It ‘pauses’ the transmission of PTV Sports test series

PTV Sports, the sports channel of Pakistan Television, has decided to stop broadcasting the ongoing second Test match between Pakistan and Australia on Tuesday.

The decision comes a week after the government issued a decree pledging zero tolerance against bookmakers’ surrogate companies. In its order, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting also urged stakeholders to prevent their exposure through any kind of advertisement during live coverage of sporting events.

In a notice shared on X, formerly Twitter, PTV Sports wrote: “Pakistan Television (PTV Sports) following the policy of the Government of Pakistan, ‘Zero tolerance for surrogate companies’ has stopped telecasting the second Test match from Melbourne played since December. 26, 2023 instead of Pakistan vs Australia Cricket Series 2023-24.”

The channel further added that it has taken up the matter with the parent broadcaster and reported it to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and other relevant stakeholders, requesting the removal of “brand placements of surrogate companies’ advertisements on the ground (virtual advertising).”

“The series will be telecast live once the issue is resolved. PTV as a state broadcaster is trying to resolve the issue to avoid future interruption of such shows on Pakistani soil,” he added in the post.

Referring to its earlier advisory on the matter last week, the ministry noted a “clear violation” during the live broadcast of the Pakistan cricket team’s tour of Australia on several media and channels, including Pakistan Television.

The Ministry of Information, in its earlier advisory, had urged all ministries, departments and agencies not to enter into any kind of contracts or cooperation with the surrogate companies operating illegally in Pakistan, especially in print, online and social media.

The ministry reiterated its advice by sternly warning the media “not to promote the bookmaker’s surrogate companies through any kind of advertising”, in addition to immediately terminating all existing agreements with them.

The advisory, which had already been sent to interested parties, specifically mentioned a list of known substitute companies “to address any lack of information and to ensure strict and prompt compliance.”

The ministry also noticed that the logos of at least two of the companies mentioned in the previous notice were displayed continuously throughout the live broadcast of the said event which lasted for several hours over several days.

The ministry urged stakeholders to ensure immediate compliance with its immediate advisory without fail, investigate the reasons and responsibility for non-compliance of the earlier advisory and submit a copy of the same within a week.