So far so good. Where will the satellite programmers go from here?
THESE DAYS, it is fashionable in Pakistan, as it is elsewhere, to malign satellite television. Given the daily diet of meaningless Hindi film songs, inane game shows or moronic soap operas churned out by the vast majority of these channels, this is hardly surprising. Quite evidently space for quality programming, which draws less commercial support, is limited on most of the channels, with Jain, ATN and a number of others said to be locked in a battle for survival.
The main exceptions come in the form of the sports and news channels, and, of course, most importantly the Discovery Channel. This channel, initially set up by the National Geographic Society with Russian and British collaboration, gives some indication of how powerful an educational force satellite television can be.
But even though it is the 'popular entertainment' aired by Zee, EL, V and so many others, which attracts the vast majority of viewers, the fact is that in Pakistan, satellite channels have had a positive impact.