PTV deals with Indian channels baseless accusation: Spokesman

ISLAMABAD: A spokesperson of Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV ) on Tuesday termed a recent news item appearing in a section of the press regarding PTV's secret talks for US $ 45 million deal with an Indian TV channel as malicious, baseless and entirely fabricated.

The spokesperson also stated that it was most unfortunate that a leading media group of the country would act in such an irresponsible manner by entirely misrepresenting facts, and misleading the people of Pakistan by fabricating the truth for the mere sake of their own interests as in this media group is one of the bidders as is PTV to procure the ICC rights.

It was revealed by the spokesperson that after the conclusion of the ICC World Cup 2010, PTV was pursuing the acquisition of the ICC Cricket Rights for the next four years which lie with ESPN, which is the global ICC cricket rights holder.

PTV entered in negotiations with Ten Sports only after having apprised and having gained the approval of PTV Board of Directors which is headed by the Federal Secretary for Information & Broadcasting.

The board comprises Major General Athar Abbas DG ISPR, Rana Asad Amin, Additional Secretary- Special Secretary Budget Ministry of Finance, Ikram-ullah Mehsud, Additional Secretary- Special Secretary Budget Ministry of Finance, Ikram-ullah Mehsud, Additional Secretary Admin Ministry of Foreign Affairs,Ghulam Murtaza Solangi DG PBC and Professor Nazir Ahmed Sangi, Vice Chancellor Allama Iqbal Open University.

The spokesperson referred to the article as having unsubstantiated evidence intending only to malign the national broadcaster in its genuine attempt to provide top quality sports events to millions of ardent cricket loving fans and the sports loving people of Pakistan.

The spokesperson also termed this action on the part of the said group as "acts of frustration" and as "anxious and desperate measure emanating from their innate fear of losing the ICC rights bid to PTV".

The spokesperson also clarified the baseless accusations and negated all elements of the vile smear campaign that neither there is any secret deal nor there is any question of bringing Zee TV or any Indian channel to Pakistan, whereas Ten Sports already holds the landing rights and is a licensee of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011