Dear reader, online ads enable us to deliver the journalism you value. Please support us by taking a moment to
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Monday suspended the licence of Nickelodeon channel for airing cartoons dubbed in Hindi language.
The electronic media watchdog announced that the licence was suspended over violation of Pemra directives, following the October 19 decision taken by the authority.
The authority had announced on October 19 that any satellite channel or those with landing rights would face bans over screening of Indian content.
The statement issued by Pemra said that all distribution networks have been informed about the suspension of Nickelodeon channels. The decision will come into effect immediately.
ARY Communications is the channel’s landing rights holder in Pakistan.
Also read: TV, film bans in India, Pakistan won't affect our cultural bond
Pemra has imposed a complete ban on airing Indian content on local television and FM radio channels.
It has been implemented on the cable networks, including the channels being operated by cable operators.
The Pemra decision is largely seen as a tit-for-tat move after a similar action by some channels and the entertainment industry in India against Pakistani content and artists.
Comments (69) Closed
Excellent decision.
Good Move
Please do something about the Indian made ads as well
Telecast Pakhton entertainment including Pakhton show, serials, songs, ads etc. Pakhton entertainment is better than Indian content.
Good decision. My children were speaking Hindi better than Urdu due to these cartoons. Now they will have to dub them in Urdu for the 200 million market of Pakistan, a highly profitable prospect.
Height of inferiority complex.
Very good.
Will the sports channels that telecast India vs Pakistan matches will be banned too ?(because of India Content). Why not ban channels for telecasting the ads with Indian actors / brands ?
But Hindi is also spoken in Nepal !
Well done PEMRA.
ban, TV and radio, it should solve even bigger problems.
Pakistans entertainment sector is desolate and then they decide to ban Indian films and shows which are the only way Pakistani theatres and entertainment industry make money, signs of a failing state.
Children will be sad.
@Aisha Do you really think that 200 million people in Pakistan speak Urdu? I think more people know Hindi than Urdu.
I think it's a good move as this will promote the purity of Urdu language and protect it from the corrupting influence of Hindi slang.
Does anybody understand Hindi amongst Younger generation? Why to show cartoons in Hindi, and why to suspend licence for a program that nobody understands and watches?
Great !
Ok. Good
Good move
@Ahmad
You are right. Aisha has no idea that only 8 to 10% Pakistanis speak Urdu.
The whole world looks west ,Why were we looking east?
Nice to see that we are also capable of such a move, but what difference rests between the two countries then? We've a rivalry against Indian Government, not Hindi! Hindi is as much a language as is Urdu and English. I wonder when humans would pay heed to logic and use science to eliminate these useless differences that has kept humanity to stand united since long. Just think about it, is it India we are against or Hindi literature? the truth is, we don't yet know, we just do what people ask us to, NO THINKING!
Is everyone retarded? Hindi and Urdu are the same bar a few words. Just the written script is different.
Not only pakistan but even India should ban Indian dramas...they are pathetic seriously. But cartoons shouldnt
What is wrong with kids speaking a language which is not your own .I am Indian I would really like if my kids speak in URDU or any third language .We are citizens of a global village and these small things should not matter to anyone .May be the programs should be dubbed in Chinese then .
@Prateik This will force the Pakistani channels to create content for Pakistani children
Who decides what is "Indian content" and what's not? Airing something in Hindi is not really Indian. Hindi is much much older than India my friends. Also, if India releases a movie in "Urdu", will you ban it? Pakistan needs to grow up...we are not children. So what if India whines...can we not be the bigger one and take a bow for once? Let India feel great about itself. We all know who is better.
AoA ... i love this, every content from india, including modi's images must be banned. our government must take steps to never ever promote clutural ties with india again. My child was also speaking hindi more than urdu
@Aisha agreed. All pakistani channels, producers, actors/actresses need to wake up and create content for children.
Pakistan is not multi-lingual or multi- cultural. Everything should be Islamic. The content is Japanese and if you think its the Indian language then duv it for yourself. Doesn't Pakistan even have the artists to dub cartoons?
Good decision by PEMRA..............tit for tat should continue to stop TV channels showing Indian contents. PEMRA should also take notice of India-made TV commercials being aired on different channels
@Aisha for your kind information Urdu started developing in north India around Delhi in about the 12th century. So please ban urdu language also ....
@AJ I am a so called Urdu speaking.Urdu is not a pure language ,it is constantly changing by inclusion of words from other languages.spoken language is not a content and banning a spoken form of speech is beyond sensibility. NO more Americans khusru,no more Indian raag and raagas. No more singing "Piya Pawan ki AAS" Fools are not recognized because they have horns because they are among Us and one of us
Don't need low quality Indian content
GOOD DECISION, EXCELLENT...PAKISTAN ZINDABAD
Good Riddance!
@Bharosa I don,t think you have watched those cartoons.Half a loaf is better than none and starve unless you have your own.
@unodos They have opened a Pandora s box
Most of the hollywood movie action scene, sets graphics are done by Indian companies. Game graphics and desiing labs are in India. Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, Google, Facebook have their development, research and support arms in India. Not sure what else our enlightened folks will go ahead to ban.
@AJ But Urdu is also originated in India uttar pradesh and Delhi. There are more Urdu speakers in India than Pakistan. Most of the Bollywood movies have scripts and songs in urdu.
@Ahmad As a matter of fact Yes everyone speak and understand Urdu in Pakistan, they also speak in their native language when they are in there own villages. Unlike India where Half of the nation don't understand the other half.
@akbar we are better off without you and your propaganda!
@Bakshi Its is good for us !
@unodos But it is not the official language of Nepal and I have seen most of Nepalese speaking only Nepali language !
A decision that should have been taken earlier, parents must be very selective about the contents their children watch. Now a days there are so many good cartoon that help your child learn.
What stupidity
I guess PREMA is unaware that all the cartoon channels broadcast with multiple audio which includes Hindi, English, Tamil..etc People can choose English if the don't want Indian language.
Why did pemra take this long, Hindi dubbing should not have been allowed to begin with.
Love it. Thanks PEMRA. Keep up the good work.
Don't know where to draw the line. Basic words like 'Bhai' or counting numbers like 'ek, doo, teen' etc are still Hindi words and those also will need to stop and equivalent Urdu words need to be propagated.
@Bakshi : Well said: Height of inferiority complex
Interestingly, nothing that is Pakistani (related to entertainment) is banned in India by Indian Government. Whatever ban is there, is due to political parties out of office or directly by industry/people. On the flip side, GoI offers to provided security for the release of films like ADHM. Whereas in Pakistan, the ban is imposed by law enforcement institutes itself.
Why suspends Nickoodean? Shouldn't people could excercise their freedom to choose the entertainment children love to watch?
@bakshi , Are you talking about MNS or RSS or Modi? who dicided to take such actions first!!
Good decision by PEMRA. Pakistan should not allow any Indian content in Pakistan. Indian content is dangerous than porn. I support PEMRA decision. Pakistan should act forcefully against Hindu Mindset.
China should step in and produce content for Pakistan.
@Aisha for your kind information, Urdu started developing in north India around Delhi in about the 12th century. ....so please ban urdu language also....
In 80s, tv had only one channel with some pedestrian content. I think Pakistan is going back to that.
Foreign cartoons dubbed in Hindi doesn't become Indian content.
Pemra please spare our children at least.
After so many years Pakistan is still searching for an identity by avoiding everything Indian. Whatever one does, history cannot be changed. It is better to accept facts and move towards doing something good for the people.
Now children cartoons are scaring Pemra .....
Children's happiness is not even a distant priority. ....... Please also ban news content that includes word India. And you will have peace. ..
Hahahha if this all happens.... you will end up watching news channels only. What all you will ban. First you need to create capability before banning things.
Good decision .
@unodos who cares . We dont want our children to speak hindi .we want our children to speak urdu and english well
Good decision but please PEMRA should now also work on quality entertainment for Pakistani kids too!
This is the most funniest and stupidest action after that Doraemon ban thing. You don't even ask your public if they want these contents banned or not.
@Indian may I correct you both that those 8 to 10℅ speak it as mother tongue and Alhamdulilah every Pakistani can speak Urdu and understand. You should care for your own north east and south not speaking hindi.
Our land our law.
@Paul so to any thing to do with you?