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“Al-Iraqia” new name for first private television
Iraq Press ^

Posted on 11/03/2003 10:01:57 AM PST by sonsofliberty2000

Baghdad, Iraq Press, November 2, 2003 – Since the downfall of President Saddam Hussein, Iraqis have been relying on foreign broadcasts for news on events in their own country.

And their major source of news is the Arabic versions of a Persian satellite television service from neighboring Iran, which many Iraqis can have access to without satellite dishes.

But the monopoly of foreign media may soon come to an end as a group of Iraqi entrepreneurs have announced plans to set up a new television channel whose 24-hour broadcasts will initially cover the whole country.

The investors, who have already raised ten million dollars for the project, also intend to beam via satellite the world over.

The plans include the launch of a new website, in both English and Arabic, especially designed for Iraq news and information.

They entrepreneurs have chosen a name and have begun recruiting staff for their company, already registered in both Baghdad and London.

“Al-Iraqia” their new name in Arabic will most probably start beaming early next year.

Their English appellation is “Iraq Broadcasting Corporation” or IPC.

It will be the first post-Saddam independent and private broadcasting company.

The entrepreneurs say their company is not associated with any particular party, group, religion or sect in Iraq.

They insist that their programs will reflect the diversity of the country’s cultures.

Many Iraqis feel that the international media, particularly Arab satellite television channels, do not provide a balanced reporting of their post-war conditions.

The IBC will initially rely on a capital of ten million dollars which could be raised to 30 million.

The channel is planning offices in major Iraqi towns and bureaus in Arab countries, Europe and America.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aliraqia; goodnews; iraq; iraqimedia; iraqitv; progress; rebuildingiraq

1 posted on 11/03/2003 10:01:57 AM PST by sonsofliberty2000
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To: sonsofliberty2000
Many Iraqis feel that the international media, particularly Arab satellite television channels, do not provide a balanced reporting of their post-war conditions.

This is interesting. We have the same problem in the US. Very unbalanced reporting and ours is coming from within!


Patriot Paradox

2 posted on 11/03/2003 10:12:30 AM PST by sonsofliberty2000 (I am the armchair activist. Flamesuit ready, Dr. Pepper flowing. Able to post in a single click.)
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To: sonsofliberty2000
bttt
3 posted on 11/03/2003 10:21:18 AM PST by sonsofliberty2000 (I am the armchair activist. Flamesuit ready, Dr. Pepper flowing. Able to post in a single click.)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
I wish them sincere success in this endeavor.
4 posted on 11/03/2003 10:26:05 AM PST by Coop (God bless our troops!)
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To: sonsofliberty2000
This is actually one area that I do fault the administration for not engaging in immediately. The only broadcasts reaching Iraqis, is the blather from Al-Jazeera and neighboring hostile countries. This should've begun...ala Radio Free Europe, before the war even began. And if VOA is going to continue getting government funds, they should also be aggressively involved in this campaign. It was Lec Walesa who once said that Radio Free Europe was one of the most important weapons in the Cold War...and this weapon should also be being used throughout the Mid-East.
5 posted on 11/03/2003 10:33:09 AM PST by cwb
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To: sonsofliberty2000
Al-Iraqia sounds better than our Al-Franken.
6 posted on 11/03/2003 10:42:19 AM PST by Mr. Bird
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To: sonsofliberty2000
All your Lavern and Shirley re-runs are belong to us!
7 posted on 11/03/2003 10:58:24 AM PST by Lee Heggy (Make God laugh...tell him your plans.)
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To: sonsofliberty2000; Coop; MJY1288; Calpernia; Grampa Dave; anniegetyourgun; Ernest_at_the_Beach; ...
Thanks for the post and the ping!

Iraq Press is making the case for reposts of good news. *g*

The mainstream press generally ignores the will of the Iraqi people, the troops, and the administration.

Iraqi entrepreneurs to launch 24 hour tv channel ~ Iraq Press  | 9/17/03

Under Saddam Hussein, satellite dishes were banned and the few Internet cafes in the country were under the control of the security organs and users were not allowed to build their own e-mails.

Many Iraqis feel that the international media particularly Arab satellite television channels do not provide a balanced reporting of their post-war conditions.

"We shall try to bring happiness to Iraqi households after years of gloom and isolation under Saddam Hussein," Hassan added.

~~~

If you want on or off my Pro-Coalition ping list, please Freepmail me. Warning: it is a high volume ping list on good days. (Most days are good days).

8 posted on 11/03/2003 11:45:57 AM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl ("Never take counsel of your fears." ~* George Patton)
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To: cwboelter
This is actually one area that I do fault the administration for not engaging in immediately.

Well, I distinctly remember months ago reading about an Iraqi radio and/or TV station that was backed by the U.S. I'm pretty sure it was already operational back then.

9 posted on 11/03/2003 11:50:02 AM PST by Coop (God bless our troops!)
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To: Coop
I also remember them taking about that, but you still need more than one radio station to cover a country the size of California. And it's not just Iraq: We should be doing to the Mid-East what we did to Eastern Europe during the Cold-War. It was Colonel Hunt on FOX (this weekend) who was saying this was something that should've begun years ago to combat the hate-filled rhetoric that's been filling the airwaves over there for decades. Hopefully, we can start getting our message out, now.
10 posted on 11/03/2003 12:17:23 PM PST by cwb
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Bump!
11 posted on 11/03/2003 2:21:57 PM PST by windchime
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To: Mr. Bird
"Al-Iraqia sounds better than our Al-Franken"

It's also a little too close to "Al Qaeda" for comfort!

12 posted on 11/03/2003 2:24:01 PM PST by Destructor
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Bump!
13 posted on 11/03/2003 7:24:59 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: sonsofliberty2000; Ragtime Cowgirl
Good post, sonsofliberty2000!
Thanks for the ping, RC!!

The plans include the launch of a new website, in both English and Arabic, especially designed for Iraq news and information.

It'll be interesting to see if their reports really are balanced. Since I don't understand Arabic, I'll have to depend on the website to find out. :-)

14 posted on 11/04/2003 1:27:59 AM PST by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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