Pakistan's private TV channels struggle

PAKISTAN'S PRIVATE TV CHANNELS STRUGGLE
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Laura King]
Broadcasts on Geo's Urdu-language news channel, like those of more than three dozen independent TV channels, have been blocked by the government since Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, declared a state of emergency Saturday. News-hungry viewers looking for the private channels, which normally attract a daily audience in the millions, get only a blue screen and a message: "No signal. Sorry for the inconvenience." Foreign governments, human rights organizations and media advocates have condemned the crackdown on Pakistan's freewheeling independent broadcasters, which for months had provided a steady stream of news and commentary about the burgeoning political crisis. Ironically, it was Musharraf who had allowed private channels to flourish over the last three years. But his self-described policy of "enlightened moderation" changed abruptly this year, when massive street demonstrations against him were broadcast on live TV, magnifying their impact. Suddenly, people in far-flung towns and villages could see the groundswell of anti-government sentiment. When Musharraf gave himself extraordinary powers to stifle dissent, private TV channels were among his first targets. He also blocked the reception by cable of international channels such as the BBC and CNN.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-pakmedia8nov08,1...
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* Pakistanis find a haven on Internet
In the days since President Pervez Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule, many Pakistanis have found a haven in cyberspace, where they can share information, keep up with the news and stay in touch with friends and associates amid a roundup of thousands of opposition activists. About 15% of Pakistan's population of 160 million has Internet access. Amid the crisis, many who were previously only occasional Web surfers have become full-fledged devotees.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-pakchat8nov08,1,...
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