Cable Operators Have Shutdown Cable TV Services Across Pakistan [Updated]

The Cable Operators of Pakistan, through their respective association, have announced an immediate shutdown of cable TV services nationwide starting immediately, it has been reported.

Cable TV operators said that cable TV services will remain offline for indefinite period.

The move is seen as a desperate plan to pressure the government into delaying or even scrapping altogether the plan to hold DTH auction on Nov 23.

It should be recalled that earlier last week, the cable operators and their representatives held a protest outside PEMRA headquarters in Islamabad, threatening to go on hunger strike if their demands were not met.

Based on recent developments, and the government’s plan to proceed with the auction this time (the DTH auction being victim to numerous delays during the last past year), the cable operators feel that their livelihood is under threat and hence they will incur a huge loss if superior quality DTH services becomes reality.

Not to mention, Cable Operator Association officials met with Ishaq Dar during the weekend, however, there was no substantial outcome.

Cable operators say that 100 percent of cable TV network in the country runs on analogue and they require time to digitize it through digital set top box.

Cable operators say that cable network has to be digital at the time of the launch of DTH services for a fair competition, otherwise cable operators may face irrecoverable loss and an entire industry will die down.