt. Hope people understand.
I agree with u
Next would be the news channels…..they want us to stop watching tv !
Create a better plot, story, cast and whatever goes with it, now you have your destiny in your hand.When we see so many Desi people working every phase of T.V., movie, theatere, music and so on. Pakistan has everything to make great movies, t v shows, music. They don’t have even to borrow from any body.Just have courage and have belief in yourselves.