US Commission On Public Diplomacy Praises Success Of Alhurra And Radio Sawa

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Alhurra is the latest and most technologically advanced television organization to enter the crowded Middle East satellite television market.

Springfield VA (SPX) Oct 04, 2004
The 2004 Report released last week by the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy stresses the importance of the growing success of U.S. international broadcasting's major efforts to the Middle East: Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa.

Alhurra is the new Arabic-language satellite channel that broadcasts news and information to the Arab world. Radio Sawa communicates with the youthful population of Arabic-speakers in the Middle East by providing up-to-date news, information and a mix of Western and Arabic contemporary music.

"Bringing accurate and objective news and information to audiences at the center of the war on terrorism - the Middle East - is vital to counter myths about the United States and provide alternatives to extremism in the region," the report states.

The bipartisan Commission also recommended in its 2004 Report that Congress should grant the Broadcasting Board of Governors' (BBG) request for increased funding.

"Alhurra and Radio Sawa are critical pieces of the United States public diplomacy efforts in the Middle East," stated Norman J. Pattiz, Chairman of the Middle East Committee of the Broadcasting Board of Governors.

"As technology advances, so does the dissemination of news and information about the U.S. and the Middle East. Alhurra and Radio Sawa provide that information accurately, objectively and within context to Arabic speakers in the region."

Citing the success of Alhurra TV, which went on the air in February 2004, the report recommends the BBG, "develop satellite television technologies further and expand on recent success in making native-language programming available via satellite television to million of viewers in other countries."

Radio Sawa broadcasts over five hours of news daily and 300 newscasts per week - newscasts whose goal is to present accurate and balanced information about events in the Middle East and the world.

News, along with its unique 50/50 mix of the biggest Western and Arabic pop hits, has proven to be popular throughout the region.

Alhurra is the latest and most technologically advanced television organization to enter the crowded Middle East satellite television market.

The satellite channel is a 24-hour news and information network broadcast in Arabic. It and can be seen in 22 countries throughout the region via Arabsat and Nilesat, the same satellites used by all major Arabic channels.

Alhurra is operated by a non-profit corporation "The Middle East Television Network". MTN is financed by the U.S. Congress through a grant from the BBG, an independent federal agency. The BBG serves as a firewall to protect the professional independence and integrity of the broadcasters.

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Northrop Grumman Demos Advanced EHF Success With Phased Array Uplink

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