Delurking to bring you the following info: could be nothing at all but who knows? It's an interesting thread which has appeared on a UK forum which discusses TV Presentation. The poster's name is "BBC WORLD" (but he/she not of course necessarily linked to the BBC).
http://www.tvforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12458
Original Post follows:
It is not politially correct to make certain public statements in my part of the world (Middle East - UAE) due to local ways and customs, but does anyone know if any of the major UK broadcasters are mobilising crews and senior correspondents to the UAE today / tomorrow? Any insiders got any information?
We are expecting a major announcement from the Government and Ruling Family within the next couple of days about a major event that has occurred, although it will not be announced likely until the start of the Holy Month of Ramadan on Saturday 16th October.
Sensitivity about the subject forbids me from actually divulging what it is, but it is an event that I hope the BBC, ITN, CNN and Sky devote sufficient gravity to by mobilising senior correspondents, as opposed to new faces. (I am thinking of the Amanpours, Doucets, Witchells, Austins and Clancy's of this world.............)
Stay tuned. More to be revealed soon.
Two other posts...
Under the leadership of Sheikh Zayed, the UAE and the two Emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi have developed into two of the most forward thinking and modern places that exist on Earth. With it has come a remarkable level of respect for the Gentleman on the world stage, particularly within the Middle East.
There would be concerns about regional stability if there was a major change in direction brought about by a radical successor, should such an eventuality become necessary.
However, let's wait and see. The comments above about how such an incident would affect the west are irrelevant - BBC World, CNN and Sky News are supposedly Global News Providers and this region has millions of viewers who get their daily digest of news from these outlets. It would not seem proper that the London and US HQ's of these organisations slide our local events (major ones) down the running order, yet the bulge in George W Bush's jacket during a recent debate receives very wide coverage and presentation from weighty anchors. The locals here in the Gulf sometimes feel very left out of serious coverage.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted on: 12th Oct 2004 3:57pm TheMediaCorrespondent Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 3 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If this is what we suspect this is, and this will require confirmation but I beleieve the Internation Affairs Team are very interested. Can you release more...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm sure with the expertise on the TM thread we can get to the bottom of this!