THERE remains a huge divide in what the masses of Pakistan get to watch versus what well-off people get to enjoy in the name of entertainment. There exists classism in entertainment content. The elite in Pakistan have access to better content, while the ordinary people remain deprived of it. People in higher income brackets do not watch television. They prefer over-the-top (OTT) platforms over local channels to access a variety of far superior content.

OTT shows are much more informative than the shows aired on television channels. Moreover, the repository of interesting documentaries that they get to enjoy not only satisfies their entertainment needs, but also gives them an edge over others in terms of exposure. In contrast, the masses get to watch the age-old soaps from which they learn nothing except family politics and extramarital affairs.

While the drama industry claims to have evolved over the years, the truth is that nothing has changed. Most dramas, if not all, continue to show meaningless content. Even the stereotyping of women and ethnic groups is still the same on television as it was 20 years ago. If anyth-ing, the storylines have taken a dip in quality after producing wonderful dramas till the 1990s.

The reality is that even entertainment is not safe from classism. As long as this divide in entertainment content exists, society cannot expect the masses to have the same exposure as the elite.

Affan Khattak
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2024