Middle East Network

Nimrod's Son · 04-28-2003, 07:26 PM

I'm sure the liberals will hate this idea, but I think it's a good one for some sort of balance.

WILL AL ROKER CHANGE HIS NAME TO AL JAZEERA NOW?

By ADAM BUCKMAN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Al Roker
-Photo by: DMI

THE five hours of nightly U.S. news programming that began airing in Iraq last week is merely a prelude to a much larger U.S. government-sponsored TV blitz in the Middle East.
A 24-hour, American-based satellite network that should be up and running region by year's end is the centerpiece of a U.S. plan to compete head-on with the region's government-controlled media, including the Arab news channel Al-Jazeera.

Tentatively named the Middle East Television Network (MTN) the new satellite service is shaping up as the most ambitious such TV effort ever undertaken by the U.S. government.

MTN will be made up primarily of news and information programming broadcast in Arabic.

Negotiations are also underway with U.S. movie studios and TV program suppliers for subtitled or dubbed entertainment programs, says Norm Pattiz, the American broadcaster who heads the Middle East committee of the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors.

Congress has OK'd $62 million in funding for MTN for its first two years. Pattiz is the chairman of Los Angeles-based Westwood One, the leading radio program supplier in the U.S.

It's unlikely that MTN will pick up news programming from U.S. TV networks in the manner of the abbreviated service that began last week.

That service, called Iraq and the World, beams 51/2 hours of news programs to Iraq only (MTN, by contrast, will be available in 22 countries).

For the current service, Pattiz secured permission from NBC, ABC and CBS to carry dubbed and subtitled versions of their evening newscasts.

Iraq and the World also carries Brit Hume's nightly newscast on Fox News Channel and public TV's "NewsHour with Jim Lehrer."

http://www.pagesix.com/celebritynews/57140.htm

DeviousJ · 04-28-2003, 07:44 PM

Hahaha, what the fuck? They're already taking control of broadcasting rights in the region?

Seriously, this would be a great way of helping Iraqis to keep up with progress on the new government, and like Julio said education on the process is very important. Didn't take them long to grab a nice satellite position though - I wonder how long they're planning on keeping this service running? Sounds like a long-term plan... so much for the hands-off approach I guess.

And Al-Jazeera is 'government controlled' is it?

04-29-2003, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeviousJ
Hahaha, what the fuck? They're already taking control of broadcasting rights in the region?

Well, you do know that Clear Channel is a major Freeper contributor...

Nimrod's Son · 04-29-2003, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeviousJ
And Al-Jazeera is 'government controlled' is it?

Um... yes........

DeviousJ · 04-29-2003, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nimrod's Son

Um... yes........

Cool, which government?

Nimrod's Son · 04-29-2003, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeviousJ

Cool, which government?

The one with the hairy, dark colored guys who wear towels on their heads and have names like Abdul and Ahmad. You know the one.

04-28-2003, 07:26 PM	#1
Nimrod's Son Master of Karate and Friendship Location: in your butt Posts: 72,943	Middle East Network I'm sure the liberals will hate this idea, but I think it's a good one for some sort of balance. WILL AL ROKER CHANGE HIS NAME TO AL JAZEERA NOW? By ADAM BUCKMAN -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Al Roker -Photo by: DMI THE five hours of nightly U.S. news programming that began airing in Iraq last week is merely a prelude to a much larger U.S. government-sponsored TV blitz in the Middle East. A 24-hour, American-based satellite network that should be up and running region by year's end is the centerpiece of a U.S. plan to compete head-on with the region's government-controlled media, including the Arab news channel Al-Jazeera. Tentatively named the Middle East Television Network (MTN) the new satellite service is shaping up as the most ambitious such TV effort ever undertaken by the U.S. government. MTN will be made up primarily of news and information programming broadcast in Arabic. Negotiations are also underway with U.S. movie studios and TV program suppliers for subtitled or dubbed entertainment programs, says Norm Pattiz, the American broadcaster who heads the Middle East committee of the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors. Congress has OK'd $62 million in funding for MTN for its first two years. Pattiz is the chairman of Los Angeles-based Westwood One, the leading radio program supplier in the U.S. It's unlikely that MTN will pick up news programming from U.S. TV networks in the manner of the abbreviated service that began last week. That service, called Iraq and the World, beams 51/2 hours of news programs to Iraq only (MTN, by contrast, will be available in 22 countries). For the current service, Pattiz secured permission from NBC, ABC and CBS to carry dubbed and subtitled versions of their evening newscasts. Iraq and the World also carries Brit Hume's nightly newscast on Fox News Channel and public TV's "NewsHour with Jim Lehrer." http://www.pagesix.com/celebritynews/57140.htm

04-28-2003, 07:44 PM	#2
DeviousJ CORNFROST Location: GUREITO DESU YO Posts: 24,891	Hahaha, what the fuck? They're already taking control of broadcasting rights in the region? Seriously, this would be a great way of helping Iraqis to keep up with progress on the new government, and like Julio said education on the process is very important. Didn't take them long to grab a nice satellite position though - I wonder how long they're planning on keeping this service running? Sounds like a long-term plan... so much for the hands-off approach I guess. And Al-Jazeera is 'government controlled' is it?