SC stops TV channels’ rating company from work

The Supreme Court (SC) the other day barred a TV channels’ rating company Medialogic from releasing TV ratings issuing show cause notice to its Chief Executive (CE) Salman Danish, directing him to appear before it in-person on the next date of hearing.

The case was heard by a three-member bench of the top court headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar heard a TV channel rating case.

The court also issued contempt notice to the CE for issuing rating Axact’s TV against the court’s express orders.

The court inquired from Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (PEMRA) chairman that why could the regulatory authority itself issue TV channels’ ratings on which he responded that the authority has no devices to do so.

Anwar Mansoor, counsel for the TV channel informed that the Medialogic has only provided a password while counsel for the company told the court that the rating process has been initiated.

Additional Attorney General (AAG) Nayyar Rizvi told the court that the Pakistan Broadcasters Association had evolved a mechanism for issuing rating to which chief justice asked as to who authorised the Medialogic for issuing ratings to TV channels.

Additional Attorney General replied that being a private company Medialogic has no legal status.

Justice Umer Ata Bandial, another member of the bench, observed that both Medialogic and Pakistan Broadcasters Association have maintained a monopoly which is a violation of Article 19 of the Constitution.

Meanwhile, the court issued contempt of court notice to Media Logic CEO Salman Danish for not complying with court’s order and summoned him in-person besides seeking a report from Pemra for ascertaining the legal status of Pakistan Broadcasters Association.

The court also issued notices to Pemra and other parties on the applications of cable operators and adjourned the hearing for date-in-office (Indefinite period).