The Wayward Anchorman

The PTV Sports was launched on January 11th, 2013 and amongst the launching team besides others included Dr Nauman Niaz, a cricket writer and anchorperson. He was commissioned in the PTV Sports as Head of Contents by the then Managing Director Yousaf Baig Mirza. It is erroneous to state that he joined the channel only as an anchorperson. The business model of the PTV Sports seems conspicuously obvious: buy the rights to show sports; discuss sports; repeat. What's more, PTV Sports seems like just the kind of media business our increasingly atomized culture should unravel-and indeed, a vast array of sport channels have proliferated in recent years, many offering deeper, more finely targeted sports coverage. And yet PTV Sports seems to only grow stronger from month to month.
Nauman, besides his operational and administrative duties, also hosts the signature show and conducts an archive-based programme, the exclusive archives are provided by Nauman from his own right protected library and without seeking additional financial benefits. To say that 70 percent of the programmes aired on PTV Sports are being hosted by Nauman is also a fallacy and evidently concocted. There are also other hosts and experts who feature regularly on PTV Sports.
PTV Sports is progressive and successfully provides the major chunk of revenue to the PTV Network. Its financial health has progressed tremendously and the ratings have been constantly on the rise. Quite recently there have been reports about PTV deliberately absenting themselves from the piecemeal bid for the two series i.e. Pakistan Vs South Africa 2013 and Pakistan Vs Sri Lanka 2013. It is out of context.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was expected to offer the five years global rights and not in piecemeal for only two series, and also in the ITT there was a clause that provided immunity to the PTV being a terrestrial network and the eventual bid winner had to come to them for negotiated settlement. The PTV keeping in view their value as a state broadcaster as well as to ensure profitability and not to incur financial loss decided not to bid independently or jointly to avoid seeking third party support for overseas tapping of clients, sales and marketing. In this regard it is also clarified that not to bid was a consensus decision taken by the Syndication Committee, which comprises of the MD PTV, four other Directors, Head of Sales and Head of Operations PTV Sports. To infer that PTV failed to bid is completely irrational and unwarranted.
It is incorrect to state that the acting Managing Director of the PTV in his endeavor to use Nauman's connections and power base is obliging him, since the organization has set rules and respect for the chain of command. Nauman directly reports to the Managing Director and all approvals are sought via proper channel.
As reported Colonel Hassan (Director Sports Syndication) was the most senior Director shouldn't be contested and it should also be kept in view that appointment of Kazi Mustafa Kamal as an acting MD of the PTV was in accordance with the Islamabad High Court orders. With reference to criticism for having invited several experts from Karachi is only to accentuate controversy. The PTV Sports adhering to strict cost saving measures has reduced the total expenses to one fourth as compared to previous practices.
Mentioning that the PTV Sports preferred showing a Karachi Gymkhana Ramadan Tournament relegating the live Ashes Test is misplaced. The PTV Sports had a contract with the Karachi Gymkhana. It is incorrect to state that Nauman had sidelined former Pakistan cricket captain Aamir Sohail. Aamir's contract was terminated whilst Yousaf Baig Mirza was still the MD of the PCB. To say that Nauman suspended a show 'Keh Dein Jo Khena Hai' hosted by Mirza Iqbal Baig is also incorrect. Iqbal Baig made some inappropriate comments during his show, which led to suspension of his show. Shows or to introduce newer ones remains the prerogative of the channel management keeping in mind the consumer demand and the profitability part. Liabilities are generally not encouraged in any business plan. Lastly it must be mentioned that the PTV Sports is here to stay.