News Broadcasting
Pakistan gets broadcasting regulations
Even as Indian officials hem and haw over promulgating broadcasting regulations, its neighbour and arch rival Pakistan has gone ahead and issued an executive order to get its laws in place. India‘s Broadcasting Bill has been garbaged (after four years of blowing hot and cold) and brought under the Communications Convergence Bill, which itself has been put on the back burner for nearly two years.
The Pakistani government has had it easier, partly because it is governed by a military leader. Within two years of promising to open the floodgates to private TV channels, General Musharraf this week approved an ordinance that allows private sector television in Pakistan.
The PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) Ordinance 2002 allows the establishment of an umbrella body that will issue licenses to broadcasters who have been labelled as broadcast media operators. The move is meant to bring in the element of ‘transparency and an invisible system of accountability through media available at local community, provincial, national, and international levels.‘
This spells competition not only for the three state controlled channels in the country, but also to those from across the border that beam their programmes into Pakistan, and have a loyal following.
The PEMRA will have a chairman and nine members who will be Presidential appointees, with the chairman being a prominent professional. Five of the PEMRA members are to be chosen from the private sector, including two women, with credentials in the media, law, human rights and social services.
| The Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority Ordinance says that foreign television channels however will not be allowed entry, nor will licenses be granted to promoters who are not citizens or residents of Pakistan. |  |
| TV Viewers in Pakistan: Will the new law mean more variety or less? (Pic courtesy: Time) |
The umbrella body is to also have three ex-officio members – the secretaries of Information and Interior and the chairman, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.
The PEMRA has the responsibility of regulating the setting up and operation of all broadcast stations including radio and television and cable TV in the country. The Pakistan government is slated to provide it with seed money initially, but it will have to generate revenues through licensing fees and subscription.
CATV Networks, which were earlier supervised by the ministries of Information and Media Development and Science and Technology, have been brought into the fold of this law and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority will continue to guide and support its technical side.
The PEMRA Ordinance includes a Code of Conduct for media broadcasters and CATV operators to ensure decency and responsibility, and a clause stipulating that programming content of broadcasts is to be strictly and regularly monitored. A council of complaints has also been provided in the law to respond to people‘s complaints, and recommendations for disciplinary action against broadcasters violating the code of ethics and other provisions of the law have also been provided.
Foreign television channels however will not be allowed entry, nor will licenses be granted to promoters who are not citizens or residents of Pakistan. Among others excluded from setting up shop in Pakistan are foreign companies established under the laws of any foreign government, companies the majority of whose shares are owned or controlled by foreign nationals or companies whose management or control is vested in foreign national or companies.
The ordinance took some time to be promulgated as minor changes had to be made in the draft law earlier approved by the Cabinet in the shape of Rambo (Regulatory Authority for Media Broadcasting Organisations). What delayed things further was the round of fisticuffs between the ministries of Information and Media Development and Science and Technology over who should control the electronic media.
The key issue confronting Indian broadcasters whose channels have been extremely popular in Pakistan is how the new regulations will impact their operation there. Broadcasters such as Zee TV, Star and Sony have encrypted in order to increase subscription revenues from India primarily, followed by south Asia. Zee TV oversees its Pakistan business and distribution from its office in Sharjah. Star India was the only network which was allowed to be received and distributed in Pakistan after a recent ban on Indian channels.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 launches weekend show Health Matters to decode health trends
New show aims to cut through viral wellness fads with expert-backed advice
MUMBAI: In an age where viral reels often double up as lifestyle advice, CNN-News18 is launching a weekend show aimed at separating health facts from fashionable myths.
Titled News18 Health Matters, the half-hour programme will premiere on 14 March 2026 and position itself as a reliable guide through the maze of wellness trends, internet remedies and quick-fix health advice that increasingly shape everyday decisions.
India is in the midst of a major health transition. Lifestyle diseases are striking earlier, stress and sleep deprivation have become routine, and health choices are often influenced by trending content rather than medical evidence. The new show leans into this reality with a simple premise: trending does not always mean true.
Anchored by Hem Kaur Saroya and Himani Chandna, the programme will air every Saturday at 8:30 am and 5:30 pm and on Sundays at 10:30 am. Episodes will also be available on the channel’s YouTube platform.
Each instalment will tackle everyday health concerns that are increasingly entering mainstream conversations. Topics range from the rise of heart attacks among people under 40 and the growing reliance on protein supplements, to the rush toward weight-loss drugs and the widespread overuse of painkillers. The show will also examine issues such as screen addiction, chronic sleep loss, stress-related disorders and the rising prevalence of thyroid conditions, diabetes and hypertension.
Speaking about the launch, Rahul Shivshankar said the show aims to bring clarity to a space crowded with misinformation.
“With Health Matters, CNN-News18 aims to cut through the noise and empower viewers with clear, expert-led conversations grounded in science and medical evidence. At a time when viral trends increasingly influence lifestyle choices, it is important to distinguish between what is trending and what is truly beneficial for long-term health,” he said.
Echoing the sentiment, Smriti Mehra said the programme reflects the channel’s commitment to responsible and relevant programming.
“With growing public interest in wellness and preventive health, Health Matters strengthens CNN-News18’s focus on issues that affect everyday life. In an increasingly crowded information space, credible and verified health conversations have never been more important,” she said.
With Health Matters, CNN-News18 is betting that viewers want more than bite-sized advice and viral fixes. The show promises something rarer in the age of algorithm-driven wellness tips: calm, credible conversations that help people make better health choices.
