JournalismPakistan.com | Published October 23, 2013 | By Chatterbox
Join our WhatsApp channelKARACHI: I have been handed a reprieve… sort of. My good friend Steve finally called me after months of indifferent silence and asked me if I could investigate a television channel.
I’m glad he did.
Was in Karachi the past week on some other business but took time off to look into the ‘real status’ of Orange TV, a so-called entertainment channel whose slogan proclaims one has to Dekh magar pyar say (View with love).
Ok. It can’t get any cornier than that. But dekhain tab jab kuchch nazar bhi aaey!!
Orange TV, which has a webpage https://www.facebook.com/OrangeTV.com.pk. Have a look and write back to me and let me know what you think because I would like to take the opportunity to tell you to tread cautiously.
Earlier this year a Press Release was sent out saying the Pakistan music industry had taken a step forward with the industries (sic) top names – to be revealed – bringing ‘yet another’ exciting project which would bring music from across the globe. The channel would be Pakistan’s first ‘online music channel’.
Oh goody!!
Super news if any of it was true. From where things stand there is no functioning channel and nothing to see anywhere online or otherwise. The Facebook page is as far as it goes.
The project is said to be the brainchild of certain individuals reportedly on the payroll of ARY TV and some US-based event organizers.
Fact is it’s a big SCAM.
Being on the payroll of ARY TV and to be also running the so-called Orange TV - is that not a clash of interest?
Furthermore, at least two of the individuals have their own production house/event management businesses.
The scam runs something like this. They have put up a few names and a few low-level artistes on their Facebook. When up and coming artistes approach them they ask for investment/cash to promote them and get them opportunities starting with getting them on ARY music shows.
After pocketing the money, the poor bakras are pulled this way and that way and never get a look in despite the contract they sign. Nobody gets on ARY TV and certainly nobody has been seen on Orange TV because it does not exist.
Incredibly devious you would say and you would be right. But that is exactly what these vultures are doing. Worse still, they are getting away with it.
My question is: What is ARY doing?
April 30, 2025: Freedom of expression in Pakistan is under threat, as the 2025 Freedom Network report reveals increased arrests, censorship, and legal restrictions following amendments to PECA, posing serious risks to journalists and democratic values.
April 30, 2025: Dawn has criticized the Indian media's calls for war and condemned the banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, urging a rational response after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 dead.
April 28, 2025: India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets and individual journalists, following the deadly Pahalgam attack. Tensions escalate as Islamabad demands a neutral probe.
April 23, 2025: Pakistani journalists respond in unison to a post hinting at a possible Indian military strike. Citing the 2019 ‘Swift Retort,’ they warn of a stronger response if provoked again.
April 21, 2025: After being expelled from PTI, MNA Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists and Aleema Khan, sparking outrage on social media over his offensive remarks.
April 21, 2025: Journalist Sanaullah Khan reveals that the FIA has launched a financial crackdown on YouTubers by freezing the bank accounts of journalists and their family members—raising serious concerns over freedom of expression and legal process.
April 20, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz launched his fifteenth book, In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple and Triple Centuries 1876–2025, at an elegant Islamabad event, reflecting on cricket’s rarest feats and his journey as a scholar of the game.
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.
April 22, 2025 Once a beacon of hope for Pakistan's cricket revival, the Pakistan Super League now grapples with stagnation and moral compromises. Can this cultural symbol reclaim its lost soul?
April 21, 2025 An Italian newspaper, Il Foglio, successfully published a month-long AI-written insert and praised its irony and analytical abilities, while affirming that AI will complement—not replace—quality journalism.
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.