ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has invited businessmen to explore investment opportunities in the forthcoming Direct to Home (DTH) service which was a digital satellite distribution platform for delivery of television channels directly to viewers/consumers without the need for any intermediary. The invitation was extended by Wakeel Khan, Director General, PEMRA while giving presentation on DTH services to the business community at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
He said PEMRA intended to grant up to three non-exclusive DTH distribution services licenses to provide a wider choice to the Pakistani people as an alternate mode of delivery of satellite TV channels through satellite. He said this service was state-of-the-art in broadcasting and distribution technologies with number of advantages including enhanced channel carrying capacity, better quality of picture & sound, value added services and other features.
Wakeel Khan said DTH has a lot of market potential for investors as with only 2 million subscribers, the service was expected to earn annual income of Rs.12 billion. He hoped that DTH will contribute to more revenue generation, employment generation and speedy return on investment. He said it was a good opportunity for businessmen to diversify their business by investing in this new service.
In his welcome address, Sheikh Abdul Waheed, Vice President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry appreciated the initiative of PEMRA for introducing DTH service in Pakistan and hoped that it will prove quite successful and beneficial both for investors and viewers.
He said thousands of people were earning livelihood through cable service and hoped that DTH would create multiple benefits for the economy as it will generate more economic activities, create thousands of new direct and indirect jobs, attract private sector investment and FDI in electronic media, trigger growth of manufacturing sector and generate more revenue through taxes and regulatory fees. He said PEMRA should come up with more innovative services in order to create new investment opportunities and provide more choices to the people.
