LAHORE – SAMAA TV, a prominent Pakistani news channel owned by Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, is reportedly facing a crisis due to a combination of internal dissatisfaction and declining viewership.
Several high-profile anchors have expressed concerns about the channel’s management and editorial decisions. Veteran journalist Najam Sethi has publicly voiced his displeasure over the poor quality of editing on his program, citing inexperienced and underpaid editors as the cause. Despite repeated complaints, his concerns remain unaddressed.
Senior journalist Talat Hussain, who had previously announced his intention to leave SAMAA TV after the elections, remains with the channel but has expressed dissatisfaction with the management. This follows an incident where an episode of his program, “Red Line with Talat,” was abruptly pulled off the air. Hussain publicly apologized to his guests for the unexplained cancellation.
Adding to the channel’s woes, renowned journalist and analyst Absar Alam’s program has failed to gain traction with viewers despite efforts from the channel’s management.
Sources suggest that Akram Chaudhry, an advisor to Abdul Aleem Khan and the person in charge of SAMAA TV’s affairs, is being held responsible for the channel’s decline. His policies and management decisions are being blamed for the current crisis.
Amidst these challenges, Abdul Aleem Khan is reportedly considering selling SAMAA TV. If the channel is indeed put up for sale, it would mark another turbulent chapter in its history.
This situation highlights the challenges faced by Pakistani media outlets in maintaining viewership and navigating internal dissent while striving to deliver quality news coverage.
