South Asia Investor Review

Why are Pakistan media groups laying off employees and shutting down TV channels? Is it caused by Pakistan government cutbacks in advertising? Is it part of the PTI government's alleged efforts to censor media? Or part of the long overdue  industry shake-out  after almost two decades long un-interrupted media business expansion? Pakistan Ad Spending. Source: Aurora/Dawn How much was the Nawaz Sharif led PMLN government spending on  advertising ? Did Nawaz Sharif and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi increase media advertising budgets to buy favorable coverage at taxpayers' expense? Are Pakistan government and national security establishment unique in wanting to  manage media  coverage? Do Western government manage media as well? If so, how? How do their media management techniques differ? Global Advertising Growth 2016. Source: Magna What is the future of media in Pakistan as the Internet penetration grows dramatically with 1-2 million more people comi...

Pakistan's 88 billion rupee media industry is in the midst of a major shakeout after a long period of rapid double-digit growth since the turn of the century. Hundreds of journalists and other staff have lost their jobs. At least one TV channel, Waqt News, has closed while several others are downsizing. While such consolidation was long overdue after nearly two-decade long period of explosive growth, the PTI government's decision to reduce advertising budget, which constitutes nearly a  quarter of all ad spending  in the country, appears to be the main trigger. Those affected by consolidation are accusing the government of exercising  press censorship  by cutting its ad spending. Pakistan Ad Spending. Source: Aurora/Dawn Rapid Growth: Rising  buying power of rapidly expanding middle class  in Pakistan drove the nation's media advertising revenue up 14% to a record Rs. 76.2 billion 2016 and another 12% to Rs. 88 billion in 2017, making the country's...