Most Pakistanis understand Hindi, and so they watch Zee TV. What to do? Some say better this than the state-run propagandist medium bequeathed by Gen Zia-ul Haq.
It is a cold March evening in a tiny mountain village, a few miles north of the popular hill station of Murree. Crowded together in a small house alongside a river, a group of 40 men and children, warmly wrapped against the chill in shawls and traditional woollen hats, has gathered around a television set. They are watching a typical Zee TV transmission, dominated by gyrating screen stars and tunes from popular Hindi film hits.
The owner of the sec was the first to install a dish antenna in the village, and since it was set up a few months ago, people gather before it every night. Apart from the occasional PTV (Pakistan Television) drama serial or news bulletin, the most popular choice is Zee TV and EL— partly because all the other available channels air programmes mainly in English which, obviously, holds little interest for these villagers.
The viewers seem unclear as to where the transmissions emanate from, although a few youngsters mention a 'huge station' which is 'based on a rocket'. A 21-year-old wagon driver, Darshan, explains, 'We like to watch mainly the Hindi songs and films as this gives us something to enjoy. Otherwise we had just PTV, which shows nothing but news and discussions by politicians'.