Satellite Chronicles:
July to December 2005
Complied by Raya Shokatfard

July 7
Head of Azeri Public TV wants to be on air in August "at whatever cost"

The newly-established Azerbaijani Public TV will go on air in August 2005 at whatever the cost, its director-general has said. In an interview with the Azerbaijani opposition newspaper Yeni Musavat, Ismayil Omarov denied reports on insufficient funding and said that the state bodies respond positively to all financial issues which he raises. Central News Agency website, Taipei.

July 7
Afghan TV reporter beaten up while filming

Roadblocks are one of the main problems for people in Kabul. When a government official passes, the residents of Kabul have to wait for a long time in hot weather until roads are reopened to traffic. On Tuesday [14 July], national security department officials beat up an Aina TV reporter who was trying to prepare a report from the scene. The problem was caused because the road was closed so that the car of government official could pass by. Aina TV, Sheberghan.

July 7
USA/Turkey: Joint venture to launch Internet TV service

Phase Technologies announced today [11 July] that Beyaz Holding Company, owner of Turkey's leading television news and entertainment station, has aired a segment on its "The Economy Today" series, describing the benefits of a planned digital television service via the privatized national telephone network. Beyaz Holding and mPhase have formed a joint venture, mPhase Teknoloji, which is awaiting a licence to deliver the internet television (IPTV) service targeted for delivery via Turk Telekom, the soon-to-be privatized national telecommunications company. mPhase Technologies press release, Little Falls, New Jersey

July 13
Malaysia: Media Prima signs deal with NTV7

Media Prima Bhd has entered into a Collaboration and Assistance Agreement with Natseven TV Sdn Bhd, Synchrosound Studio Sdn Bhd, Questseven Dot Com Sdn Bhd (the companies) and the respective companies' shareholders, to provide assistance for the companies to undertake a corporate and debt restructuring scheme and identify areas where both groups can form a strategic alliance to work together. Natseven TV is currently the owner and operator of NTV7, Malaysia's second free-to-air television network, whilst Synchrosound Studios and Questseven Dot Com Sdn Bhd are, respectively, the licence holder and operator of a radio station known as Wow FM, Media Prima said in a statement today. Under the agreement, Media Prima will use its expertise to assist the debt and corporate restructuring of the service companies, with the aim of strengthening the financial position and operations of NTV7 and Wow FM. Bernama news agency website, Kuala Lumpur

July 14
West Bank and Gaza: UAE donates broadcast equipment

Palestinian news agency Wafa website on 14 July carries a report on the Palestinian authorities receiving TV and radio broadcast equipment from the UAE. The report says: "The [Palestinian] National Authority received today in the Jordanian capital, Amman, five consignments of TV and radio broadcast equipment worth 1.2m dollars. This equipment was donated by the brotherly state of the UAE to the Palestinian people." The report adds that Dr Radwan Abu-Ayash, head of the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), expressed "the appreciation of the PBC, the National Authority and the Palestinian people to the UAE". He also stressed "the deep-rooted and solid relations between the UAE and Palestine".

Abu-Ayash adds that the equipment is expected to be shipped to Ramallah "with the aim of using it to expand TV and radio transmissions". Palestinian news agency Wafa web site, Gaza

July 14
Afghan TV reports journalist beaten up by military

Kamran Mirhazar, editor-in-chief of Chai-e Dagh [hot tea] weekly, has been beaten up by military officers in Kabul city.Similarly, four reporters were recently threatened and beaten up by a group of militiamen in Konar Province. This is the fourth journalist threatened and beaten up by armed men. According to Mirhazar, he was threatened and beaten up by military officers when he was taking pictures in a crowded area of Kabul city. He said there was no sign prohibiting photography in the area. Tolu TV, Kabul

July 15
Fined Bosnian TV to resume broadcasting on 1 September

Bosnian Alfa TV will resume broadcasting on 1 September 2005, the IRIB correspondent in Sarajevo reports based on information from one of the most widely read Bosnian papers, Dnevni avaz. This newspaper announced that Sanela Prasovic, famous journalist from Bosnian Federation TV, had been appointed director of Alfa TV after a meeting with the Avaz management [the owner of Dnevni avaz daily bought Alfa TV]. Alfa TV was previously fined 50,000 convertible marks for broadcasting religious programmes, by the Bosnian Communications Regulatory Agency, which is chaired by Jakob Finci, who is the head of the Bosnian Jewish Community. Radio Naba web site, Visoko

July 16
Indonesian paper notes increase in religious TV programmes

Tune in to virtually any local TV station during prime time these days and God-believing folk will find that the Supreme Being as they know Him has turned into a malevolent entity. The television programmes, regular soap operas with God's name attached to their title, carry a formulaic story line in which sinners of all kinds, from corrupt state officials and gamblers to a misbehaving son, will be punished by God with a very painful death, ranging from literally being burnt in hell, eaten by flesh-eating worms to being swallowed alive by the earth. By the drama's end, after a noisy commercial break, a preacher will appear on screen to give a sermon about what sinners will face in the afterlife in return for their misdemeanors and will remind viewers not to commit sinful acts.

Veven said that religious programmes gained currency after the populace was dealt a series of natural disasters such as the Aceh tsunami and unbearable social ills such as corruption. "In the face of such incomprehensible calamity people tried to escape from reality. They also grow desperate, as corruption remains unbridled; religious programmes are a kind of escapism," he said. The Jakarta Post web site, Jakarta

July 18
Four new state regional language PTV channels planned

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shaykh Rashid Ahmed Monday said four new channels of Pakistan Television would be launched to provide news, current affairs and entertainment programmes in regional languages. Pashto and Sindhi channels would be started in the first phase while a new centre of PTV would be established at Multan, the minister said while presiding over a meeting, the PTV reported. He said PTV is the custodian of the country's ideological boundaries, which presents programmes keeping in view its traditions and culture.

Appreciating the performance of PTV administration, Shaykh Rashid directed that arrangements be made to ensure countrywide transmissions and to expand the same to Islamic countries and Europe. Participating in the meeting, Secretary Information and Broadcasting Shahid Rafi stressed the need to provide expatriate Pakistanis quick access to news updates and entertainment programmes. Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, Islamabad

July 19
Yemen to launch independent youth channel in September

The Sanaa University is preparing for launching the first ever independent space channel for youths in Yemen's history. The initial broadcasting of the channel will start next September, said vice rector of Sanaa university, Ahmad al-Kebsi. Al-Kebsi expected that the channel starts its first broadcasting while celebrations on the occasion of the 26 September revolution. He said the channel will have programs dealing with youths in accordance with the media policy in the country. Saba news agency website, Sanaa

July 20
National TV station launched in Somaliland

Eng Selgio Carl, accompanied by Eng Mahmud Nasir and Eng Ali Mire, who in the recent past have been busy working on the installation of Somaliland national TV station, have this morning handed over the station to the minister of information and guidance, Hon Abdullahi Muhammad Du'ale, at the ministry's HQ. Radio Hargeysa in Somali.

July 20
Chairman of Palestine Radio and Television Corporation relieved of post

President Mahmud Abbas today decided to relieve Radwan Abu-Ayyash of his post as chairman of the Palestine Radio and Television Corporation and place him at the disposal of the minister of information. Palestinian news agency Wafa website, Gaza

July 20
Abu-Sumayyah appointed head of Palestine Radio and Television Corporation

Dr Nabil Sha'th, deputy prime minister and information minister, issued a decision this evening appointing brother Basim Abu-Sumayyah as chairman of the Palestine Radio and Television Corporation. The decision falls within the process of reconstructing and developing the work of Palestinian media outlets. The information minister commended the hard work carried out by former chairman of the Palestine Radio and Television Corporation, Dr Radwan Abu-Ayyash, who exerted great efforts to establish the corporation in the homeland amid critical conditions.Palestinian news agency Wafa website, Gaza

July 23
Court rules Croat vital interests not endangered by Bosnian Radio-TV law

The Bosnia-Hercegovina Constitutional Court has established that the bill on the Bosnia-Hercegovina Public Radio-TV system does not endanger the vital interests of Croats. The 6 July request to the Constitutional Court to reassess this law was submitted by the Bosnia-Hercegovina Parliamentary Assembly's House of Peoples' Speaker Velimir Jukic. SRNA news agency

July 23
Pakistan’s PM announces plan to launch new TV channels

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said the government will launch four regional languages TV channels, a channel for youth, and sports channel, from next month which will not only promote national integrity and unity but would also promote our culture and traditions. The prime minister was addressing the turnaround ceremony of Pakistan Television at PTV Centre in Islamabad. Mr Shaukat Aziz said there is fast competition in the field of media in Pakistan with the emergence of private TV channels. He commended the efforts of PTV and expressed the hope that with the talent available, PTV would further excel in the existing competition. Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, Islamabad.

July 23
Pakistan: PTV projecting real culture, values and traditions, PM says

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Saturday [23 July] said Pakistan Television has been projecting true image of the country and promoting real values and traditions. Addressing a function here at PTV headquarters, he announced that government would launch four new channels in provincial languages on 14 August, to promote national integrity, culture and tradition. The prime minister said the government would also launch a sports and a youth channel very soon. Press of Pakistan news agency, Islamabad

July 28
Saudi Arabia: New satellite channel Jedda TV "to promote tourism" in kingdom

Officials of the Jedda satellite channel (Jedda TV) have started their preparations for launching the new channel that will start broadcasting in September to promote and encourage tourism in Saudi Arabia. It will broadcast via the Arabsat satellites. The channel has a large number of tourism programmes that aim to promote domestic tourist activities that involve travel companies and agencies, hotels, resorts, restaurants, children's tourism, sports tourism and environmental tourism. It will also carry live relays of Saudi shares prices and a special programme about the economic and aesthetic aspects of gold and jewellery in addition to exhibitions, fairs, heritage and culture.

The channel will also focus on highlighting and promoting the advantages of domestic tourism so as to increase investments in remote areas in addition to showing an interest in Saudi heritage, highlighting the varied local cultures and bolstering national affiliation, especially among the young and teenagers, by promoting domestic tourism. The channel also allocated almost 15m riyals [4m US dollars] a year as financial support for 30 Saudi youths from both sexes every month to establish tourism projects with a capital of half a million riyals for every project. The aim is to create more jobs for Saudi youths and at the same time bolster Saudi tourism. This programme will be addressed to the youths under the title "Key to the Breakthrough". Elaph website, London

July 28
Bahrain: Al-Jazeera launches mobile phone text news service
The Al-Jazeera Channel and Al-Majaz Telecom have recently signed an agreement with Bahrain's Telecommunications Company Batelco to provide breaking, political, business, and sports news through Al-Jazeera Mobile Short Messaging Service SMS [phone text] to customers in Bahrain. Batelco subscribers in Bahrain can subscribe to Al-Jazeera Mobile, in Arabic or English, via calling 196 or by registering on the company's brand new mobile portal "aywah" (www.aywah.com.bh).

In the future, Al-Jazeera Channel will introduce the (WAP) technology, where "Batelco" subscribers can browse a selection of articles from the AlJazeera.Net website through their GSM, and "Video Streaming", where mobile owners can watch Al-Jazeera Channel news and programmes on their GSM. In addition to that, "aywah" has already introduced Al-Jazeera Mobile through its WAP portal (wap.aywah.com.bh), said a press release yesterday. Al-Jazeera Channel's Marketing Director Hamad Yahya Al-Nuaimi expressed his pleasure over the partnership with Batelco. "It is gratifying that Bahrain is another country to utilize our service, and can be added to the list of countries where Al-Jazeera Mobile is operating, such as, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, Palestine, Yemen, Sudan, and Syria. We are looking forward to extending the reach of Al-Jazeera Mobile service worldwide," he said.

"Our mobile portal (aywah) is primarily aimed at the youth market with a whole host of ring tones, wallpapers, screensavers, games, local news and so on. The addition of Al-Jazeera Channel news adds dimensions that extend the appeal of the service deeper into other areas of multi-media communication and into a wider marketplace," said Hamza Ali, Senior Manager Mobile Services at Batelco.

July 30
Afghan TV channel objects to paper's accusation of pro-Taleban reporting

Today's edition of Anis daily accused Tolu television of broadcasting biased and untrue reports in favour of terrorists. When asked by a Tolu correspondent for evidence, Sakhi Munir, the editor-in-chief of Anis, said they had no clear evidence.

The editorial published in Anis today says that the untrue reports, quoting the Taleban spokesman [Latifollah Hakimi], which are broadcast on Tolu television, are in favour of the Taleban and such reports support terrorism and play an active role in destabilizing the situation in the country.

Following these allegations, a Tolu correspondent interviewed Sakhi Munir, the editor-in-chief of Anis daily, and asked him for clear evidence to support these accusations. Mr Munir gave his personal opinion without providing any clear evidence and said that they had no evidence to prove their allegations. Tolu TV, Kabul.

July 30
"Middle East's biggest urban TV" inaugurated in Tehran

Iranian news agencies and newspapers have reported the inauguration of "the Middle East's biggest urban TV". The giant TV screen was inaugurated on 28 July and is located in Vanak Square in north Tehran. It is said to be the second such TV installed in Tehran.

The TV's main function will be to broadcast commercial and business advertisements for the area. Based on agreements, 70 per cent of the revenue from this function will go to the private sector for seven years in order to repay the capital and the profit [interest]. During this time, Tehran Municipality will have three hours per day, free of charge, to broadcast its own programmes for the education of citizens and to provide information. After seven years, the TV will belong completely to Tehran Municipality," Afruzmanesh reported. Iranian briefing material from BBC Monitoring

July 31
Afghan TV presenter wants to leave the country due to death threats

Sayed Solayman Ashna, a presenter and producer of the private Tolu TV station in Kabul, claims that he has not left his house for the past month and a half due to death threats he has received.

In an exclusive interview with Pajhwok news agency this week, Ashna said that someone by phone in a Kandahari accent threatened to kill him. He was the producer of the Hard Talk programme, and according to him it was this program that caused all the problems for him. Afghan independent Pajhwok news agency Web site.

July 31
Afghan religious scholar optimistic on new TV channel, supports drug campaign

The main subject of the meeting was the parliamentary election. Religious officials have made some recommendations to the president. The scholars asked Mr Karzai to put an end to the propaganda smear campaign of Afghanistan's enemies. We also discussed restricting non-Islamic broadcasts, the drinking of alcohol and taking of drugs, drug trafficking and ways to fight cultural onslaughts.
The president welcomed the scholars' request and promised to provide them with a TV station. As you are aware, Mullah Omar, the Taleban leader, has called on religious scholars to stop preaching against the Taleban. In response to this demand, the religious officials asked Mullah Omar to stop killing the innocent, in particular religious scholars. The duty of religious officials is to state the facts and the truth. They will never come under the influence of any power. Religious officials do not have a specific means to pass on their true message to the people. Consequently, they asked Mr Karzai to provide them with a special TV channel.

Religious officials play a significant role in preaching about the harm and disadvantages of narcotics. Poppy cultivation has fallen in the areas where there are religious officials who preach to the people on this. The people always listen to the advice of religious scholars and they have accepted that the cultivation and trafficking of poppy is illegal and against Islamic principles. I believe that in the campaign against narcotics, the role of religious officials is more important than the role of the police or counter-narcotics officials, who force the people to stop cultivating poppy.

There has been a tremendous fall in poppy cultivation. In 2001 and 2002, a lot of drugs were produced in the country and most farmers started to cultivate poppy. However, following the recent government restrictions and the advice of religious scholars, there has been a drop in poppy cultivation. In some provinces, poppy is not being cultivated at all. I believe that most of the drugs being transported by traffickers are from previous years. That is why neighbouring countries are still concerned about this issue.Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mashhad

August 8
Afghan TV channel outlines provisions for candidates campaign broadcasts

Aina TV's election studios have been opened in eight [Afghan] provinces. The publicity messages of parliamentary and provincial candidates will be recorded and broadcast in eight provinces during the formal campaigning period. An agreement has been signed by Aina TV, the JEMB's media commission and the Asia Foundation. Aina TV has set up its election studios in the provinces of Kabul, Balkh, Jowzjan, Fariab, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Konduz and Samangan. All the necessary supplies have been provided to officials in eight regional studios. Aina TV, Sheberghan

August 8
Afghan private Tolu TV expands broadcast to southern city of Kandahar

The Tolu Television, a private TV channel in Afghanistan, has expanded its transmissions to Kandahar City on Monday. Saad Mohseni, director of the channel, said the step was part of their programme to expand Tolu's transmission to all big cities of the country.

He said their programmes had received warm welcome from the people which encouraged them to expand the spare of the transmission to other parts of the country as well. "Beside the expansion of the coverage area, we also want to bring improvement in our programmes in accordance with the demands of our audiences," Mohseni told Pajhwok Afghan News.

In an interview, he said that their programmes were now reaching more than 13 million people across the country. He said that apart from Kandahar, their programmes had been viewed in Kabul, Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif while it would cover the eastern city of Jalalabad within the next two weeks.
A statement issued from the TV station said Tolu TV also broadcast via satellite across the region, covering Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, India, Gulf States, Turkey, and Central Asia. Afghan independent Pajhwok news agency Web site.

August 8
Turkey: Plans for Kurdish TV broadcasting to be discussed by Security Council

While an arrangement is being prepared at the Radio and Television Supreme Council [RTUK] for local TV channels to broadcast in Kurdish, the matter has been "appended" to the agenda of the National Security Council [MGK] meeting scheduled for 23 August.

Prime Minister's Office sources say that although the military welcome the changes being made to the directive by RTUK acting under instructions from Prime Minister [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan they still harbour reservations. The topic, which will be taken up as an extra item on the agenda at the MGK meeting on 23 August, will later be discussed in detail, and the government will be told what the opinion is. The military thinks it will not be enough from the point of view of national security and the country's integrity for the institutions that will conduct broadcasting in Kurdish to give pledges. It thinks that a mechanism of stringent checks and supervision is necessary. One official said that news that the military was going to submit a dossier on PKK [Kurdistan Workers' Party] terrorism to the MGK did not represent the truth and that the agenda would cover the EU, Cyprus and Iraq. Sabah website, Istanbul

August 15
Saudi TV debate condemns romantic messages on music TV channels

Love messages sent by Saudi youths to Arabic music video channels are the subject of a discussion on Saudi TV at 1100 gmt on 15 August. This is one of a number of issues discussed in an episode of the daily "Welcome" [Ya hala] programme, an entertainment programme which is believed to have replaced the other programme with the same English title [Hayyakum].
The programme is presented by Sa'id al-Yami and this episode carries reports on archaeological and tourist sites in Saudi Arabia as well as Saudi songs. It also carries a report on the supposedly large number of Saudi youths who send cell phone text messages to Arabic music video channels, expressing their love for someone they admire. People, male and female, phone in expressing their disapproval of this trend, adding that youths should do something better with their time, like taking up sports or expanding their cultural activities.
The moderator ends the programme by saying that youths should be protected against wasting their time and money by making them aware of the harms of this habit. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia TV1, Riyadh

August 16
Lebanese parliament amends law, allowing anti-Syrian TV channel back on air

The Lebanese parliament passed the amendment of a law today which has allowed MTV, a private anti-Syrian TV channel [Murr TV, operated by Lebanese politician Gabriel Murr and based in the northern suburbs of Beirut], shut down on 4 September 2002, an official source said. The amendment to Article 68 of the law on the media was passed unanimously by those MPs present and excludes the possibility of damages being paid to the station, which was shut down following a decision by the appeal chamber of the press court. "This amendment constitutes a kind of amnesty and does not require the approval of the court," MP Butros Harb told the press. AFP news agency, Paris, in French

August 17
Lebanon: MTV reinstatement prompts call for fair media policy

Beirut: Lebanon "lacks a proper media policy and vision that defines the work of the media sector," according to Abdel Hadi Mahfouz, president of The National Media Council (NMC).Mahfouz, who yesterday delivered a report prepared by the NMC in collaboration with the Information Ministry to Speaker Nabih Berri on proposals to enhance the efficiency of the media sector, said: "This report can be considered the corner stone for establishing such a media policy and vision." He also commented on the Parliament's latest decision to allow Murr TV to re-initiate its broadcast after three years of closure. The Daily Star Web site, Beirut

August 18
Aina TV starts broadcast in western Afghanistan

TV has begun broadcasting in Herat city [western Afghanistan]. Aina TV is the first private television station in the country which can be viewed in more than 70 countries. Aina TV began its broadcasts in Herat city and its surroundings on Thursday 18 August. The Herat residents can now view it using a simple antenna. Aina TV's engineers have been installing receivers and transmitters for the last couple of days. Aina TV started broadcasting in Herat city today. Residents can view our programmes on 48.5 MHz, Canal 2 VHF from today. Aina TV can also be viewed in other provinces: Konduz, Takhar, Samangan, Kabul, Balkh, Jowzjan, Fariab, Sar-e Pol and Herat. Aina TV, Sheberghan

August 18
Turkey plans restrictions on TV broadcasts in minority languages

The Radio and Television High Council (RTUK) plans to require local and national television stations which intend to broadcast programmes in different languages and dialects to submit a written undertaking, which will be a precondition for obtaining a licence for airing such programmes, sources said. Those television stations, however, will not be permitted to broadcast programmes for children in different languages and dialects.

August 24
Saddam Hussein's daughter planning launch of TV channel from Jordan

Kuwait, 24 August: Raghad, daughter of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, intends to launch from Jordan a private satellite channel to talk about the "positive" aspects of her father's life, the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Watan said. The newspaper quoted well-informed sources as saying the satellite will operate for 12 hours a day and former Ba'thist media men will prepare programmes that would "highlight" the role of Saddam.

The former Iraqi information adviser here Jawad al-Ali had denied alleged reports that he was cooperating with Raghad, the eldest daughter of Saddam, to set up a TV satellite channel that could be mouthpiece of the Iraqi resistance. MENA news agency, Cairo

August 24
Pakistan warns cable networks over "filthy and indecent" programmes

Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (PEMRA) has warned all cable network operators to avoid telecasting obscene programmes. According to a PEMRA press release issued here Wednesday [24 August] the federal law has been implemented to prohibit the cable operators from false, immoral and misleading programmes. "Under the same prescribed law PEMRA will revoke the licenses of operators who telecast filthy and indecent programmes. These programmes mislead the youth and damage our culture and society," the press release said.

If any viewer feels unsatisfactory from the programmes of the cable operators he can complain to the regional office. On their complaints the PEMRA Council of Compliant is competent authority to take strict action against the concerned operators after proper investigation. PEMRA is determined to promote the interests of the viewers. Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, Islamabad

August 24
Iran’s defeated candidate hopes satellite TV channel to launch in November

Hojjat ol-Eslam val-Moslemin Mehdi Karrubi [former Majlis Speaker and presidential candidate] thanked the members of his election campaign headquarters. He also said that providing an analysis of the presidential election, and explaining the platforms and objectives of the National Trust Party would form the two main issues that will be discussed in the party congress that will be held next Friday [26 August]. Karrubi also said: "We are trying to take [presumably purchase] a few hours on the satellite networks that are in keeping with the framework of the Islamic Republic system and to broadcast our programmes there until we start our own network. Some consultations have been carried out on this issue through Behruz Afkhami." By pointing out that probably within the next three months the programmes of the network would be broadcast, the secretary-general of the National Trust Party told the correspondent of ISNA: "Probably, our first programmes will be broadcast on Id al-Fitr [2 November]." Iran Daily website, Tehran.

August 25
Syria: Ministry allows private satellite TV stations

For the first time in the history of Syria, the Syrian Information Ministry allowed the establishment of private satellite television stations just two days ago. Media sources informed Al-Safir that the ministry has contacted the largest Syrian investors who had expressed their desire, implicitly or openly, in establishing private television stations and requested that they prepare the studies necessary to obtain a licence. The ministry also contacted individuals who had obtained licencing for private radio stations, for the same reason. Al-Safir Web site, Beirut

August 25
Watchdog condemns US military over rights of Iraqi journalist
The International Federation of Journalists [IFJ] today [25 August] backed calls from Reuters news agency for the United States to release Iraqi journalist Ali Omar Abrahem al-Mashhadani who has been held incommunicado in the infamous Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad for two weeks. "There is an intolerable denial of basic rights here," said Aidan White, IFJ general secretary. "This man is being denied visitors and there is growing concern about his welfare. The US authorities should reveal what, if anything, he is charged with or free him immediately."

The IFJ says that Iraqi journalists, even those working for foreign and Western news organizations, are being consistently targeted by the US military and that there are rarely proper inquiries into claims of abuse and maltreatment. Al-Mashhadani is a freelance cameraman and a well-respected member of the news team who has been working for Reuters for a year in Ramadi, capital of Anbar region. His predecessor for Reuters in Ramadi, Dhia Najim, was shot dead during fighting between US marines and insurgents last year. Colleagues fear that he may be the latest victim of a military prejudice against reporters who respond quickly to incidents that have led to false accusations of journalists being tipped off about insurgent attacks. International Federation of Journalists press release, Brussels.

August 26
Sudan to set up new radio, TV stations

The general manager of the [Sudan] Radio and Television Corporation, Dr Amin Hasan Umar, has said 46 FM and four SW radio stations will be set up to provide coverage in all Sudanese states. In addition to that, 26 new television stations will be set up to fulfil media requirements in the next phase thus implementing the peace agreement. [Passage omitted.] Al-Watan, Khartoum

August 29
Pakistan minister urges establishment of SAARC TV channel

Islamabad, 29 August: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmad Monday [29 August] advocated for setting up a digital Television channel of SAARC [South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation] member countries. "We have proposed that there should be a combined digital Television channel for SAARC countries. Better cultural relations should also be set up among the SAARC countries," he told PTV by telephone from Kathmandu (Nepal). Frequent exchange of cultural programmes can bring them closer, he added.

Stressing the need for promotion of media-interaction among the SAARC member countries to resolve outstanding issues, he said regional issues confronted by SAARC countries, should be highlighted through enhanced electronic and print media cooperation and interaction among the member states. Expressing satisfaction over the improvement of relations with India, he added that disputes should be resolved for durable relations. Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, Islamabad.

August 30
Syria to license private TV channels soon

Damascus: Al-Ba'th has learnt that the Information Ministry has finished studying the applications it received for establishing private television channels. The ministry is expected to start giving approval soon. This step is added to the previous steps that allowed the establishment of private radios, which began transmission some time ago. There is also an intention to allow individuals to publish political newspapers. This adds to the current expansion in [nonpolitical] newspapers and magazine, the number of which has markedly increased in the past two years.

There is also emphasis on training to improve the performance of the media cadres and enable them to cope with changes and follow the development of the work of the media establishments, particularly the General Organization of Radio and Television. Al-Ba'th website, Damascus

August 31
Egypt: Minister says 2,000 reporters expected to cover presidential poll

Cairo, 31 August: The Ministry of Information will set up an international press centre to cover Egypt's presidential elections by local and international media and representatives of NGOs, Information Minister Anas al-Fiqi said Wednesday. The centre will help provide a full coverage of the presidential elections at the Egyptian and international levels, the minister added in statements to reporters. It will provide all communication means to reporters from all over the world, he said.

Voting and vote counting will be broadcast live from the headquarters of poll centres on large TV screens at the press centre. Public figures and NGOs' representatives will be given access to the centre to follow up the voting process and give their comments to international media reporters at the centre. The centre will also provide services to foreign correspondents who will come especially to cover the elections in addition to resident reporters. Some 2,000 reporters are expected to cover the historic event. MENA news agency, Cairo

August 31
Afghanistan: Tolu TV divides opinion in Kabul

Kabul-based IWPR staff reporter Hafizullah Gardesh writes about the praise, threats and controversy surrounding the emergence of Tolu television as it approaches its first anniversary. Afghanistan's deputy minister of broadcasting resigned last year, and now this report names Sayed Agha Hussain Fazel Sancharaki as the deputy minister for media affairs. The following is text of report in English by London-based Institute for War and Peace Reporting Web site on 31 August; ellipses as published.

Anxiety is apparent among its 200 staff, about a third of whom are women--an unusually high figure in an Afghan enterprise. Many of the young employees working at the computers on programme production refuse to be interviewed, waving away the IWPR reporter. The nervousness is hardly surprising. One young female presenter was murdered several months ago, although the station boss believes her slaying was unrelated to her work at Tolo. Another staff member was forced to flee to Sweden and a third has stopped working for the station because of threats. Even Saad Mohseni, who heads the station which he and his brothers own, says he has been threatened.

Tolu--which means "dawn" in Dari--began broadcasting in October 2004 and has rapidly expanded ever since. It now operates around the clock and recently began broadcasting via satellite so it can viewed in more remote - and more conservative - parts of the country as well as Kabul. It has quickly become the most popular locally-produced television channel in the capital.

At the heart of the controversy are programmes featuring female singers and dancers, immodestly-clad by Afghan standards, and Hollywood films whose scenes of passionate love are even more problematic, although they seem tame by Western standards.

There is little neutral ground with Tolu. People either love or hate its broadcasts, which also reach neighbouring countries like Pakistan and conservative Iran by satellite.

Since the station started a year ago, its innovative news broadcasts have become among the most popular programmes in Afghanistan. The groundbreaking talk shows, which feature all-male panels, have also attracted little criticism. But the scenes of TV station staff of young men and women working, laughing and joking together which are shown as fill-in spots have drawn fire from critics who say they are un-Islamic and against Afghan tradition. Qiamuddin Kashaf, a member of the Shura-ye-Ulama, or Islamic Scholars' Council, acknowledges that some of the TV programmes are educational and provide information. But others, he says, go against Islamic law and Afghan culture and have already been criticised by his council and by Afghanistan's Supreme Court.
"The Islamic scholars' council just wants changes to some of the material broadcast by Tolu TV. It is not against the television station itself," he said. He singled out for criticism "foreign movies, and [scenes of] singing in which women appear semi-naked, or women dancing". TV chief Mohseni rejects the charges. He argues that most of the station's programming is modelled on, and in some cases acquired from, other Islamic nations.

One former mujahedin leader, Sheikh Mohammad Asef Mohseni, said all of Afghanistan's TV broadcasters now had both good and bad programmes, some of which could lead people to immoral ways. "We are under attack from foreign tradition and cultures. We must not lose our Islamic identity to these ... otherwise we will lose our liberty," he said. Broadcasting "naked movies" had a bad influence on young boys, encouraging them to immorality, said Sheikh Mohseni. "Instead of feeding our starving young people, we will drive them to the grave and feed them to the dragon of AIDS. Then we will call it liberty."

The controversy has drawn in the government. Sayed Agha Hussain Fazel Sancharaki, the deputy minister for media affairs, said people misuse the word liberty in the same way as many have misused the word jihad, or holy war. "We defend democracy within the framework of Islam and Afghan tradition... but achieving democracy does not take one day, one month or one year. It is a long path with many highs and lows, so we need to be careful and patient," he said.
"Tolu TV took advantage of the current freedom and has done some useful things. But beside the positive things, it has some programmes that provoke religious anger, which always puts us [the government] under pressure."

Shekib Isaar, who also worked for Tolu, fled the country and went to Sweden. According to Mohseni, "Shekib was a hard worker and had lots of energy. Some of the street gangs threatened him, and he was once attacked and wounded with a knife. Finally he lost his morale, but maybe he will come back after a few months." Talking about one of Tolu's best presenters, Mohseni said, "Sayyed Sulaiman Ashna was threatened like the others, and he has preferred not to work for some time."

The programmes have polarized people and provoked more debate than any other television station - government-run National TV, and the four other independents, Afghan, Aina, Ariana and the Herat-based Saqee.

The controversy does not deter advertisers. "When we launched Tolu TV, USAID gave us some equipment but now we are self-sufficient and we cover all our costs through advertisements on the television and [sister company] Arman Radio," said Mohseni.

For fans like Ahmad Jawed, "Tolu is like the salt in food.... only all the others are without salt". But the television station also has many critics, including Kabul schoolteacher Zarmina, who sees it as an enemy of the country's culture and Islamic law.
Mohammad Eshaq, aged 37 who has a television repair shop, said some Tolu programmes, like the news and round table discussions, are good. But others run contrary to Islam, he thinks, "Tolu gives poison to the people, covering it with honey." Institute for War and Peace Reporting Web site, London

September 1
Azerbaijani private TV opens office in Moldova

The Teleradio-Moldova public company signed a cooperation agreement with the Azerbaijani [commercial] TV station Lider about two months ago. Results were quick to come. A representative office of this channel was opened in Chisinau today. For the time being, only one TV crew is preparing reports for Baku. But Azerbaijani correspondent (?Elmira Alsanova) says that in the future the editorial team will be bigger. Moldova One TV, Chisinau, in Russian

September 1
New Tajik TV channel mainly cultural - TV boss

The new Tajik TV channel to be launched on 3 September will be mainly entertainment, its director said in an interview posted on the Asia-Plus website on 1 September.
Asked about its difference from Tajik TV, the head of the Tajik state TV second channel Safina (Ship) said: "We shall have our own format, new show programmes and brilliant young people. At least, we shall strive for this. Moreover, we are seriously intended to be engaged in boosting people's culture. Moreover, competition is necessary for the development of television. Right in this way we shall compete with Tajik TV." The television will broadcast from 0800 to 2000 (from Asia-Plus news agency website, Dushanbe

September 1
Several TV, radio stations issued with broadcasting licences in Azerbaijan

Baku: The National TV and Radio Council held a session on 31 August to extend the broadcasting licence of the Kapaz TV channel for six years. At the same time, a TV and radio broadcasting licence was issued to the Azerbaijani TV and Radio Programmes closed-type joint-stock company, a radio broadcasting licence to the Burc FM limited liability company and a cable TV licence to the Digicom limited liability company, the National TV and Radio Council said in a press release. Turan news agency, Baku

September 1
Azerbaijani private TV opens office in Moldova

The Teleradio-Moldova public company signed a cooperation agreement with the Azerbaijani [commercial] TV station Lider about two months ago. Results were quick to come. A representative office of this channel was opened in Chisinau today. For the time being, only one TV crew is preparing reports for Baku. But Azerbaijani correspondent (?Elmira Alsanova) says that in the future the editorial team will be bigger. Moldova One TV, Chisinau

September 2
Azeri media expert criticizes Public TV

Text of report by Sevinc Telmanqizi in Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni Musavat on 2 September headlined "Public TV does not satisfy specialists either" and subheaded "Rafiq Huseynov: This channel was dead before it was born" and "Cahangir Mammadli: Those who came here from the Azerbaijani state channel have failed to adapt themselves to this environment." Yeni Musavat, Baku, 2 Sep 05 p 12.

September 5
Ariana TV starts broadcasting in northern Afghan city

Balkh Governor Atta Mohammad Nur received Mohammad Reza Hazrati, the general director of Ariana Television Network [ATN], and Saraj, the chief technician of ATN, today.The general director, speaking regarding the programmes of ATN said: Balkh is the second province after Kabul that ATN starts its broadcast in. He said that they wanted to serve the Afghan people through broadcasting programmes according to Islamic and Afghan values.

September 5
Bangladesh: Cable TV network policy finalized

Policy for the cable television network has been finalized, reports UNB. It will be sent to cabinet meeting for approval soon, said an official release on Sunday [4 September]. The ninth cabinet committee meeting on "cable television network policy reformulation" took the decision at the conference room of Information Ministry on Sunday after reviewing the draft policy.

Later, the information minister told the journalists that in absence of a cable television network policy the trend of broadcasting programmes contrary to audience's demand is being increased. "The cable operators are also broadcasting their own programmes which sometimes undermine tradition and values of the country," the minister said.

He said that the government would formulate the policy for upholding culture, tradition and values of the country and for stopping indiscriminate use of the cable television network by the operators. Indiantelevision.com website, Mumbai, in English, Sep 05

September 5
New director appointed for Iranian TV's Channel 1

Tehran, 5 September: Morteza Mirbaqeri, the Voice and Vision's deputy head for TV, has issued a decree appointing Alireza Barazesh as the director of the Vision's Network 1. According to Fars's reporter, Alireza Barazesh was in charge of the office for the dissemination of the eminent leader's [Khamene'i's] works and took part, as an expert on religious affairs, in the "Passenger from India", "Help Me", "Like a Stranger", etc. series. The ceremony for introducing Alireza Barazesh and bidding farewell to Reza Ja'fari-Jelveh is to be held this afternoon at the Mowlana Hall of the centre for international conferences. Fars News Agency website, Tehran, 5 Sep 05.

September 5
Malaysia: New pay-TV platform launches

Kuala Lumpur: The waiting is finally over. Malaysians will now have a choice of pay TV station when MiTV Corporation begins operations from Monday [5 September], breaking the existing monopoly of Astro Television. Bernama news agency website, Kuala Lumpur, 5 Sep 05

September 8
Pakistan: Government to approve 37 new TV channels - minister

The government this month is extending permission to 37 more television channels to go on air. This was stated by Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Shaykh Rashid Ahmed. The Minister said with the passage of a Bill to this effect in the Senate, the total number of private channels to go on air would be 50.

Shaykh Rashid said these days the media has emerged as an important weapon in the world - it is a life saving drug as well as a lethal one. He also congratulated the chief of the TVOne Channel, Tahir Khan, his wife, Seema, and family on the launch of TVOne. Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, Islamabad, 8 Sep

September 8
Qatar: Al Jazeera airs Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 on 11 September

As part of its special schedule for commemorating the 9/11 anniversary, Doha-based Al Jazeera Satellite Channel aired a trailer for Michael Moore's movie, "Fahrenheit 9/11," saying it will air it in full and that this will be the first time the film is shown "on an Arab television station."

The trailer said: "One of the most controversial and thought-provoking movies: 'Fahrenheit 9/11,' which won several world prizes, will show for the first time on an Arab television station, exclusively on Al-Jazeera Channel." The film will be shown at 1705 UTC on Sunday 11 September. Al-Jazeera TV, Doha, 8 Sep 05

September 9
Afghan radio, television gets new director general

At the proposal of Information, Culture and Tourism Ministry, the president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has appointed Gholam Hasan Hazrati [former director general of Afghan radio and television] as the cultural attache of Afghan embassy in Tajikistan, Najib Roshan as the general director of Radio/Television Department and Shams al-Haq Arianpur as the editor of daily Eslah. Radio Afghanistan, Kabul, in Pashto, 4 Sep 05

September 9
Azeri Public TV given permanent broadcasting licence

Baku: Public TV has been given a permanent licence, Tavakkul Dadasov, acting head of the testing, programming and analysis section of the national TV and radio council, has said. Admitting that there are technical problems in Public TV, Dadasov also noted current shortcomings, i.e. the lack of professionalism in the work of company employees: "Since Public TV is a new channel, the presence of such problems is natural. We hope that these problems will be eliminated in Public TV in the near future." Dadasov also said that the licences of the private TV channels ANS, Lider and Space will expire in October. Therefore, these TV channels will be given new broadcasting licences. The licence of Ganca's Kapaz TV has also been renewed. news agency, Bilik Dunyasi Baku, in Russian, 7 Sep 05.

September 9
Palestinian news agency says Israeli soldiers fire at Egyptian TV crew

Ramallah: The Egyptian Television today confirmed that one of its crews working in the Palestinian territories came under fire near the Governorate of Ramallah and Al-Birah, adding that two of its reporters suffered suffocation and their vehicle was seriously damaged.
The Egyptian Television said in a statement, a copy of which was received by WAFA, that its crew members came under fire by the Israeli occupation soldiers while providing coverage of a mass demonstration in the village of Bal'in protesting against the racial separation wall. The statement pointed out that the soldiers fired rubber bullets and tear gas inside the crew's vehicle, causing the suffocation of the crew members. For its part, Egyptian Television Correspondent Muna Hawwash said the attack was intentional and deliberate because the soldiers opened fire on the car after the crew received permission to pass through the area. Palestinian news agency Wafa website, Gaza, 9 Sep 05

September 9
Afghan clerics request ban on "immoral" TV programmes
Hamed Karzai, president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, had a meeting with representatives of the Afghan Ulema Council this afternoon. Mawlawi Gholam Rabbani and Mawlawi Mojahaz spoke on behalf of others and voiced their support for the elected government. They also stated their demands in a statement. Part of the statement reads:
The Afghan Ulema Council calls on all the people to vote for those candidates who are true Muslims and are able to serve the Muslim Afghan nation. The Afghan Ulema Council once again called on the relevant officials to prevent the import, smuggling, sale and use of alcoholic drinks and the broadcast of immoral films, programmes and dances on Afghan television stations. They should save the Afghan people, particularly the young generation, from this serious disaster.
In turn, the Afghan president said he was pleased to meet Afghan scholars and described religious scholars as a strong pillar of society. He said Afghan scholars occupied an important position and status before the government and the people He added that the scholars' demands would be given consideration. Radio Afghanistan, Kabul

September 9
Iraq: Toll of media victims nears 100, notes watchdog
The International Federation of Journalists today condemned the killing of a television technician in Mosul, the third media victim in the town over the past week and a shooting that brings to 99 the number of journalists and media staff killed in Iraq since the invasion of the country in March 2003. Ahlam Yusuf, an engineer working for Al-Iraqiyah television, was shot on Wednesday [21 September] while driving with her husband, who was also killed. Their son was seriously wounded in the attack.

Yusuf's murder follows the killing of Firas Ma'didi, 36, bureau chief for Al-Safir and chief editor of the local daily Al-Masar, who was killed by unidentified gunmen in the city on Tuesday. A day earlier, the body of Hind Ismayl, a 28-year-old reporter for Al-Safir, was found in a suburb of the town. Al-Safir, based in Baghdad, is an independent newspaper which has criticized insurgent attacks against Iraqi civilians, calling them terrorist operations.

Al-Iraqiyah has been increasingly targeted because of its ties to the US-supported Iraqi government. Insurgents in Mosul have killed at least three other employees of the station and its affiliates in 2005, and Al-Iraqiyah offices have repeatedly come under mortar attack.

Last Monday [19 September] Fakhir Haydar, who had worked for over two years for the New York Times, was found dead three km south-west of Basra with his hands bound and a single bullet wound to the head.

"These are clearly targeted killings which aim to censor local Iraqi journalists from reporting on democratic change in Iraq," said White. "The international community must intervene now to support the Iraqi media." International Federation of Journalists press release

September 10
Former Iranian Speaker launching Saba satellite TV

Tehran: Former Majlis Speaker Mehdi Karrubi would not be prevented by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) from establishing his private satellite network named 'Saba', a morning daily reported here Saturday [10 September].
'Iran Daily' quoted Behruz Afkhami, a well-known film maker and also former MP, as saying that after becoming operational, the Saba network "will be similar to BBC, CNN and other television news networks". Afkhami who is also responsible for launching the network noted that "certain political currents" were worried about its setting up by Karrubi more than being "concerned about satellite televisions run by banned opposition groups that are based overseas", the English-language daily said. Asked whether the IRIB would help Karrubi launch Saba, Afkhami said: "It depends on IRIB chief (Ezzatollah Zarghami) and his policies."

The paper quoted Afkhami as saying IRIB can issue permits for private television networks. IRNA website, Tehran, 10 Sep 05

September 10
Afghan journalists complain about ill-treatment by security officials

The head of the Afghan Voice Agency [AVA] told a news conference at the Setara Hotel in Kabul today that the government should take proper measures to guarantee the safety of journalists and to look into cases of violence against them.

The news conference was held by the Afghan Voice Agency. [Head of AVA] Mr Mazari called on the Information and Culture Ministry, the government and the international community to pay attention to journalists' problems. He spoke about the incident of 8 September during which two journalists of the Afghan Voice Agency were detained and beaten up by the officials of the National Security Directorate in District No 10 [Kabul city]. He added that they would prosecute those involved in the incident.

He said journalists would not be able to fulfil their duties properly and inform the people of Afghanistan and the world about the procedures and programmes for the parliamentary elections if the government did not take proper measures to prevent such irresponsible activities.

According to the official, a number of people want to take advantage of their posts and make plots against government departments so they can seek asylum in European countries. Addressing the news conference, Rahimollah Samandar, head of the independent union of Afghan journalists, said the government was putting pressure on the media and journalists to stop them from reporting on the parliamentary elections independently and impartially. Tolo TV, Kabul, 10 Sep 05.

September 10
Qatar: Al-Jazeera launches children's channel
The Al-Jazeera network has launched an Arabic-language children's channel. The channel was inaugurated on Friday [9 September] in the presence of Shaykha Mozah Bint-Nasir al-Misnad, wife of the emir of Qatar and the key force behind the venture, as well as 22 children representing the different Arab states.

Sheikha Mozah said the channel was a "decision made to meet the needs of our children". "I hope this channel is a bridge for communication between Arab children and children around the world," she added. Al-Jazeera Children's Channel (JCC) is the first Arabic-language channel dedicated to children and will produce 40 per cent of its own programmes, a ratio touted as being one of the highest of any children's channel worldwide.

"Through the concept of 'Edutainment', JCC opens up avenues for Arab children to learn about different environments and cultures," the channel's statement said. "It also helps them develop self-esteem, respect their traditions and values, appreciate people around them and develop a passion for learning," he added.

Based in the Qatari capital Doha with a staff of around 235, JCC will feature a range of programmes for children aged between three and 15. The channel will air regular debates covering issues facing Arab children as well as productions on health, science and current affairs.

"In view of the existing state of television, where children are exposed to violent and inappropriate material on a daily basis, HH Shaykha Mozah made a momentous decision to establish Al-Jazeera Children's Channel," said Shaykh Hamad Bin-Thamir Al Thani, chairman of the board of Al-Jazeera Group. But while the emphasis of the channel is largely on education, its management stresses that it has not forgotten that fun and games are what really make children tick.

The Al-Jazeera Children's Channel is hoping to build on the success of the Al-Jazeera brand, which already includes the Arabic news station and two Al-Jazeera sports channels. Al-Jazeera will be launching a global English-language news channel Al-Jazeera International next year, as well as an Arabic-language documentary channel.

"Al-Jazeera is no longer just a news channel. Al-Jazeera is now a brand name and it is a brand name which is diversifying its activities," Bouneb said.

[A report on the Gulf Times of Doha website on 10 September added that the channel was a joint venture between Al-Jazeera and the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, which is headed by Shaykha Mozah.] Aljazeera.net Web site, 10 Sep 05.

September 15
Media space in Bosnia-Hercegovina overcrowded

[Presenter] The issue of the public broadcasting system is the reason for our research of the media space in Bosnia-Hercegovina, how many radio and TV stations we have, how do they survive and what is the competition like. You will hear information that says that almost every municipality in this country has its radio or TV station. We are overdoing it, as usual, in comparison with other countries.

[Reporter] Before the Communications Regulatory Agency of Bosnia-Hercegovina started to work, we could hear or see over 300 radio and TV stations. At this moment, there are over 140 radio and 39 TV stations. The public broadcasting system is not included in this number. Most of the stations are commercial or are undergoing privatisation. [Passage omitted]
[Dunja Mijatovic, Communications Regulatory Agency] In my opinion, this is still a very large number, considering the economic situation. However, if we compare ourselves with our neighbours, not to mention the European Union, we are in a much better situation. For example, Serbia and Macedonia are in a state of chaos, which is even worse than we had before 1998. Our regulation system is being used as a model. [Passage omitted]

[Adnan Osmanagic, director of Sarajevo-based Old Town Radio] We do not work in a favourable environment, knowing the situation in the country. The marketing cake is too modest for such a great number of media houses in Bosnia-Hercegovina. Independent TV Hayat, Sarajevo, in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Sep 05

September 18
Egypt: African Union delegation to discuss pan-African TV channel

A round of talks between the Egyptian Information Ministry, the Egyptian Radio and Television Union (ERTU) and a delegation from the African Union [AU], under Desmond Orejako, the AU legal adviser in charge of discussing a pan-African radio and television project, is to kick off on Monday [18 September]. The delegation also comprises Communications Expert Assan BA and AU resource-person for the project Alfred Opudo.
During the Sirte Summit, Egypt presented to the AU a proposal to host the terrestrial broadcasting centre of the channel. It also expressed readiness to provide technical facilities for the centre to function properly and to make use of its satellite capabilities. Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade had proposed to establish the channel. MENA news agency, Cairo, 18 Sep 05

September 19
Poll reportedly finds Al-Sharqiyah TV Iraqis' preferred local channel

Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV at 1000 gmt on 19 September, before the start of its scheduled newscast, aired the following self-promotional report against the background of previously-aired programmes and news stories: "The first remains the first. Al-Sharqiyah is always at the forefront. The latest opinion poll shows that Al-Sharqiyah ranks first when compared with local channels; its approval rating is 78.43 per cent. Iraqis have ranked it fourth when compared with other Arab channels." Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad, 19 Sep 05

September 20
Afghanistan: Chief of state television promises improvements

Addressing staff of the Afghan Radio and Television
Department at a meeting which took place in the hall of the Afghan [state] TV building today, the chief of Afghan Radio and Television, Najib Roshan, spoke about broadcasting, technical improvements, personnel training and the establishment of a training centre for employees of Radio and Television Afghanistan. He also urged his staff to make concerted efforts [to improve the quality of their broadcasts]. He said that unlike in the past, friendly countries were not eager to provide contributions to Afghan Radio and Television. He said that he would embark upon some concrete programmes to channel the aid provided from abroad and bring about creative reforms in broadcasts.

He highlighted the importance of modern journalism and said: With the help of UNICEF, we have offered 12 scholarships to our employees to attend a training programme in Kuala Lumpur. He said that three orchestras comprising Afghan artists will be formed and the aim is to hold unique concerts on the first anniversary of the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, adding that some of the studios will also be named after a number of deceased artists. Television Afghanistan, Kabul, 20 Sep 05

September 21
Iraqi TV reports two Iraqi press journalists killed in Mosul

An Iraqi police source has announced that two Iraqi journalists were killed in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. The source, who preferred to remain anonymous, said Firas al-Ma'didi, who was employed as a journalist for the Al-Safir newspaper based in Baghdad, was shot dead by unknown gunmen in front of his home in the Al-Nur neighbourhood, in the centre of the city.
A source at the Al-Safir newspaper said Hind Isma'il, who worked for the newspaper, was also killed Monday [19 September] in the city of Mosul, and the motive remains unknown. Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad, 21 Sep 05

September 21
Al-Arabiya TV demands release of Iraq correspondent said held by US

An official spokesman for the US army in Iraq has told Al-Arabiya that its correspondent Majid Hamid is currently being detained in Al-Anbar prison, and that he was arrested last Saturday [17 September]. While expressing surprise at the delay in the announcement that its correspondent is being detained by the US forces, without pressing any charges against him, Al-Arabiya calls for the release of colleague Hamid immediately. Al-Arabiya TV, Dubai, 21 Sep 05

September 21
Egypt closes Hezbollah TV office over programme critical of Mubarak

As a result of the broadcast of an episode of the "What Next?" programme hosted by Amr Nassif, Egyptian authorities issued a decision ordering the suspension of Al-Manar channel's broadcast and closing down its offices in Cairo. The programme criticized the Egyptian regime and President Husni Mubarak in the aftermath of presidential election victory.
The Egyptian Ministry of Information requested that the NileSat company for satellite services suspend the broadcast of the episode of "What Next?", in which Egyptian human rights activist Nijad al-Bar'i and journalists Abd-al-Azim al-Mughrabi and Muhammad Izz-al-Din took part, because of what the ministry described as a violation, defamation and slander against the Egyptian president. Al-Manar made its final live transmission from Cairo within the context of its coverage of the redeployment of Egyptian forces at the Rafah border crossing following the withdrawal of the occupation [Israeli] forces from the Gaza Strip.

Mahmud Bakri, Al-Manar's bureau chief in Cairo, has said that "negotiations are currently under way between Al-Manar officials from its base in Beirut and the Egyptian media leadership figures, to arrive at a formula to ensure the continuation of the channel's operation in Egypt". The head of the station's public relations division ask for "postponing any comment on the matter for two days until the picture becomes clearer". Farhat [reference unclear] said that "what took place means the suspension of the broadcast of the mentioned episode and will naturally not reach [the stage] of suspending the station's transmission completely". Al-Safir Web site

September 23
Iraq: President has meeting with newspaper and television heads

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has stressed keenness to protect the independent national media in Iraq and to support the intellectual pluralism in the framework of a democratic and federal Iraq that guarantees human rights.

While receiving the chief editors of newspapers and directors of television stations in the first meeting of its kind in Iraq, the Iraqi president said that he, personally, the Presidency Council, and the Judicial Council are keen on protecting the freedom of the Iraqi media, in addition to protecting the freedom and the dignity of the workers in this field. President Talabani welcomed the proposal made by Ahmad Abd-al-Majid, chief editor of the Iraqi edition of Al-Zaman newspaper, to establish a media council that would include the chief editors of newspapers and directors of national media institutions. The duty of this council will be looking into the controversial issues and setting the principles of a national media code of honour.
Ala al-Dahhan, Al-Sharqiyah television director-general of programmes, suggested enhancing the moral and legal outlines that would guarantee the freedom of the national independent media being the fruit of democracy in Iraq. Participating in the meeting, which was characterized by frankness and friendliness and the details of which will be broadcast by Al-Sharqiyah Television today, are the chiefs of the audiovisual and print media. Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad, 23 Sep 05

September 23
Pakistan Broadcasters Association established
Karachi: Broadcasters in Pakistan on Friday [23 September] announced the establishment of the Pakistan Broadcasters Association, a representative body comprising both television and radio broadcasters in Pakistan, at a meeting in Karachi. Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, Islamabad, 23 Sep 05

September 23
Saudi Arabia to consider Turkish call to bar Kurdish Roj TV on Arabsat

Ankara: On Thursday [22 September], Denmark rejected a request to revoke the broadcasting rights of Roj TV, saying the network does not breach Danish laws. Ankara wants to have Roj TV, which currently broadcasts on Arabsat, taken off the air. Turkey has complained that the station, which broadcasts into Turkey, carried propaganda for the PKK [Kurdistan Workers' Party] and also airs reports on Turkish troop movements in the south-east of the country, hindering anti-terrorist operations. The Saudi Arabian authorities are to investigate the request, as Roj TV has started using Arabsat to expand its broadcast coverage into the Middle East. NTV Online website, Istanbul, 23 Sep 05

September 26
Al-Jazeera to appeal against Spanish jail sentence for its reporter Alluni

Pan-Arab satellite channel Al-Jazeera has said it will appeal after a Spanish judge sentenced its correspondent Taysir Alluni to seven years in prison for collaborating with Al-Qa'idah. "The verdict is very disappointing and we consider it unfair and we will contact immediately the legal defence team to study the possibilities of appealing it," Al-Jazeera general manager Waddah Khanfar said on Monday [26 September]. The channel said it was an unjust sentence and a dangerous and unprecedented action in the history of journalism. It also called on the Spanish authorities to release Alluni on bail, due to his poor health.

Alluni, who had insisted on his innocence throughout Europe's biggest Al-Qa'idah trial, interviewed the group's leader Usamah Bin Ladin in Afghanistan weeks after the 11 September 2001 attacks in the United States. Accused of acting as a financial courier to the group while in Afghanistan, Alluni, who had faced a maximum nine-year term, said in testimony he was only doing his job as a journalist.

First arrested in September 2003, Alluni was later released on bail on health grounds - he suffers from a weak heart and back problems - only to be arrested again and jailed in Madrid in November 2004.He was released to house arrest in March, but taken back into custody on 16 September. Aljazeera.net website, 26 Sep 05

September 26
Ariana TV begins broadcasting in west Afghanistan
Ariana Television aired its programmes in Herat Province last night, 37 days after it was launched. According to one of the TV station's local officials, the main goal of the TV station is to publicize authentic Afghan culture, which is very popular among the people. After Kabul, Kandahar, Mazar-e Sharif [Balkh] and Jalalabad [Nangarhar] Provinces, Herat is the fifth province in which the TV station has begun broadcasting. The main difference between Ariana and other TV stations is that this TV does not repeat its programmes. Herat News Centre, Herat 26 Sep 05

September 26
Yemeni journalists protest jailing of Al-Jazeera reporter by Spanish court

Sanaa: The Yemeni Journalists Syndicate (YJS) was shocked by the unfair verdict passed by the Spanish Judiciary against Taysir Alluni correspondent of the Doha-based Al-Jazeera channel, a denunciation statement said Monday [26 September] afternoon. "The YJS demands that Alluni's conviction be reconsidered," the statement says. "It [the conviction] contradicts with the international moral and legal principles. The syndicates demands the release of colleague Taysir Alluni, with whom we express our total solidarity."
Alluni, who interviewed Usamah Bin-Ladin in Afghanistan weeks after the 11 September attacks in the United States said he was only doing his job as a journalist, but the prosecution alleged he was in league with Al-Qaidah and its leader and accused of acting as a financial courier to the group while in Afghanistan. [Passage omitted on other terrorist suspects in trial]

The YJS appeals to its members and local and international NGOs to show solidarity with Alluni. In the same statement, YJS condemned the assassination attempt plotted against Lebanese journalist Mi Shidyak of the LBC channel. Yemen Observer website, Sanaa, 26 Sep 05

September 26
Former Iranian Speaker cited on plans for satellite TV station
Fars reports that Mehdi Karrubi, who was speaking on Saturday [24 September] at the sixth general assembly of the Islamic Azad University's student groups said in relation with the establishment of the National Trust Party and the satellite television channel: We have received the approval in principle on the National Trust Party, and its articles of association and manifesto have also been compiled and should be approved so that the license for the party will be issued. Meanwhile, the party's representatives are working in all the provinces so that the party's branches will be activated when the license is issued. Karrubi went on to add: We have also received the license for the party's newspaper and we are in contact with the chief editors of newspapers and publications so that they can cooperate with us. We are also following up the activities for setting up the television station. E'temad website, Tehran
Sept 26

Lebanese TV debate on attempted assassination of presenter
The attempted assassination of the Lebanese news presenter Mayy Shidyaq was the topic of Lebanese LBC Sat TV's 145-minute live talk show "People's Talk" broadcast at 1835 gmt on 26 September. Guests of the programme were Marwan Hamadah, minister of telecommunications, via satellite link from his residence in Beirut; Ilyas al-Murr, deputy prime minister and defence minister, on the phone from Zurich; MP Dr Farid al-Khazin, member of the Reform and Change Bloc, in the studio; Brig-Gen Ilyas Hanna, strategic expert, in the studio; Sean McCormack, US State Department spokesman, via satellite link from Washington; and Aidan White, secretary-general of the International Federation of Journalists, on the phone from Brussels. The programme was moderated by Marcel Ghanim.

Asked why Mayy Shidyaq was targeted, Hamadah says: "I would like to stress that by targeting Mayy, everything that has been achieved in Lebanon recently has been targeted. In other words, everything that has been achieved since the martyrdom of martyr leader Rafiq al-Hariri, including the withdrawal of Syrian troops, parliamentary elections, the formation of a broad-based government, as well as the progress being made in the Mehlis report, which has taken with it four major figures of the former era of Lebanese-Syrian intelligence. Mayy represented Lebanon's joy, smile, freedom, and free and balanced speech on every level and with everyone she interviewed."

He continues: "Through Mayy, independence, freedom, free decision-making, an elected government, a free parliament, an open media, and Lebanon's redemption of its integrity after many years of custodianship, were targeted." LBC Sat TV, Beirut

September 27
Bahrain: Noorsat predicts doubling of satellite TV channels to Middle East

Noorsat, headquartered in Bahrain, the newest entrant to the Middle East satellite communications sector, predicts the number of television channels broadcasting to the Middle East region will double in the next five years. The bullish outlook follows Noorsat's agreement to use the capacity of two Eutelsat satellites which will be practically co-located at the Middle Eastern hotspots of 7 degrees west and 26 degrees east.

A key part of the Noorsat strategy is to create an Arabic and ethnic hotspot for Europe by leasing capacity on the Eutelsat AB2 craft at 8 degrees west. AB2 is a very powerful satellite that will allow reception of transmitted television programmes in all of Europe using very small dishes. Noorsat believes that this will become the satellite position of choice to provide indigenous content to the large Arab and ethnic communities in Europe. Two state-of-the-art uplink facilities have been established in Bahrain and Greece to ensure service integrity and quality. More uplink facilities will be established in other Arab countries to meet customer demand. The Noorsat platform is currently being licensed as a satellite operator in Saudi Arabia. Arab News website, Jedda

September 27
Iraq/USA: Watchdog condemns "targeting" of Iraqi journalists by military

The International Federation of Journalists today expressed concern over the targeting of Iraqi journalists by military authorities and called on United States forces to release a leading television reporter detained without explanation two weeks ago.

Majid Hamid, a reporter for the Al-Arabiya news channel, is one of a number of journalists to be detained without charge or explanation from the authorities. In recent months several Iraqi reporters working for international news organizations have been held for lengthy periods without being charged.

"We are very concerned that there is no word about why he has been held in what appears to be a premeditated action against him," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "This man is acknowledged as a hard-working professional whose work has taken him into some of Iraq's most dangerous places from where he has delivered much ground-breaking journalism." The IFJ says that Iraqi journalists whose energy and resourcefulness is producing some of the most telling reporting from the region are also among those most likely to face harassment from the military.

"There have been a number of cases of journalists being targeted simply because they get to the scene of an incident quickly. In the eyes of the army this is suspicious, but in effect they are penalized for doing their job too well," said White.
Al-Arabiya say that Hamid has been an eye-witness to combat incidents between US forces and armed groups in Fallujah, Al-Qa'im, Ramadi, Haditha, Rawa and most recently Tall Afar, where he was the only broadcast reporter on the spot in a major confrontation. His reports have received global coverage.

Last week, freelance cameraman Samir Muhammad Nur working for Reuters, who was arrested by Iraqi troops at his home in the northern town of Tall Afar four months ago, was found by a secret tribunal to be "an imperative threat to the coalition forces and the security of Iraq". At least four other journalists working for international media are being held without charge by the US military in Iraq.

"These detentions, which appear to have been calculated actions, make no sense at all," said White. "There should be an official explanation as to the whereabouts of all our colleagues and concrete reasons for their arrests. If not, we can only assume that once again Iraqi journalists brave enough to try to report freely are being victimized." International Federation of Journalists press release, Brussels

September 27
Pakistan: New Urdu channel TV One launched on AsiaSat 3S
Satellite operator Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company (AsiaSat) and Airwaves Media of Pakistan have signed a lease agreement for C-band capacity on AsiaSat 3S [105.5 degrees east] for digital free-to-air distribution of a new Urdu television channel, TV One, to Pakistan and over 50 countries and regions in the Asia Pacific. TV One has commenced broadcasting on AsiaSat 3S, offering a mix of programming content including news and current affairs, entertainment, drama and music. Indiantelevision.com website, Mumbai

September 27
Hezbollah Al-Manar TV denies Egypt suspends broadcasts, closes office

The management of Al-Manar television has issued the following:

On 21 September, 2005, Beirut Al-Safir published a report entitled "Cairo threatens Al-Manar's broadcast" indicating that Egyptian authorities have issued a decision ordaining the suspension of Al-Manar channel's broadcasts and the closure of its offices in Cairo.

Within this context, Al-Manar is interested in clarifying the following:

It is not true that the Egyptian authorities have shut down the offices of Al-Manar in Cairo and issued a decision ordaining the suspension of Al-Manar's broadcasts. The matter does not exceed the framework of an administrative procedure against the Egyptian company that provides broadcast services to Al-Manar. Following contacts conducted by the station with the concerned parties, it became evident that this matter is within a technical context and has no other dimensions related to suspending the channel's transmission on NileSat as transmission on this satellite has not been suspended and is uninterrupted. Al-Safir website, Beirut

September 28
West Bank and Gaza: Islamic Jihad radio in Gaza Strip goes silent

Islamic Jihad's only radio station in the Gaza Strip went off the air yesterday fearing its studios would be targeted by Israel.
Salih al-Masri, director of Al-Quds Radio (102.7 [MHz] FM), said the decision to suspend the broadcasts followed Israeli charges that the station was inciting violence. He claimed that Palestinian journalists and media outlets were being targeted by Israel "as part of its comprehensive aggression" on the Palestinians. "Palestinian journalists are being targeted because they are exposing Israel's lies," he said. "[Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon's government is practising terror by killing the elderly and children and destroying various institutions."

Earlier in the day several media organizations evacuated their staff from a building in downtown Gaza City following rumours that Israeli helicopters were about to fire missiles at the studios, located in the same compound. More than a year ago Israeli helicopters fired a number of missiles toward the Hamas-run Al-Jil press office in the same building.
It was not clear when, if at all, the Islamic Jihad radio station would resume its broadcasts. Earlier this week the station interviewed many Islamic Jihad supporters in the Gaza Strip who called for stepping up the armed struggle against Israel. The interviews were conducted in the aftermath of the killing by the IDF of Muhammad Shaykh Khalil, commander of the armed wing of Islamic

September 28
Afghan paper suggests TV channel targeted due to criticism of judiciary

After Tolo TV broadcast a report about the inefficiency of the chief justice [Mawlawi Fazl Hadi Shinwari] and corruption in the judicial system, the Supreme Court authorities appeared on a news bulletin broadcast by the same TV channel. They seemed to be answering the questions raised by Tolo TV. I think the answers from the authorities not only failed to satisfy the audience but also revealed some other shortcomings of the Supreme Court as well.

After all this, councils of religious scholars from various provinces started propaganda against Tolo. The councils of religious scholars from Paktia and Herat claimed that Tolo programmes were un-Islamic and called for the TV channel to be closed down.

We do not want to discuss whether or not Tolo broadcasts really are against the basic tenets of our faith and culture, but we should look at why these councils are only targeting Tolo. If one takes a look at the broadcasts of other TV channels, it is clear that all these TV stations, including Tolo, broadcast almost the same kind of programmes. Kabul Weekly in Dari

September 29
Sudan: Government committed to upholding press freedom
Khartoum, 29 September: Vice-President Ali Uthman Muhammad Taha has affirmed the state's commitment to safeguard the rights and freedoms of the press.

Addressing celebrations on the occasion of the inauguration of the Journalists House at Mugran area in Khartoum Thursday [29 September], Taha announced a partnership between the state and the press to upgrade the journalism profession and supporting internal and external training projects for journalists as well as improving their work environment. He called on the journalists to work to achieve a satisfactory equation between rights and duties. Taha urged the press to stick to the prin Jihad in the southern Gaza Strip. The Jerusalem Post Web site

September 29
Egyptian minister: Parties to have equal TV coverage, moots new election channel

Cairo, 29 September: Anas al-Fiqi, the [Egyptian] information minister has stressed that all political parties will have the right to media coverage of their annual conferences in [TV] news bulletins and news programmes, in a similar way to the [ruling] National Democratic Party. In a statement made today, Al-Fiqi indicated that the media policies committee had been authorized to put forward a concept of the style of coverage that should be objective and free from exaggeration. He also stressed that certain declared standards should be available to achieve equality between the parties within the framework of the new method established by the media during the presidential elections campaign.

Regarding coverage of parliamentary elections in the news and the relevant media policy, Al-Fiqi asserted that a committee had been formed earlier to put together the standards of coverage of presidential elections, noting that this committee would continue working for the parliamentary elections. The information minister added that in view of the large number of candidates in the elections of the People's Assembly, a public [TV] channel could be established during the election campaign especially for this reason, and that this would allow equal time for the parties to show their election platforms. He added that the candidates would also have time to show their platforms on local [TV] channels.

Al-Fiqi explained that it had been decided to allow a number of representatives of NGOs concerned with monitoring the process of parliamentary elections, to join the monitoring and follow-up committee to recognize the efforts exerted and level of adherence to neutrality, equality and objectiveness. At the end of his statements, the minister asserted that the test of neutrality and objectiveness in the coming parliamentary elections would be more difficult than it was in the presidential elections because of the extension of the competition and the increase in the number of candidates, which would make the work of the monitoring and follow-up committee very important. MENA news agency website, Cairo ciples of objectivity, impartiality and accuracy. Suna news agency website, Khartoum

September 30
Indonesia/USA: News Corp to buy into Indonesian TV network
News Corp's Hong Kong-based satellite and cable operator Star TV will take a 20 per cent stake in the Indonesian network ANTV, the Japanese newspaper Mainichi Daily News reported on 30 September. News Corp and ANTV both declined to release financial details about the agreement, saying only that it was a "multimillion dollar deal".

The deal will give News Corp access to Indonesia's 220 million-strong population and "could reflect the company's strategic shift away from China, which up until recently has been the main focus of Star's Asian expansion," the report added.

Star will control 20 per cent of the company, the maximum a foreign firm can hold in local media companies according to Indonesian law, and Indonesian shareholders will hold the remaining 80 per