US launches “accurate” Arabic satellite television broadcasts

menareport.com ^

[chance33_98]

US launches “accurate” Arabic satellite television broadcasts

In a bid to offset the spread of anti-American messages by pan-Arab media outlets, the US government launched Al-Hurra, a satellite television station broadcasting Arabic language news and information programming across the Middle East and North Africa, on Saturday, February 14, 2004.

The broadcast schedule will expand progressively over the first month of operations to the point of providing a round-the-clock news and information service by March 14, stated a press release.

“The people will hear free and open discussions not just about conflict in the Middle East, but also about subjects critical to that region's future. We are talking about economic development and human rights and respect for minorities," said chairman of the US Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), Kenneth Tomlinson.

The BBG, a US government financed company, has received a $62 million congressional appropriation to fund the establishment and first year's operating costs for the Al-Hurra project.

Al-Hurra has been greeted with skepticism in much of the Middle Eastern press where many local pundits maintain that the station will be dismissed as government propaganda. Hostility towards the United States has reached "shocking levels” among Muslim populations, according to a recent report by the US Advisory Group on Public Diplomacy for the Arab and Muslim World. The panel called for more money to be spent on advocating US policies.

Al-Hurra will be broadcast over the Arabsat and Nilesat satellites. It will also be available in the future over terrestrial transmission systems in Iraq. According to BBG, prime time programming will include two, one-hour in-depth newscasts, a nightly live talk show called "Free Hour," and Arabic translations of documentary and information programming from producers around the world.

Daily broadcasts will also include discussion programs, current affairs magazines and features on a variety of subjects, including health and personal fitness, entertainment, sports, fashion, and science and technology. — (menareport.com)

[Keith in Iowa]

This is about a year too late...

They should have had this up and running before they started the war.

[Dialup Llama]

Yes, even before a year ago to counter the Arab hate/conspiracy press. Shame that the conservantive tendency for reticence and for not stating your case has allow Al Jazzero to define the debate in the minds of many Arabs.

[Dialup Llama]

I hope they would discuss things like how to start a business and explain democratic govt institutions.

[EricT.]

I think we would have been better served if our State Dept. had told some of the islamofascists that they would lose our taxpayers dollars if they don't start singing a different tune in their government controlled media.

[BykrBayb]

“The people will hear free and open discussions not just about conflict in the Middle East, but also about subjects critical to that region's future. We are talking about economic development and human rights and respect for minorities," said chairman of the US Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), Kenneth Tomlinson.

This is long overdue. I hope they handle the respect for minorities portion delicately. I certainly agree with that message, but I doubt many Muslims will. It could be a real difficult issue to deal with, without turning them off to the channel entirely. If they won't watch the channel, they won't get any of the other messages either. I'm curious to see how this will play out. On the surface, it looks like it will be very successful.

[armymarinemom]

Well this is a year too late, but only if we could do this at home too.

[glorgau]

Radio Free Arabia!!!!

[FormerACLUmember]

Yes, Radio Free Arabia. If our semi-traitorous, always incompetent State Department were doing its job, this station would have been on the air 20 years ago, and we would not be facing a intractible IslamoFascist enemy.

[Prodigal Son]

They should have had this up and running before they started the war.

Yep. This should have been one of our first priorities. We fought the major battle using television as a weapon. We should've been fighting the peace the whole time using it as well.

[Valin]

Bout time.