Express Group and TV ratings company Medialogic trade accusations

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 8 September 2015

Salman Danish, CEO of Medialogic, accused Express Media Group of bribing employees to inflate ratings. He presented evidence and filed complaints with authorities.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: Salman Danish (pictured), Chief Executive Officer Medialogic Pakistan Tuesday alleged that the Express Media Group was involved in malpractices to increase its television ratings. Addressing a press conference, the CEO said that it is unfortunate that the management of the Express Media Group has been bribing Medialogic employees to increase the ratings of its news and entertainment TV channels. He said his company has served a notice on the media group and also registered a complaint with the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA). Danish also presented cheques and drafts received by Medialogic employees from individuals connected to the Express Media Group. Meanwhile, a report published in The Express Tribune Tuesday said that Medialogic Pakistan demanded Rs450 million from the Express News Television's management and claimed that it had evidences against the media group. The paper said that Danish, chose his company’s employee Shaista and asked her to testify that Express News had pressured households to tune into the channel — an attempt that resulted in an increase in its overall ratings. When Shaista refused to become a part of the malicious campaign, Danish, in collusion with police lodged a fake FIR against her, according to the paper. Shaista’s family has appealed to the authorities and Army chief General Raheel Sharif to provide her justice.