With the rising quantum of television that is being introduced into turbulent Pakistani society, there are many categories of viewers watching TV. All kinds of TV, cable and satellite That is not the point I am referring to. Being underlined here is the state of mind that viewers are likely to be in when sitting before a TV set, or watching it in bed!
That is the outer appearance of the viewer. But what is the state of mind and heart of the average viewer whom the TV channel is communicating with . There are many possibilities, and questions, and a few of them are: does the viewer believe, and does he "suspend his disbelief" even for a short while, does he switch channels when in doubt, or disgust?
There is another frame of mind of the viewer, especially those who watch TV at the end of the day. Tired and sleepy, and one has the urban viewer(possibly the Karachite) in mind. The end of a day has its own mood, and being sleepy and tired, and with concentration levels being low, compounded by the frustrations of the way we live, TV's current affairs can also be challenging. I am putting it mildly. They can be depressing, and this is another understatement. Younger viewers switch onto music or western channels, presumably, while the older viewers do what ?I am guessing.
Of course, it is tough watching even some of the very strong programmes at that hour, post PTV's khabarnama or the 10pm news, from ARY or Indus or Geo. But often that is when these channels are reviewing the day in the perspective of national affairs. It can be grim, and grey, as was the case with ARY's Dr Shahid Masood on Tuesday night when in his popular current affairs show he was talking to the veteran politician Dr Mubashar Hasan who spoke for the first time in this programme.
The subject was Pakistan's relations with the United States and the overview that the viewer received was that Pak-US ties are not and have never been sincere, and dependable, because it is inherent in interstate relations that they change according to the pressures and demands of the times. Dr Mubashar Hasan argued that Pakistan has never been able to understand this principle, ever in its history. Let me quickly mention here that Dr Shahid Masood had in his extended opening remarks argued, or insinuated the inherent futility of ties with the United States, which had always worked on the basis of its own interests. Dr Mubashar Hasan repeatedly referred to the failure of various governments in Pakistan to understand that abiding principle: mutuality of interests between nation states. It was significant when he said that being a feudal society Pakistanis thought relationships between countries were for all times, and so they complained about being let down.
It was a very candid expression of views, and it made one wonder about the post 9/11 scenario that Pakistan is in currently. It made one also wonder about the extent to which one can discuss such "sensitive issues" in the media,
Which perhaps makes it pertinent to mention here that an English daily from Lahore has in an editorial on 16th June written on the subject of "our TV channels and 'enlightened moderation' reflecting the point that now TV channels ,for their content, are becoming the subject of editorial comment. One consciously seeks to avoid controversy in this column, and of course dissent in Pakistani society is becoming so fundamental that it is rather disturbing. Whither consensus?
That Tuesday evening there were two other discussions on at the same time. One over ARY digital where a women's panel which was discussing a familiar weather beaten subject, but which remains an all time favourite it seems. The status of women as compared to men. And the participants included Barrister Shahida Jamil and Qudsia K Khan, editor in chief of the Financial Post. Of course, the compare was a lady. Vying for more attention was a discussion over the Indus TV, wherein Shaheen Salahuddin was handling a panel discussion on law and order in the current context, with heavy weight participants like Lt Gen (retd) Moinuddin Haidar, Nisar Khuhro and Jameel Yusuf. Here too the tone of the programme was angry ,and the content candid. Once again Pakistani society was being analysed without hesitation, and with realism. There was bitter comment on the failure of successive governments since 1988 to bring about meaningful changes in the police set-up in the country, and that when changes were made in 2000,they were introduced only in small measure.. It makes you wonder about the future. Of course the positive side is that Pakistani society is talking about itself.
That was also the impression that one got from a small part of the Follow-up with Fahd that one saw on Monday night over the Geo channel, in which the buoyant Fahd Hussain, was having a discussion with Syeda Abida Hussain and Humayun Gauhar on who could be the next Prime Minister ;the names mentioned were Foreign Minister Kasuri,Education Minister Zubeda Jalal and Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar. Once again an instance of the freedom of expression that we have today. For those into this kind of speculation, it must have been a very interesting programme.
I want to focus on Pakistan TV here and begin with what the newly appointed Managing Director has said. The "corporation was in deep financial crisis and needed corrective measures" and what was required was good management and a professional approach. He mentioned that the ":audited accounts of the PTV have shown losses of Rs343 million and stuck up recoveries Of Rs1.2 billion by March 2004 despite the profits (approximately Rs300 million )in 2003. He indicated that he wanted to run PTV on commercial lines now ,and made categorical mention of the Rs3 billion advertising budget available with advertising agencies for the electronic media.
One would need to mention here that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority has set up a committee to formulate the advertising policy(and standards) with reference to cable and satellite TV. One hopes that credibility and truthfulness will be integral part of any policy and implementation that follow. A report is scheduled to be submitted by the third week of this month, said a news agency report.
The new PTV chief executive told a select group of newspapermen in Karachi last week that the criticism of the news and current affairs programmes did not take into account that "national priorities had to be protected ."A balance had to be maintained between what the viewers want and what the government needed to do to fulfil its responsibility.
Any way, The Nation during the week after the violent attack on the Karachi corps commander's motorcade carried a news item which said that "the country's interior and information ministers on Sunday provided the national media contradictory information about the total number of suspects involved ...and neither both had consensus about the nationalities of these terrorists". The headline for this report from Islamabad read 'Who to be believed.'? But then as one viewer said that this is the recurring hurdle: belief and credibility.
Perhaps one does not hear enough about music in this column. So here I am focusing on music .A colleague ,conservative middle class, confesses that both his sons ,aged seven and three, watch music and entertainment programmes regularly. Also sports, is their favourite. He is surprised that even the three year old knows the names of Pakistani pop groups, and their songs. Some of his favourite solo singers/bands are Jawad Ahmad ,(I also like him at times)especially the Dosti song, Strings, (Aaey O) Fuzon ,(Ankhon Key Sagar) and others
The fact is that music is a strong factor that keeps cable and satellite TV relevant for the younger crowd amongst the viewers, as indeed are the Indian channels with their cinema and soap operas. and their B4U channel songs that are a bewildering amalgam of technology ,modern day "art" and a lavish extravagant focus on young women, whose costumes are getting minimal with time? Some old hits from yesterday have been revived with results so sensuous and daring that it would shock the hell out of those who originally conceived and filmed those songs. But then we are in the 21st century.!.
I want to mention the popular Tulsi sponsored songs. These are reenactments and remixes and are popular with young and old alike. Some are particularly well done like "Gham e Dil Ko in Ankhon Sey Chalak Jana Bhi Ata Hai" Now this was a Pakistani song. But I also saw an Indian song "Pankh Hotey To Urjati Rey" sponsored by the same Tulsi, evidently an indicator of the times that are coming via the satellite.?
Satellite? The Geo programme called Gaey Gi Duniya Geet Merey every Sunday evening is another example of the bridges of communication and harmony being attempted between Pakistan and India Anoo Kapoor who does a similar programme over Zee TV, does this one for a Pakistani. This week the focus was on actor Mohammad Ali, but I thought that the programme was weak and did not do justice to the famous actor. The songs selected were tame, generally, and there should have been some clips from his films especially with Zeba. That would have enhanced the appeal.
In passing I am tempted to mention my favourite Fariha Parvez whom I saw over Indus music on Wednesday morning sing a Noor Jehan hit "Terey Mukhrey Tey Kala Kala Til Wey". She sings Nazia Hasan's popular songs, but even on her own songs, she has sound footing, and a flair and flambuoyance that go well with her.
Here some attempted one liners on what I saw: Let us see how the attempt goes.
PTV reporter's Diary on Sunday night carried an item which was based on a news story in Daily Din saying that President Pervez Musharraf has indicated clearly that he was not happy with his photograph being used in a government advertising which was done on a large scale recently./We may talk about this later.
Next Federal Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan was quoted by PTV's Khabarnama as saying that the anti-polio vaccine that had been sent to various places in the country was safe, and that there was nothing to worry about. And that some samples had been sent to the WHO for testing. Many thoughts come to mind. Disturbing thoughts. Pakistan is one of the six countries where polio still remains to be eradicated, said PTV's reporter very bravely. It is rare to see a PTV reporter being daring. Bravo.! More on this too later.