The Association for International Broadcasting (AIB), the trade association for television, radio and online, is pleased to announce that Hum Network has become its first member in Pakistan.

Hum Network is Pakistan’s only publicly-quoted media company, operating a range of television channels that are available across the country. Hum Network also offers its television channels in North America, the UK and the Middle East.

Established in 2004, Hum Network has expanded into production for television and fi lm, and has plans for further development in a range of areas of the media both at home and abroad.

“We are delighted to welcome Hum Network as a Member of the Association for International Broadcasting,” said Simon Spanswick, AIB Chief Executive. “HUM Network is a dynamic company that has developed fast over the past 13 years. The AIB and its Members look forward to working with Hum Network and its executives as they expand their reach and introduce new services. As part of the AIB, Hum Network will benefi t from the expertise that exists within the Association and from the opportunities of collaboration with our global membership base.”

“In joining the AIB, Hum Network is reinforcing its position as the pioneer of Pakistan’s media industry,” commented Duraid Qureshi, CEO of Hum Network. “We are pleased to be the AIB’s fi rst Member in Pakistan, benefi ting from the work that the Association undertakes for all its Members across the world. My colleagues and I are looking forward to working closely with the AIB and its Members.”

As a Member, Hum Network now has access to the full range of the AIB’s work, ranging from market intelligence briefings to participation in working groups that focus on key areas of activity such as cyber security, sustainability and audience measurement. The AIB also supports its Members on key issues that affect their business through its international lobbying activities.

The Association for International Broadcasting is a not-for-profi t, nongovernmental organisation that worksfor the benefit of its Members and of the wider media industry.

On another note, Pakistan’s PEMRA regulator is seeking to update its existing 2007 regulations and to block broadcaster’s TV signals if its programming is offensive. If the current Act is modified, it will allow PEMRA to work with the nation’s Space & Upper Atmosphere Commission (Suparco) and to in effect, jam the offending transmissions from satellite operators.

The re-think follows on from the December 16th, 2014, terrorist attack in Peshawar. The plan is to enforce ethical standards to protect terrorism outrage.

BBC Monitoring reported that Pakistan’s Electronic Media Regulator Authority (PEMRA) has approved the cancellation of 425 cable TV licences across the country. PEMRA made the decision at a meeting.

PEMRA says many of the licences were dormant or were in default. There was a total of 3,600 PEMRA licensed cable operators across the country. However, after thecancellation of 425 cable TV licences, the number plummeted to 3,175. PEMRA also approved the cancellation of ‘Metro One’. According to Rule 13 of PEMRA Rules, a person engaged in distribution service (cable TV etc) cannot hold a broadcast licence and vice versa, stated the BBC report.

Pakistan stopped issuing satellite license Pakistan’s media regulator PEMRA says it has stopped issuing new transmission licences to satellite channels, citing “saturation” and revision of its former policies. Pakistan’s broadcasting minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that PEMRA has so far issued eighty-seven such licences since 2003.

She added that PEMRA has not issued any licence to Indian content channels. At present, twenty-three private entertainment satellite TV channels are telecasting Indian programming. She said under its terms and conditions of the licence, ten per cent foreign content is permitted on all private satellite TV channel licensees. Dr Awan said that PEMRA permitted the re-transmission of 15 TV channels online and 4 on mobiles