Geo TV
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| Type | cable television network |
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| Branding | GEO TV |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Availability | Pakistan, Europe, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Middle East |
| Founded | by Mir Shakil ur Rehman |
| Slogan | Har Pal Geo |
| Owner | Mir Shakil ur Rehman |
| Launch date | October 1, 2002 |
| Website www.geo.tv |
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Geo TV or GEO Television is a Pakistani television network founded by Mir Shakil ur Rehman in May 2002. GEO TV belongs to Independent Media Corporation, owner of the Jang Group of Newspapers. The channel started its test transmission on August 14, 2002, whereas regular transmission began from October 1, 2002. [1].
In Urdu, the national language of Pakistan, the word geo translates to live on in English. Geo's name may come from the fact that it utilizes a geosynchronous orbit satellite for its transmissions.
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[edit] GEO TV Network
GEO TV started with its flagship channel of GEO TV, but later branched out it into two channels, GEO News and GEO Entertainment respectively. Later it also launched other entertainment and sports channels.
Geo News was established as independent channel when GEO Network branched out its channels in 2005. GEO News is a Pakistan based Urdu News Channel, and rated as on the most popular news channels in Pakistan.
Geo Entertainment was established as independent channel when GEO Network branched out its channels in 2005. GEO Entertainment is a Pakistan based entertainment channel showing Dramas, musical programs, feature movies, primarily in Urdu Language.
GEO Super is twenty-four hour sports channel, launched by GEO Network in September 2006. Programming content includes variety of sports from around the world, focusing mainly on cricket, with a secondary focus on boxing, football and field hockey. Geo Super is also licensed to broadcast Twenty20 cricket matches.
AAG TV is twenty-four hour channel focusing on programs for youth in Pakistan. AAG TV was launched in September, 2006 by GEO Network.
Geo English is the English version of GEO News to be launched soon by GEO Network. It is currently in test transmission.
- Geomentry - Documentary channel
International editions include: GEO UK, GEO USA, GEO Middle East, GEO Canada, GEO Europe and GEO Japan.
[edit] Technical
The channel's broadcast facilities are based at Dubai Media City in the United Arab Emirates and its uplink teleport station is Samacom, the uplink provider in the UAE.
The channel is simultaneously broadcast online at GEO.tv. GEO is currently on the 4154/H/4410 frequency on IS7/10.
[edit] Criticism
[edit] Sensationalism
Geo TV has been criticized by the Pakistani government as well as large sections of the general public who say the channel promotes sensationalism in order to increase revenue and popularity. Geo TV has not even spared shameful and disgusting tactics to create sensation. They are only concerned to "be the first one to report", let it be wrong. Wrong reporting, inefficient newscasters and anti state anchors, the Geo is all about. Geo follows the principle that controversy sells. Further, the channel is seen as reporting primarily negative news regarding Pakistan, resulting in a generally depressing and pessimistic viewer ship experience. [2]There was criticism from the Pakistani government for the channel's coverage of the 2005 earthquake in Kashmir, as GEO's coverage of the tragedy included disturbing scenes of victims and disaster zones.
[edit] Shahid Masood
A notable target of criticism is Shahid Masood, whose views are seen as most informed and based on research and facts. Masood and the GEO News program were the reasons cited for the government's ban of the GEO TV and other news channels during the Emergency of 2007.After coming back on air again after months of ban in April,reportedly he became the first media personality who again received threats from the newly democratic govertment after his harsh critism of interior ministry adviser.
[edit] Hamid Mir
Hamid Mir, host of the popular GEO political talk show Capital Talk, confirmed in an interview with the CBC the strong political views he portrayed on television.[3] It further raised doubts of Mir's ability to present fair and balanced news items. Mir however is well liked by the audience for his straight forward questioning. He was banned by the government to appear on television ever since emergency was imposed on the country by President Pervez Musharraf, but this ban was latter removed in early March.
[edit] Website
During the temporary removal of the channel, GEO opened a web page, Support GEO, for viewers to write messages of support, which would be approved for public viewing. Negative comments about the channel's practices, or justification of its removal from Pakistani television, were rejected. Given the channel's claims of championing democracy, GEO's refusal to recognize criticism of itself were seen as hypocritical. A blog, titled Musharraf Supporters, was started in response to accommodate those whose opinions were rejected on GEO's website and would like their criticism published. GEO TV's website is also a high trafficked website, where users outside Pakistan read, watch and listen to GEO News. Geo, however, has a bad track record of accepting or even pretending to accept the criticism. Contact them and they will never respond.
[edit] Benazir Bhutto assassination
Shortly following the assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, GEO released a ten second video clip which showed a large number of people running away from the sound of shots being fired, followed by the sound of the suicide bombing. The clip was played repeatedly on GEO TV without delay for several minutes. GEO.tv was forwarded to the Jang Group website, where an online version of the video clip had been uploaded with the link entitled "Benazir Last Moments Video!"
[edit] Awards
- A documentary by GEO covering water scarcity in the Indus river delta won "The Special Prize of H.S.H. Prince Rainier III" at the Monte Carlo TV Festival.[4]
- GEO was awarded a special award in 2005 at the Nouticaslo TV festival.[5]
- On April 20, 2004 at the National Association of Broadcasters Convention in Las Vegas, Mir Ibrahim Rahman, chief executive of Geo TV, received an International Broadcast Excellence Award for the impact the channel has had on Pakistan.
[edit] Corporate logos and slogans
The following is the mission statement by GEO TV:[6].
"GEO will be the voice of freedom from the Asian subcontinent. It will highlight the issues of concern and the cultural richness of its people through information, discussion and entertainment. GEO will propagate transparency of responsibility that will ensure its position as the most credible and meaningful source of information, through quality programming based on issues."
[edit] Temporary ban
On November 3, 2007, the Pakistani government halted the transmission of GEO News. Following the controversial suspension of the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry by President Pervez Musharraf, GEO News began drawing international attention to the fervent demonstrations against Musharraf. The suspension of GEO News broadcasts was followed by a new ordinance by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) that introduced a code of conduct, increasing the liability of each channel over their broadcasts. [7]
Pakistanis were still able to watch GEO through satellite and high speed broadband access until November 16, 2007, when the channel was completely removed off the air, as authorities in Dubai concluded that the channel had failed to meet certain media regulations and broadcasting standards of Dubai Media City, in the United Arab Emirates.
Geo TV was shut down by Dubai authorities on 17 November 2007 when they ordered satellite uplink to be switched off.[8] The station had been banned in Pakistan since November 3rd[9]. However, the station has continued to be available in Internet through Internet streaming.
Transmission of the Geo News channel was restored by Dubai Media City (DMC) and IMC Dubai authorities from midnight 29 November 2007.
On 19th January, 2008, after 77 days, President Pervez Musharraf held successful talks with GEO TV Administration and ordered relevant authorities to immediately relay the transmission of said channel. Geo News, and Geo Super resumed transmission on January 21, 2008.[10]
[edit] See also
- GEO News
- GEO English
- GEO Super
- GEO Kids
- List of Pakistani television stations
- Dubai Media City
- America Abroad
- Internet censorship in Pakistan
- Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists
- Censorship in Pakistan
- Hamid Mir
- Aamir Ghauri
[edit] References
- ^ Geo News
- ^ Chowk: Personal: Geo gets shut down - again
- ^ Your Interview: Pakistan in crisis
- ^ Festival de TV 2008
- ^ Geo News
- ^ [1] 12-23 December 2006
- ^ New controls on media in Pakistan BBC, 4 June 2007
- ^ Pakistan's Geo TV on how it was forced to shut down. The Hindu. Narasimhan Ram. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
- ^ Dubai agrees to pull plug on Pakistani TV networks - CNN.com
- ^ Geo Television Network Geo News, Geo Super back on cable Retrieved on January 21, 2008
[edit] External links
- Official Site
- Watch Geo TV Online
- Musharraf shuts down Geo Tv
- Geo News Live
- Dubai Media City
- Lies & Distortions by Media about Hudood Ordinance
- Daily National News
- GEO TV Website Review
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