Broadcasts Without Borders

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.

Because BBC or CNN or even one of the India-based networks are now available, literally at the flick of a remote, a growing number of Pakistanis have access to a variety of perspectives on issues such as Kashmir, the situation in Karachi and so on. Viewers accustomed to hearing Pakistan Television´s (ptv) newscasters unflappably ignore all bad news from home while describing in painstaking details violence further afield, in say Bosnia or the West Bank, can now turn to an alternate news channel for a more accurate version of events.

The fact that an increasing number of Pakistanis have access to programming from the West and India has also helped promote a growing liberalistation within a culture choked by the religious extremism enforced and nourished by the country´s late military dictator, General Zia-ul Haq. There is little doubt that intense competition from Zee TV and the other satellite channels has encouraged PTV to revoke its former hardline attitude, ushering in an era where more female presenters, pop music concerts, fashion shows and so on make it to air. Although it can be argued that this hardly constitutes liberalisation, in the Pakistani context, a tolerance for what is permitted in the public sphere comes as a welcome change.

It is also true that the borderless world of satellite tv has introduced more people than ever before to India, a country which seen from the eyes of many Pakistanis, is strangely familiar, yet alien; a nation which has much in common, but is seen as the enemy. It is, of course, a pity that all too much of the image of India being beamed across to Pakistan is dominated by the fantasy world of Bollywood–whose stars attract a huge following in Pakistan. But even this has led to a new interest in Indian affairs, with, for instance, a larger number of people than ever before following the Indian elections. Talk about the various modes of coverage by the satellite channels and, obviously, the results themselves, was widespread and this new awareness about realities across the frontier is certainly a positive development.

But the question now is: where will the satellite revolution go from here? Clearly, the potential is immense. How it is put to use will depend on the willingness of the networks to divert from the most commercially viable options, such as game shows, music programmes or Hindi films, towards programming which can offer South Asia a little more in terms of news, opinion and awareness about cultural and political realities in which so much is held in common. Perhaps satellite television can help bring together people whom borders have kept apart.