Quest for quality PTV programs

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 24 October 2014

The government is taking steps to enhance the quality of PTV programs in response to competition from other channels. Minister Pervez Rasheed outlined a comprehensive seven-point plan during a National Assembly session.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: On Thursday PMLN’s Shakila Luqman perhaps with a straight face asked the minister for information, broadcasting and national heritage, Pervez Rasheed to “state the steps being taken by the government to improve the standards of PTV programs and dramas as compared to other TV channels."

The minister also with a straight face informed the National Assembly during the question hour that “improvement of quality is a continuous process." He added that the PTV “takes appropriate steps in context of competitive environment and emerging scenarios.”

Then the minister narrated a seven-point agenda “in the light of government guidelines” to improve the quality of PTV programs.

To produce “interesting and quality programs”, he said PTV has established “genre-wise production teams”. The genres include drama serial/series/ plays; sitcom/soap; children programs; shows/music; documentary; and regional programs.

The next step to achieve the aim of quality programming is establishment of an event cell at PTV Headquarters for “quality production of mega shows, award shows, and mega musical shows”. Thirdly the PTV is making temporary transfers of “talented professionals on assignment to assignment basis.”

The minister claimed that PTV’s “Ramazan/Eid-ul-Fitr Transmissions studded with interesting quality programs were a blend of technical excellence and aesthetic beauty and have been well received by viewers.” The three main transmissions “well received by viewers” were Rooh-e-Ramazan - Iftar Transmission, Rooh-e-Ramazan - Sehri Transmission, and Shab-e-Wajd – Night Transmission.

The minister also said that PTV is now engaged in “advance program planning”. This is followed by “a system of competitive programs rating encompassing all Pakistani channels, has been evolved which provides foundation for strategic PTV programs planning and preparation of Fixed Point Chart and yearly event calendar.”

The sixth step is devising a Fixed Point Chart with “competitive programming of new flavor”. And last but not least MD PTV has introduced Corporate Communication Cell, he said.

KEY POINTS:

• Minister outlines seven-point agenda for PTV program improvement.
• Introduction of genre-wise production teams for diverse programming.
• Establishment of an event cell for quality mega shows and productions.
• Implementation of a competitive program rating system across channels.
• MD PTV introduces Corporate Communication Cell for better outreach.