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PTV stops broadcasting
Australia vs Pakistan second Test is currently underway at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Australia have made a comeback brilliantly after being bowled out for 318 runs, the visitors started off well but they have lost six wickets with the World Test Champions once again showing their ability in the longest format of the game. During the Boxing Day test, Pakistan’s government-owned sports channel PTV Sports is not telecasting the country’s game.
For the first time in decades, viewers cannot watch a live cricket match featuring the men's team on PTV Sports, which is also the Pakistan Cricket Board's official broadcasting partner. The station cancelled the show after the Information and Broadcasting Ministry declared last week that it would not tolerate surrogate betting organisations.
According to stakeholders, advertisements should not be promoted during live coverage of any sporting event. It was caught that the logos of two surrogate companies were consecutively shown on live broadcast of the Australia-Pakistan Test on PTV Sports for multiple hours across days.
PTV stops broadcasting AUS vs PAK
In an update shared on Twitter, PTV Sports put out a statement, "Pakistan Television (PTV Sports) adhering to the Government of Pakistan’s policy, ‘Zero tolerance for the surrogate Companies’ has discontinued airing the second Test match from Melbourne being played from December 26th, 2023 in lieu of the Pakistan vs Australia Cricket Series 2023-24."
PTV Sports further added, "brand placements of on ground surrogate companies’ advertisements (virtual advertising). The series will be telecast live once the matter is resolved. PTV as a state broadcaster is endeavouring to get the issue resolved to avoid future blackouts of such transmissions in the territory of Pakistan." In an earlier advisory, the IBM asked all other ministries to not engage in any kind of cooperation with surrogate companies operating illegally in the country. It also strictly warned media outlets to not "promote the surrogate companies of betting houses through any kind of advertisements."
The Men in Green are in serious trouble with 6 wickets down, after the partnership of Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood no batter was able to score runs and back to the pavilion early.