The Pakistan Television Corporation has suspended coverage on the first day of the Boxing Day Test.
Melbourne Test broadcast resumes after betting Adverts issues
The PTV has suspended the live coverage of the first day of the second test due to the superimposed advertisements on the outfield.
Pakistan will provide an advertisement-free feed of the ongoing Test Series in Australia. The broadcast pictures have been provided to the Pakistan telemarket until now.
But this was superimposed after including a gambling sponsor into the coverage which made PTV not broadcasting the first day of the Boxing Day Test.
Ten Sports is another broadcaster to air the test series of Pakistan’s Australia tour. They will continue to broadcast the game.
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority issued a notification on Tuesday prohibiting the “broadcast/distribution of advertisement of surrogate companies which are promoting gambling/betting in different sporting events being telecast/broadcast in the country”.
There were some doubts about broadcasting the game on the second day with a betting sponsor in the on-field coverage. In response to PEMRA’s directive, these advertisements may violate local laws related to gambling promotion.
This development paves the way for PTV to resume live coverage of the Test series in Pakistan.
PTV had previously issued a statement referring to the government’s “zero tolerance policy” on advertising and expressed its views on finding a solution with the relevant broadcaster. The feed free from controversial advertisements, is expected to provide Pakistan the live coverage of the test series, allowing it to resume the live broadcast on PTV.
It is worth noting that the first Test was initially broadcast without interruption on both PTV and private broadcasters.
Pakistan is scheduled to play in the three-match Test series on the Australia tour. After suffering a defeat in the first Test by 360 runs, Pakistan entered the second test match starting on December 26.
Pakistan was criticized in Perth for their poor performance in the field. The side has featured the Australia tour with a weak bowling unit. However, Pakistan’s decision to make changes in the squad could have some impact on the match.
Australia scored 318 runs on the second day of the second Test. Pakistan started their innings as Shafique and Shan Masood smashed a half-century. The side has scored 194 runs losing 6 wickets by the end of the second day.
