As Pakistan Television celebrates its golden jubilee, one wonders what made this institution so talked about and discussed in the last 50 years of this nation’s existence.
For one, it was the first television station to be launched in the entire subcontinent. India had a limited television network and that too for the purposes of education, but Pakistan Television (PTV) covered news, entertainment and other intellectual pursuits that catered to higher taste. It was soon followed by sports and live coverage of events all around the world, which made it a must-see for a nation that did not have much exposure to the outside world. This first network had the element of novelty and it expanded too in regular jaunts to become a wholesome viewing entertainment for people of all ages.
For the first 30 odd years, it waxed and exploited its monopoly position in the absence of competition.
It grew with the passage of time and its monopolistic position guaranteed funding from the national coffers. The finance free environment was good for maintaining a certain standard, as it did not have to cater to diverse needs and tastes. There was more space to maneuver and exercise artistic freedom, by exploring certain modes of expression that opened up the possibility of excellence in those fields.
The most prominent of those fields was drama or the teleplay. In the absence of cinema or a cinema that was not diverse enough to cater to the requirements of a public that varied in taste and preferences, television filled the void and catered to a certain class of urban viewers who were not always comfortable with the way cinema had developed. Television, of course, had a great resource base to fall back on.
All India Radio took up the same kind of role when it was established in late 1930s -- and the introduction of the radio play was as if an extension of literature was being written in various languages. The well-known novelists, poets and short story writers defined the contours of the radio play. It stood out as an alternative to the fast expanding cinema.
PTV started from where radio had left -- the baton changed hands with little fumble, and the well-known writers were attracted to the new medium. The changeover was not that difficult to handle. Nothing much was lost in the transition. Actually, much was gained in developing an understanding of the medium that was basically visual and needed to rest on strong literary foundation.
But the strength as a state-funded medium also happened to be its major weakness in the territories of freedom of information and expression. It was meant to only offer one point of view, that of the government in power -- the rest was all excluded. It actually became the most formidable weapon of censorship in the hands of the governments and served as its most effective propaganda tool.
Given this limitation, in times when there was some respite or when the government felt weak or needed greater degree of inclusiveness for its survival, television became a platform for relative openness. Debates or discussions were held which were not pointedly political in character but impinged on the more significant aspects of life. Culture was discussed, education was talked about and economic developmental options were thrown up. Without touching directly on political issues, through implication and asides much that was political was debated. Art and literary issues, like launching of new books, were handled by allusion and indirection.
The coverage of international events, debates in the United Nations, natural disasters, wars, elections all over the world, political upheavals, conferences, especially those with national consequences, invasions and defeats were covered by PTV -- and it brought the events happening thousands of miles away to the city and country.
The psychological and sociological impact was greater than perceived at that moment.
Similarly, music too found a platform on tele-screen. It may be conceded that music was not all important for television as it was for radio but it nevertheless formed a segment of its viewing time. People listened to music produced by television and its more popular varieties like ghazal, geet and folk music found a ready expanding audience.
It is difficult to say whether television created its own musical expression but it did present music in a certain manner meant to be visually pleasing as well.
It may have changed the musical core as well but the change or greater change was to come later -- when television channels exploded in the private sector.
Another big segment of viewership was captured by sports. The main attraction was of course live coverage of sports, which was viewed by the people in the comfort of their homes. And, soon from national boundaries, it spilled over into the international zone as events from all over the world were telecast. Whether it was the Olympics, the boxing matches or the cricketing events, people could watch them by just pressing the button.
Television became indispensable. It thrived under monopolistic condition without any fear of competition.
Television, though nurturing its own slant, did not over sensationalise the coverage of events posing as the prophet of salvation or doom. At the same time, it did not over glamourise fashion and show business. If anything, it underplayed heavily to the detriment of a popular medium. It put its weight in the conservative scale of the societal values and overplayed the card of morality and national culture that may have discouraged the free introduction of something that was new, catholic and universal in character.
It should not be forgotten that Pakistan Television is still the largest terrestrial network in the country and reaches out to areas that are far-flung and remote. Few people in those areas can afford or rely on dish satellite and of necessity tune in to the terrestrial network.
It has a number of channels that cater to the needs of a more diverse population offering programmes in the regional or other Pakistani languages. This not only helps in developing a sense of identity that is local and regional, as compared to a fluffed over national identity which may be a fabricated one, and, hence, a platform for our own art and culture. The nation-building programmes revolving round education, health and other social issues can tend to become too didactic and watched less.
Also, few channels initiated their programmes in English but had to shut down due to lack of economic viability. Pakistan Television has continued with it because it does not have to rely on ratings and commercial revenues. It can fill its coffers by charging its fee under another head -- the electricity bills.