PEMRA clarifies Draft Consultation paper on regulation Web TV, OTT

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has clarified the Draft consultation on regulation the Web TV and Over the Top (OTT) Content Services in Pakistan.

According to a rebuttal issued by PEMRA today (Friday), the authority has asked for the recommendations from the content creators related to regulating digital media and has also issued a questionnaire to give their feedback.

According to General Manager of PEMRA, Muhammad Tahir has said that the advice is wrongly interpreted by some media outlets which created chaos in social media.

He further said that individual people running a YouTube channel were not included in the Draft consultation, however, a policy could be created for Web TV and OTT, adding that last date for the feedback is February 14.

The rebuttal issued by PEMRA stated, “This is apropos the stories published in Daily Dawn, The News & Daily Jang on Draft Consultation on Regulating the Web TV & Over the Top TV (OTT). In the news report it has been alleged that through the Draft Consultation, PEMRA intends to curtail the freedom of speech and to gag voices. The allegation is totally denied.”

Earlier on January 8, PEMRA issued a Consultation Paper on Regulating the Web TV and Over the Top (OTT) Content Services.

The Consultation paper stated that license fees will now be mandatory for the content creators .The basic fee is Rs 5 million and Rs 10 million will be paid for creating content directly on topics relating to current affairs.