Malick show to go off air

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 6 November 2012

Malick's show on Dunya TV is set to be discontinued next week, coinciding with the launch of a new English newspaper by the Dunya Group. Observers speculate that the decision may be linked to the show's recent critical content and declining ratings.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: Muhammad Malick’s talk show on Dunya TV is to go off air from next week. Making this announcement himself in his program 'Dunya @ 8 with Malick' Tuesday, he said it was being discontinued because of an upcoming English newspaper the Dunya Group intends to bring out.

Malick is an anchor and group editor publications-English at Dunya which also launched an Urdu newspaper in September.

However, the reason cited by Malick for his program’s discontinuation appears flimsy observers say, pointing to his Monday’s program that was critical of the Army.

The show featured prominent politician Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed in which the army chief and the chief justice’s statements, seen to be aimed at one another, were discussed.

On the other hand, insiders tell JournalismPakistan.com that ratings of Malick’s program were not coming up good. His 8pm slot is now likely to go to Sana Bucha, who has just joined the channel after quitting Geo.

Malick joined Dunya in July from The News where he served as the Islamabad resident editor.

KEY POINTS:

• Muhammad Malick announces show cancellation on Dunya TV.
• Discontinuation attributed to new English newspaper launch.
• Show faced criticism following discussions on the Army.
• Ratings for Malick's program reportedly declining.
• Sana Bucha likely to take over the 8 PM slot following Malick.